Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Flegg Parish Churches are committed to safeguarding everyone, but particularly those who are vulnerable adults and all children and young people, and we expect everyone, whether a regular or a visitor, to share this commitment.

Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

Signs and Symptoms of abuse are:

• Neglect, i.e. regularly unfed or unkempt.
• Sexual abuse, i.e. talk about sex in an inappropriate way for their age.
• Physical abuse, i.e. bruises or other injuries
• Emotional abuse, i.e. talk about violence at home or being told that they are not wanted.

There are only a few examples.  It is not the responsibility of regulars or visitors to form judgements or to make enquiries, but simply to listen and to notice. 

If anyone has concerns, then they should not ask questions of the people that they are concerned about, but write these concerns down immediately, stating the reason why they have these concerns, what was seen, what was heard, and this should include the date and time of when the concerns were aroused and when these were written down. 

The person should then contact the relevant Parish Safeguarding Officer as soon as realistically possible using the listed contact details.  If the person fears that someone is in imminent harm then they should call 999 or 0808 800 5000 (NSPCC Helpline) and then inform the relevant Parish Safeguarding Officer.  Should the concern be that our Parish Safeguarding Officer is the instigator then the person with the concern should write these down as detailed above but contact the Team Rector, the Revd Jo Wood on 07399 539159. 

Parish Safeguarding Officers

Churches of Ormesby St. Margaret, Ormesby St. Michael, and St. George’s Rollesby.	Flegg North District Churches of St. Mary’s the Virgin, Martham, Holy Trinity and All Saints Winterton on Sea, All Saints, Horsey, St. Mary’s West Somerton, and St Peter & St Paul’s, Repps.	South Trinity Broads Parish St. Margaret’s, Fleggburgh; All Saints, Billockby; St. Andrew’s, Stokesby; St. Peter and St. Paul, Mautby; All Saints, Filby; and St. Peter and St. Paul, Runham.	St. Edmund’s, Thurne.	St. Peter’s, Clippesby.
Margaret Parish 07788 550982	Karen Watts 07775 409478	Pam Sullivan 01493 369175	Carol Delf 01692 670242	Fran Lindsay 07933 309531
	Matthew Hodder 07845 906799	Margaret Alston 01493 369329
	Linda Jones 07795 964560
Contact by email	Contact by email	Contact by email	Contact by email	Contact by email

Other useful contacts:

• NSPCC Helpline 0800 802020
• Childline 0800 1111
• Harbour Centre (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) Norfolk 01603 276381
• Refuge, Domestic abuse (women and men) 020 7395 7771
• MACSAS (Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors) 0808 801 0340
• NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) 0808 801 0331
• The Diocese of Norwich 

Our Commitment

As we believe that Jesus came so that we might have life in its fullness (John 10:10), we believe that any form of abuse is contrary to the life that God desires for us.  Therefore, Safeguarding is at the heart of our Christian faith. 

Safeguarding is the action we take to promote a safer culture within our churches.  We have a Safeguarding Policy (set out below) and we are committed to respectful pastoral ministry to all adults and the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable people.

Serving the whole community by developing disciples of Jesus

SAFEGUARDING POLICY PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH

The following policy has been adopted by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) in each church in Flegg Parish Churches.

In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our church is committed to:

• Offer pastoral care to all those affected by abuse and allegations of abuse.
• Offer ministry to those known to have offended against a vulnerable person.
• Carefully select and train those with formal pastoral responsibilities or any responsibility relating to vulnerable adults and children.
• Respond promptly to any safeguarding concern or allegation.

Each church within Flegg Parish Churches will:

• Create a safe and caring place for all.
• Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
• Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse. This will include ordained and lay ministers, Churchwardens and members of the church councils in addition to anyone who will directly work with children, young people and adults through organised church activities.
• Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of Flegg Parish Churches.
• Display in church premises and on the Flegg Parish Churches website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
• Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
• Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
• Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
• Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
• Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.

Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.

DBS Checks

As a consequence of our policy, this means that everyone who has a position of responsibility, whether the priests or lay ministers or churchwardens or members of the church councils, along with anyone who take part in any ministry to vulnerable adults or children, receive a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and training relevant to their responsibility.