Parish Safeguarding

The Catholic Church upholds the personal rights and dignity of all people and recognizes each individual is made in the image of Jesus Christ and should be valued, supported and protected. The Church also recognizes that it has a special responsibility towards children, young people and vulnerable adults and is committed to a culture of safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church.

In keeping with these responsibilities, the Parish is committed to taking all the appropriate steps to maintain a safe environment for all through the promotion of a sustained and sustainable culture of constant vigilance. If and when concerns are expressed the Parish undertakes to liaise closely with statutory agencies to ensure that any allegations of abuse are promptly and properly investigated.

All parishioners should be confident that the needs of children, young people and vulnerable adults in our Parish will be responded to sensitively and compassionately and that all vulnerable people will be kept safe from harm, cared for and loved by their Parish community.

Safeguarding Contacts

Parish Safeguarding Phoneline

The Parish Safeguarding phoneline is 07931 820486. This is a 24-hour confidential safeguarding phone line. If you are concerned about the abuse, neglect or harm of a child, young person or adult please leave a message on the ansafone and your call will be responded to asap. Alternatively phone the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer on 07585 657090.

In an emergency: if you believe that a child, young person or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, then you should contact the Police on 999.

Diocesan Safeguarding Coordinator:

Angela McGrory Email: angela.mcgrory@abdiocese.org.uk Mobile: 07585 657090

Diocesan Safeguarding Office:

Bishop’s House, The Upper Drive, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6NB

Email: safeguarding@abdiocese.org.uk Telephone: 01273 241203 Mobile: 07391 415362

Local And National Contacts

Police In an emergency dial 999, or 101 if not an emergency

Social Services / Surrey County Council

The Surrey Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) responds to all initial enquiries relating to adults and children. MASH is based at the Guildford Police Station and combines Children's Service social workers, Adult's Service social workers, and health and police staff.

Contact MASH on 0300 470 9100 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Out of hours (Monday-Friday 5pm-9am and 24 hours at weekends) 01483 517898 to speak to the emergency duty team.

Child Line: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk

Stop it Now Helpline: 0808 1000 900

Action on Elder Abuse: 0808 808 8141 / www.elderabuse.org.uk

Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 / www.cedar.uk.net

Family Action: 020 7254 6251 / www.family-action.org.uk

Towards a Culture of Safeguarding

Safeguarding Training

The Church has a responsibility to ensure that all those who undertake work in the name of the Church - whether clergy, religious or lay people, paid employees or volunteers - are adequately trained in safeguarding matters and are fully aware of the role they play in safeguarding vulnerable people.

The Bishop, Trustees and Safeguarding Commission therefore expect all volunteers to attend a face-to-face Deanery training within the first year of their appointment. This training should be refreshed every three years.

However, during the pandemic all safeguarding training is online.

TES/EduCare E-Learning

The Catholic Church has set up in conjunction with TES/EduCare, a national online training provider, an e-learning package which offers two online modules in Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding and which is available to all members of the Catholic community free of charge.

All volunteers should aim to complete this online training within three months of taking up their role.

The modules can be studied at your convenience and a TES/EduCare Learning certificate is issued on successful completion.

To access the TES/EduCare training resource www.educare.co.uk please take the following steps:

Register with the Diocesan safeguarding office by emailing safeguarding@abdiocese.org.uk Your email should contain your name, your personal email address, the name of your parish and your role.
On receipt of your email the safeguarding team will register your email address with TES/EduCare.
You will receive a welcome email from TES/EduCare with login details and a request to set your password. Please check your junk folder if you do not receive a prompt welcome email.
You will then have instant access to the training programmes available
On completion of your training, please email your certificate to the safeguarding office and copy your email to the Parish Safeguarding Representative.

Safer Recruitment

All volunteers are required by the Diocese to undergo DBS checks prior to taking up roles in the Parish. The DBS checks are renewed every three years and after your first check it is advisable to register with the online update service as this makes subsequent checks easier and quicker.

All volunteers are also required to

provide two references
provide confirmation of their ID
agree to undertake relevant safeguarding training
adhere to the Code of Conduct agreed for all leaders and helpers in the Parish
sign a written agreement as a volunteer leader/helper

Download a copy of the written agreement here

Diocesan and National Safeguarding Structures

Diocesan Safeguarding Commission

The Diocesan Safeguarding Commission is responsible for ensuring that the national safeguarding procedures for the Catholic Church are implemented at the Diocese and Parish level, and that clergy and volunteers are made aware of the agreed procedures and their implementation.

The Commission also advises the Archbishop on child safeguarding issues; enquires into any allegation of or concern for inappropriate behaviour or actual abuse of children or vulnerable adults by any person working for the Diocese either paid or voluntary; liaises with the statutory authorities; and ensures that there is appropriate pastoral care and support for victims and those against whom allegations have been made.

The Diocesan Safeguarding Commission can be contacted via the Diocesan Safeguarding Office on 01273 241203.

National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC)

The NCSC is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Church’s safeguarding policy and monitoring compliance. It is mandated to ensure that standards are met, and policies implemented. It does so in the spirit of the Church’s call to ‘act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God’ (Micah 6.8).

The NCSC sets and directs the work of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) which was established to drive forward improvement in practice. Its primary role is one of co-ordination, advice and support in respect of the wider job of safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk.

Telephone: 07530 972830

Website: www.catholicsafeguarding.org.uk

Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS)

CSAS reports to and provides expert advice to the NCSC on safeguarding matters. It oversees and co-ordinates safeguarding training, ensuring that the Church’s policies on safeguarding are kept up to date with good practice and are accessible to people at all levels in the Church. CSAS is responsible for driving and supporting improvements in safeguarding practice. CSAS is the registered body for the DBS.

The ‘Resources’ page of the CSAS website contains a comprehensive selection of information sheets regarding all aspects of Safeguarding.

Telephone: 0207 9011920

Website: www.csas.uk.net