Safeguarding

Safeguarding Questions or Concerns

If you have any Safeguarding queries or concerns, please contact the Parish Safeguarding Officer, Ginnie Wyllie, by email at safeguarding@whyke.info. Only the Parish Safeguarding Officer has access to this email.

The Chichester Diocesan safeguarding website, with contact details for the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, can be accessed here: https://safeguarding.chichester.anglican.org/

Parish Safeguarding Policy 2024-2025

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

Promoting a safer environment and culture.
Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish 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.
Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
Display in church premises and on the Parish 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.
Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
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.

Saint George’s PCC has also adopted the following policies:

You can also contact the following statutory agencies with any safeguarding concerns:

Sussex Police

Children’s Services (this link takes you the relevant page in the ‘What Do I Do If?’ section of the Diocese of Chichester safeguarding website, which has links to the Children’s Services reporting pages for East and West Sussex, and Brighton and Hove – choose whichever applies to your parish).

Adult Services (this link takes you the relevant page in the ‘What Do I Do If?’ section of Diocese of Chichester safeguarding website, which has links to the Adult Services reporting pages for East and West Sussex, and Brighton and Hove – choose whichever applies to your parish).