The Parish of Winnersh

 

If You Have Information About A Safeguarding Situation Where A Child Or Adult Is In Immediate Danger, Or Requires Immediate Medical Attention, Call Emergency Services On 999.

Reporting safeguarding concerns if there is no immediate risk of harm.

If you have a concern relating to yourself, or about the safety of a child/adult who you suspect is being or has been harmed, might be at risk of harm or who might present a risk to others please contact our safeguarding officer Emma-Jean Wells or one of our Church Wardens Anne Warner at St Marys, or Debbie Brunt at St Catherines.

Alternatively you can contact the Oxford Diocese safeguarding team on  01865 208 295 or email safeguardingreferrals@oxford.anglican.org for urgent safeguarding concerns Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm and Fri 9am-4.30pm.

 

Out of operational hours, you can call their partners Thirtyone:eight on +44 (0) 303 003 1111 for confidential advice, guidance and support

 

Parish Safeguarding Policy

 

The Parish of Winnersh PCC agreed and adopted the following Policy on Safeguarding at the PCC meeting held on 27th March 2023.

 

1. We are committed to:

• The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children and all adults
• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable
• The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is a culture of 'informed vigilance' as to the dangers of abuse.

2. We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks.

 

3. We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, co-operating with the police and local authority in any investigation and we will have a clear reporting procedure in place.

 

4. We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with him or her an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.

 

5. We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.

 

6. We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

 

7. In all these principles we will follow statute, guidance and recognised good practice.

 

8. We will advise the Diocese which Registered Body we use to process applications for Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks.

 

9. We will advise the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser if we receive a Disclosure which is 'blemished' or 'positive'.

 

10. We will review this policy annually, check that our policies are up to date, and supply a copy of the updated policy statement to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.

 

Key Roles

 

For the Parish:

 

Parish Safeguarding Officer:                               Emma-Jean Wells

 

Appointing Body:                                                     Convened when needed; will include at least two people: the                                                                                           incumbent or a churchwarden, and the Safeguarding Officer

 

For DBS Checks:

 

Recruiter:                                                                    Emma-Jean Wells

 

Verifier:                                                                       Emma-Jean Wells

 

DBS administrator:                                                 Emma-Jean Wells

 

Registered body for DBS disclosures:             APCS (Access Personal Checking Services Ltd)