SAFEGUARDING
St Helen with St Martin Parochial Church Council (PCC) takes seriously its obligations and responsibilities to protect and safeguard the welfare of any child, young person or vulnerable adult within the church community. The PCC has appointed a Parish Safeguarding Representative, to whom any allegation or concerns about abuse should be directed. His contact details are listed below
The nominated person is not one of those normally working or volunteering with children, young people or vulnerable adults. He will follow the guidelines and procedures for responding to any allegations of abuse.
The Parish Safeguarding Policy is in the sub folder here. Hard copies are displayed in each Church.
LOCAL CONTACTS
Parish Safeguarding Representative : Peter Wells E-mail peter@yorkcitycentrechurches.co.uk
Diocese of York Safeguarding Adviser: Tel: 01904 699509. E-mail: Rob.Marshall@yorkdiocese.org
Archdeacon of York: Tel: 01904 758241
EXTERNAL CONTACTS
Children: Local Authority Designated Officer:(LADO) at CYC West Offices York 01904 551783 (out of hours: emergency duty team on 0845 0349417)
Adults at Risk: City of York Safeguarding Adult Board a@ CYC West Offices York : 01904 555111( out of hours: 01609 534527)
Local Police : 999 in an emergency : otherwise: 101
USEFUL HELPLINES
NSPCC 0808 800 5000
Childline 0800 1111
Stop it Now 0808 1000 900
Churches Child Protection Advisory Services Helpline: 0845 1204550
Samaritans 116123
Family Lives 0808 800 2222
National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247
Action on Elder Abuse 080 8808 8141
MAKING A REFERRAL
What to do in the event of concerns about safeguarding, actual or possible inappropriate conduct. Allow the person to speak, but be very careful not to say anything that may suggest or prompt a particular answer. Anything said by the person should be recorded, using the actual words used.
Reassure the person that you are listening carefully to them, but refrain from promising to ’keep a secret’. Make it clear that you may have to tell someone else who can help to sort things out.
Concerns or an allegation must be shared with the nominated Parish Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible, or in their absence, with either the Incumbent or Church warden or another trusted adult, or with the Diocese Safeguarding Advisor. If the concern or allegation is about any of these people DO NOT share the concern with them. The concerns must be recorded, as must the decisions of how to proceed, including rationale for those decisions and consultation with any other persons.
If there are concerns that a person is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm or is in immediate danger of harm, then a referral to Social Services or the Police should be made at once by the church member or the Parish Safeguarding Officer. Identify yourself and the church you are representing. You must also advise the Diocese Safeguarding Advisor and if she or he is not available the Archdeacon.