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

1. promoting a safer environment and culture
2. safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church
3. responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
4. caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
5. caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
6. responding to those who may pose a present risk to others.

Parish of Christ Church, West Wimbledon Safeguarding policy promoting a safer church

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 26/11/2020.

The Safeguarding Policy has been written in accordance with the Diocese of Southwark Safeguarding Documents – A Safe Church, which can be accessed under ’Safeguarding’ at the Diocese of Southwark website: www.southwarkanglican.org. There is a hard copy of ‘A Safe Church’ in the Church Vestry.

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 who may pose a present risk to others.

The parish will: 

• create a safe and caring place for all
• have named Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSO’s) 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 on church premises and on the parish website the details of whom to contact with 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 immediately notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies
• 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 Practice 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.

This church appoints Jenny Tomlinson and Jane Simpson as the Parish Safeguarding Officers.

Incumbent: The Reverend Michael Burns Churchwardens: Julie Grainger and Tish Mousell Date: 26 November 2020 Parish of Christ Church, West Wimbledon Policy for responding to domestic abuse All forms of domestic abuse are wrong and must stop. We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:

• ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse
• protect those vulnerable to domestic abuse from actual or potential harm
• recognise equality amongst people and within relationships
• enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to appropriately and consistently. We recognise that:
• all forms of domestic abuse cause damage to the survivor and express an imbalance of power in the relationship
• all survivors (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• domestic abuse can occur in all communities
• domestic abuse may be a single incident but is usually a systematic, repeated pattern which escalates in severity and frequency
• domestic abuse, if witnessed or overheard by a child, is a form of abuse by the perpetrator of the abusive behaviour
• working in partnership with children, adults and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of any child or adult suffering abuse. We will endeavour to respond to domestic abuse by:
• in all our activities —  valuing, listening to and respecting both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse
• in our publicity —  raising awareness about other agencies, support services, resources and expertise, through providing information in public and women-only areas of relevance to survivors, children and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse
• when concerns are raised —  ensuring that those who have experienced abuse can find safety and informed help  working with the appropriate statutory bodies during an investigation into domestic abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community
• in our care —  ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse  identifying and outlining the appropriate relationship of those with pastoral care responsibilities with both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse. If you have any concerns or need to talk to anyone, please contact: Jenny Tomlinson and Jane Simpson (PSO’s) Parish of Christ Church, West Wimbledon.

What you should do if you suspect a child or a vulnerable adult is being abused:

1. Record the facts as known to you – Including when and where conversations took place as well as what was said and being careful to distinguish facts from allegations and opinions.
2. Speak to the Parish Safeguarding Officers and the Vicar. They will then be in direct contact with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
3. It may be in certain exceptional circumstances that the police need to be contacted immediately.
4. Always consider whether immediate medical attention is required.

N.B. The number children can ring if someone has harmed them or they think someone might be going to harm them is: Childline on 0800 1111 Family Lives (previously Parentline) 0808 800 2222

…if a child or vulnerable adult tells you something which suggests they have been abused:

1. Listen to them rather than asking direct questions or pressing for details
2. Do not stop them while they are freely recalling significant events
3. Reassure them (who may have been threatened, told to keep what is happening secret, or told that no one will believe them) that they have done the right thing in telling someone, and that they are not to blame.
4. Let them know that there are other people who need to be told so that they can help them
5. Record the facts and tell someone (as listed above in ‘if you suspect any abuse’)
6. Do not delay or decide to give the benefit of the doubt to parents or others
7. Detailed enquiries must be left to the investigating agencies

If an allegation is made against you: Inform the Parish Safeguarding Officers and the Vicar immediately. In every case the Diocese Safeguarding Adviser will also then be informed by them as soon as possible.

Contact Numbers: Parish Safeguarding Officers: 

• Mrs Jenny Tomlinson ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk
• Mrs Jane Simpson ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk
• Vicar Children’s Services: London Borough of Merton 020 8274 4901
• Police: Non emergency 101. Emergency 999
• Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser: Hugh Constant, Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW 020 7939 9423. Emergency out of hours: 07982 279713, 020 3874 6743