Safeguarding

Parish Safeguarding

Joanna Hill, Newsletter EditorThe Church Safeguarding Officer is Mrs Joanna Hill (pictured). You can email Joanna to ask her anything, or call 01273 933357, at any time.

Or, if you are a child and you need to talk to someone about things that are happening to you that you don’t like, you can get help via the Childline website or call Childline on 0800 1111.

Or, if you are an adult and you need support about something that is happening to you, or wish to report a safeguarding concern to the statutory authorities in Sussex, please see the Diocese of Chichester’s safeguarding website’s “What to do if…” pages. Or call their team at Church House, Hove, on 01273 421 021 or email them.

We take the safeguarding of our children, young people and vulnerable adults very seriously. Safeguarding shows God’s love in action, and in our church it demonstrates safety and security where abuse and mistreatment of others is not tolerated.

Everyone involved in safeguarding positions undergoes Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and receives regular training and ongoing updates.

 

Parish Safeguarding Statement

  • The members of the Parochial Church Council of St Thomas a Becket Church are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all the members of the church.
  • We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
  • We are committed to implementing all safeguarding policies and practice guidance issued by the House of Bishops.
  • We will carefully select and train all those who work or volunteer in positions of trust. We will use the Disclosure and Barring Service, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.
  • We will respond, without delay, to every concern made that a person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed.
  • We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church community.
  • We will seek to ensure that anyone for whom we have pastoral responsibility who has suffered abuse is offered support that meets their needs.
  • We will respond appropriately to those who have committed sexual offences who wish to join our fellowship, following House of Bishop’s guidance and the advice of the Safeguarding Team.
  • We will review this policy annually, and as part of this process, will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.

October 2024