Safeguarding |

Safeguarding

St Michael and all Angels Southwick is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults and creating protective and supportive environments where all people, and especially those who may be vulnerable, are able to worship and pursue their faith journey in safety.

We follow the national legal and procedural framework for safeguarding children and adults, and Church of England policy and practice.

The safeguarding officer for the Parish is Mr Tom Backshall. Please contact him via the church email address or phone number.

Policy on the Safeguarding of Children and Adults in the Church

We recognise that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives.
As members of this parish we commit ourselves to respectful pastoral care for all children and adults to whom we minister.
We commit ourselves to the safeguarding of people who may be vulnerable, ensuring their well-being in the life of this church.
We commit ourselves to promoting safe practice by those in positions of trust.
The parish commits itself to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people who may be vulnerable.
It is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, financial and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with people who may be vulnerable.
The parish is committed to supporting, resourcing, training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst people who may be vulnerable.
The parish adopts the guidelines of the Church of England and the Diocese.
Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this church.

Safeguarding Information

NSPCC for adults concerned about a child – 0808 800 5000
Childline for children and young people – 0800 1111
Action on Elder Abuse helpline – 0808 808 8141
24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline – 0808 2000 247
NAPAC offer support and advice to adult survivors of childhood abuse – 08088010331
Stop It Now preventing child sexual abuse – 0808 1000 900
Cruse bereavement helpline – 0808 808 1677
Family Lives support and advice on family issues – 0808 800 222
MACSAS for people who have been abused by church officers – 0808 801 0340
Samaritans for people struggling to cope and needing someone to talk to – 116 123

Some sources of support for victims and families of abuse