Safeguarding

Safeguarding

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Key messagesGuidelines and policiesContacts
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Key messages

The Diocese in Europe takes the area of safeguarding extremely seriously. If you have a safeguarding concern the sections below list who you can contact.

Three key messages underpin our work:

  • The welfare of the child, young person and vulnerable adult is at all times paramount and takes precedence over all other considerations.

  • The Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser must be consulted whenever a safeguarding concern of any kind arises in your parish.

  • Safeguarding is part of our core faith and an integral feature of Christian life in our parish churches.

We want our churches to be safe places for children, young people and adults who may be at risk. All our clergy and readers have safeguarding training and need record check clearance certificates as a normal part of their ministry. Hundreds of lay volunteers, working with young people and vulnerable adults in churches across Europe also need to go through the process. This is to ensure that our congregations are safe places for young and vulnerable people to visit. An online basic training course is available - see here for details.

The diocese played an active role in the Past Cases Review 2 process (PCR2). You can read our report on the Church of England website. 

PCR2 Report
 

Guidelines and policies

Our full safeguarding policy and guidance, including forms and training can be accessed here.

Diocesan safeguarding
 

Contacts

 

Who to contact to raise a concern

If you believe that someone you know through your chaplaincy poses a risk of serious harm to others, or that an individual may be at risk of serious harm from others, you must take action.

If there is an immediate risk of harm you should contact your local emergency services.

You need to report your concerns immediately to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. You can do this directly by telephone or email. You might also want to speak with your Chaplaincy Safeguarding Officer.

Diocesan Confidential Reporting Line:

For urgent enquiries during operational hours, please call: +44 (0)207 898 1159

For non-urgent enquiries contact: +44 (0) 7464 544715 

Out of hours

For urgent enquiries outside operational hours call our partners Thirtyone:eight (formerly Churches Child Protection Advisory service) on +44 (0) 303 003 1111. You will be able to get confidential advice, guidance, and support.

For non-urgent concerns outside operational hours, please leave a message on the number above and a member of the team will respond on the next working day.

Our operational hours are 9 am to 5 pm UK time, Monday to Friday.

To report a concern by email, please complete the referral form which you can download here.  Please email it to europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org Our team will respond within 48 hours. Please tell us if you need help in completing the form, or need to have a form in a language other than English. 

 

General enquiries

For safeguarding application checks, submission of verified certificates, training evaluation forms, and any other general queries contact us on +44 (0)7464 544715 or email: europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org.

The following links provide contact details for the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Committee (DSAC). 

 

Help for victims and survivors

Firstlight Safe Spaces

If you have been affected by any kind of abuse, bullying or other safeguarding issues, no matter how long ago, Firstlight Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church.

Firstlight Safe Spaces is a free support service for victims and survivors of church-related abuse. The organisation offers a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, The Church in Wales or The Catholic Church in England and Wales, regardless of disability, age, gender or sexual orientation.

Their services are available on 0300 303 1056 or via their website. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm UK time.

 

Safe partnership arrangements

Safe Partnership Arrangements with External Mission Groups and Charities Guidance 

The diocese has produced this guidance for chaplaincies and groups who work with supporting charities and other bodies as part of our mission.

Our commitment to safeguarding

The Archbishop of Canterbury has underlined the importance of safeguarding in the Church, describing it as being ‘’at the heart of our Christian faith’. You can read his message here.

That commitment is echoed by Bishop Robert who wrote, ‘Safeguarding continues to be a top priority for me – and I expect this to be the case across our Diocese.  We have a duty before our Lord to enable the church to be a safe and secure place for all vulnerable groups.’ Read the full statement here.

Every year we provide information and resources for Safeguarding Sunday which is usually in late November. It is an opportunity for chaplaincies to promote good practice and raise awareness about safeguarding. Click here for more information.