safeguarding
at st John’s
If someone is in immediate danger, please contact:
Police | 999
Social Services Department | 0845 120 455
Safeguarding is an important ministry in the life of our parish and the is the responsibility of everyone in our churches. We strive to create a safe space in our churches for children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and respect them as valued members of our community whose safety, wellbeing, and dignity is a top priority for us. We have a dedicated safeguarding team who work closely with the Diocesan team, and who meet regularly to review our processes are working as they should.
Find out more below
Meet the
safeguarding team
If you are concerned about the wellbeing of a child, young person, or vulnerable adult, please contact one of our safeguarding team below.
(Under no circumstances should a church worker or volunteer or member of the public carry out their own investigations into the allegation or suspicion of abuse.)
important information
Contacts
Chichester Diocese Safeguarding Adviser
Colin Perkins
Email: colin.perkins@chichester.anglican.org
Office: 01273 425792
Mobile: 07500 771210
Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS)
Helpline: 0845 120 4550
Email: info@ccpas.co.uk
Social Services (Single Point of Advice - ‘SPoA’)
Office: 01323 464222
Email: 0–19.SPOA@eastsussex.gov.uk
NSPCC (for adults concerned about a child)
Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Childline (for children and young people)
Helpline: 0800 1111
Hourglass (formerly ‘Action on Elder Abuse’)
Helpline: 0808 808 8141
Text: 07860052306
Email: helpline@wearehourglass.org
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Helpline (24/7): 0808 2000 247
Online chat: nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Chat-to-us-online/
NAPAC (offers support and advice to adult survivors of childhood abuse)
Helpline: 0808 801 0331
Email: support@napac.org.uk
Stop It Now (‘The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’ - helps prevent child sexual abuse)
Helpline (confidential): 0808 1000 900
Email (via form): contactus.stopitnow.org.uk/
Cruse Bereavement Support
Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Family Lives (provides support and advice on family issues)
Helpline: 0808 800 222
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk
Online chat: familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/online-chat
MACSAS (for people who have been abused by church officers/clergy)
Helpline: 0808 801 0340
Email: support@macsas.org.uk
Samaritans (for people struggling to cope and needing someone to talk to)
Helpline (24/7): 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Online chat: samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/chat-online/
responding to safeguarding disclosures
If you recognize signs of abuse, or are told of potential risks to the welfare of a child, young person, or a vulnerable adult, you should*:
Respond
Make sure that whoever it is (victim/survivor/perpetrator) feels listened to and taken seriously. Explain that because of the nature of the disclosure or event, details will have to be passed on to the Parish Safeguarding Team, who may (depending on the context) choose to involve statutory agencies in more urgent cases where the risk is current. The concern or allegation should not be shared with anyone else.Record
Write down the details of the concern or allegation (email is best). Where it isn’t appropriate to take notes at the time of the disclosure/event, make a written record as soon as possible afterward. Record the time, date, location, persons present and how the concern or allegation was received, e.g. by telephone, face-to-face conversation, letter, etc. The record should include details of information provided to that person as well as the information received. Always sign and date the record. Keep it factual, and avoid putting your interpretation or opinions into the record.
Refer
Pass this record on to the necessary person, usually the Parish Safeguarding Team. Where for whatever reason this is not appropriate group to share the details with (e.g. if the concern involves one or more of the Safeguarding Team) the record should be passed straight on to the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.
*If the risk is urgent, immediately contact statutory services, before taking any further action. Police: 999.
Always be sure to “check-in” with yourself afterwards, especially if distressing details have been shared, and where appropriate seek pastoral advice and prayer (without divulging any details). The Parish Safeguarding Team will be very happy to continue supporting you and praying with you.