St Chads Sutton Coldfield

Contacts

If you have concerns about safeguarding please contact

Safeguarding at St Chads Sutton Coldfield

At St Chads Church, we take the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults very seriously. We are committed to making St Chads a safe space and to dealing openly and transparently with any issues raised.

The care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in the activities of St Chads is the responsibility of the whole church. Everyone who participates in the life of the church has a role to play in promoting a safer church for all.

Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

Report a Concern by speaking to  or emailing our Parish Safeguarding Officers or our church wardens at the emails below :-

Judith Dovey (PSO) -judithdovey@yahoo.co.uk

Brian Scotcher (Church warden)-brian.scotcher@hotmail.co.uk

Alf Beckett (Church Warden) alf.beckett@hotmail.com

Alternatively, you can also contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Steph Haynes at stephh@cofebirmingham.com

If you cannot contact the person above, and someone is being harmed or is not safe and needs immediate help, dial 999 or 101. Alternatively, you can contact Birmingham local authority social care services:

• Children: 0121 303 1888
• Adults: 0121 303 1234

St Chads Church has adopted the Church of England Safeguarding policy Promoting a Safer Church (2017).  The  safeguarding policy statement is based on five foundations and offers six overarching policy commitments:

• 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 that may pose a present risk to others.

 

Parish Safeguarding Policy 

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 that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish will: 

• Create a safe and caring place for all.
• Have a named Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator (PSC) 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 in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are 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 notifying the Bishop’s Safeguarding Adviser (BSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
• 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 Practices 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.

Helplines

Church of England Birmingham additional resources and help

Safeguarding Policies

Safeguarding Policy

Promoting a Safer Church (2017)

Parish Safeguarding Handbook

Parish Safeguarding Handbook- Supplement for Parishes in the The Church of England Birmingham

Parish Policy for Responding to Domestic Abuse 

Managing Safeguarding Complaints

Safeguarding Training (Church of England Birmingham)