Safeguarding
Promoting a Safer Church
As a benefice we have adopted the House of Bishops ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ policy and the Parish Safeguarding Handbook, incorporating the House of Bishop’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance. The Parish Safeguarding Handbook can be downloaded below.
Our benefice safeguarding officers are:
Vacancy (St Oswald’s & St Mary’s)
Mrs Jenny Chapman (St John’s) 07525 749267
We have also displayed the Promoting a Safer Church poster prominently within each of our churches.
Reporting a concern
Any safeguarding concerns in a parish should be brought to the attention of your local Parish Safeguarding Officer(s) (PSO) in the first instance, who can seek further advice from the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer Cath Smith, as necessary.
Safeguarding concerns in a school/university/prison/healthcare setting should be raised with the relevant organisation's Safeguarding team. If the concern involves one of our chaplains, please also contact Cath Smith direct.
Cath's contact details are:
M: 07711485170
E: [email protected] E: [email protected]
Address: Diocese Offices, Clayton House, Walker Business Park, Blackburn, BB1 2Q
Links to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be found here:
https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/diocesan-safeguarding-team
https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/reporting-a-safeguarding-concern
Finding support
We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and that not everyone may want to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Below is a list of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:
NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm).
Children and young people
Local Authority Children’s Services/Social Care - Lancashire: 0300 123 6720
Out of hours’ emergency Children’s Social Care duty Team - 0300 123 6722
Adults
Adults Social Care: 0300123 6721
Out of hours’ emergency Adult’s Social Care duty Team - 0845 053 0028:
Age UK - 0300 303 1234
Blackburn support
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer Cath Smith M: 07711485170
E: [email protected] E: [email protected]
E: [email protected] E: [email protected]
Churches Child protection advisory service - 0845 120 4550 (need to say from Blackburn diocese)
For other useful numbers - http://www.blackburn.anglican.org
Safeguarding in our Benefice – who’s who?
The Vicar
The Reverend Alice Ormondroyd 01524 956839
The churchwardens
Sally Fletcher (St Mary's, Borwick) 01524 736508
Mrs Jean Tunnicliffe Wilson (St John’s, Yealand) 01524 781274
Mrs Clare Hunter (St John’s, Yealand)
The Benefice Safeguarding Officers
Vacancy (St Oswald's and St Mary's)
Mrs Jenny Chapman (St John’s) 07525 749267
Ministry Team
Mrs Annette MacKenzie (LLM) 01524 736944
Who co-ordinates work in your church related to children, young people, adults at risk (e.g. Sunday School, youth club, visiting team, transport)?
Vanessa Alpin (St Oswald’s Junior Church)
Emma Brantley-Tziros (Young Generations)
Who will you talk to if you observe or are told about Safeguarding concerns?
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer Cath Smith M: 07711485170