Safeguarding
The Parochial Church Council of St Augustine’s is committed to:
The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and all adults
The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and all adults
The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where victims of abuse can report or disclose abuse and where they can find support and best practice that contributes to the prevention of abuse
The Parish’s Safeguarding Officers are:
Florence Eze-John
and
Caroline Clayton
If you need to make contact on a safeguarding issue please email
safeguarding@staugustines-grovepark.com
The Parochial Church Council’s Safeguarding policies
The PCC follows the policies and guidelines set out in the Diocesan publication A Safe Church, a copy of which can be accessed at the following link: http://southwark.anglican.org/safeguarding/diocesan-policies-and-procedures
There is also a copy at the back of church.
The PCC follows the national, legal and procedural framework for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and Church of England policy and practice. It responds promptly to any complaints made and works in partnership with police and social care services where children or vulnerable adults have been harmed or are at risk of harm or mistreatment. It is committed to providing training about safeguarding and to using safe recruitment practices.
The Southwark Diocese Safeguarding Team can be contacted as follows:
The Southwark Diocesan Safeguarding Team is available Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (with last calls being taken at 4.30pm) (excluding bank holidays), and can be contacted for advice and support via the following routes during these hours:
Safeguarding referrals/general enquiries:
safeguarding@southwark.anglican.org / Telephone: 0207 939 9441
Safeguarding training enquiries:
safeguardingtraining@southwark.anglican.org / Telephone: 0207 939 9476
Admin and DBS enquiries:
safeguardingadmin@southwark.anglican.org /Telephone: 020 7939 9478
Emergencies:
If you suspect you or someone is at risk of immediate harm, phone 999.
For safeguarding advice outside of office hours please see the following options:
- If someone is at risk of immediate harm contact the police on 999.
- For non-urgent enquires email or call the Diocesan Safeguarding Team who will respond as soon as possible during office hours.
- For urgent safeguarding advice contact your local social services, provided by local authorities, out of hours contacts can be found below:
You can find more help from the following agencies and organisations:
- NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0800 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.
- London Borough of Lewisham, Social Services Dept.: 0208 314 6660 or, out of hours, 0208 314 6000. If you think a child or young person may be in immediate danger, or if you are concerned for yourself or an adult’s safety, call 999.
- 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 are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
- Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 0808 808 8141 (lines free and open Monday to Friday 9 – 5 pm)
- The Athena Service (run by Refuge): 0800 112 4052. Email address: lewishamvawg@refuge.org.uk. Contact them if you live in the Borough of Lewisham and need confidential, non-judgemental support and are experiencing gender-based violence. The service supports women and girls aged 13 and over; men aged 16 or over and transgender clients who identify as male, female, or as another gender, or are questioning their gender identity.