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
- Jane Upcott
Their contact details and those of the two Churchwardens are on the ‘Who’s Who’ page
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.
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:
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser: Pamela Chisholm, Tel. 0207 939 9423 Email address: pamela.chisholm@southwark.anglican.org Mobile: 07982 279713
The Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officers are
Office address: Diocese of Southwark, Trinity House, 4, Chapel Court, London SE1 1HW