We are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community.
DBS APPLICATIONS
Under Diocesan guidelines we need to check that all volunteers involved with children or potentially vulnerable adults have DBS clearance, and that this be re-checked every 3 years. If you are hoping to join a team that requires you to undergo a check, you will need to complete a DBS application before getting invovled; please chat to your team leader about how to complete this.
POLICY & RESOURCES
House of Bishops' Safer Environment and Activities' Guidance
Our Safeguarding policy statement is available to download here.
Domestic abuse support services
Guidance on mental health and wellbeing
TRAINING
Following changes in the National Church Safeguarding Policy the Diocese has implemented a new programme of Safeguarding training courses. All the training follows the national standard as issued by Church of England training team and is transferable, so if you move to another Diocese or role this training will be valid.
To find out whether you need to complete any training to support your voluntary role, please chat to your team leader. If training is required further details, along with links to complete Basic (C0) and Foundations (C1) and book onto further courses, can be obtianed from the Diocesean website.
SUPPORT
IF SOMEONE DISCLOSES INFORMATION TO YOU
- be calm
- listen and don’t make comments or judgements
- never promise confidentiality, tell them you may have to share any information
- do not: ask leading questions, investigate it, discuss it with anyone else or ignore it
- reassure them that speaking up was right
- tell them what you will do next
- contact a designated person listed below
IF YOU CONSIDER SOMEONE TO BE IN REAL & IMMEDIATE DANGER
You must call either:
The police 101 or, in an emergency: 999
Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub 023 8083 3336 / out of hours 023 8023 3344
Then inform a Designated Person (detailed below) within 24 hours
CONCERNS ABOUT SOMEONE’S SAFETY
Talk to a Designated Person or the Diocesan Safeguarding Manager detailed below:
DESIGNATED PERSONS
Parish Safeguarding Officer / Andy King / safeguarding@highfield.church or 07723 461604
Vicar / Mike Archer / vicar@highfield.church or 07595 333881
or, failing the above, Church Wardens / Phil Moss & Penny Cox / wardens@highfield.church or 023 8055 8234
DIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING MANAGER
Jackie Rowlands // 01962 737317 or 07921 865374