St Peter's First Turn Wolvercote

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about keeping people safe and about working with children and vulnerable adults in a respectful and safe way. Each year St Peter’s PCC  reviews its safeguarding policies. Open St Peter’s Wolvercote Safeguarding Policy March 2023, St Peter’s Ex-offenders Policy and St Peter’s Safer Recruiting Guidance 2023, St Peter’s Domestic Abuse Guidance 2023, St Peter’s Lone Working policy 2023, St Peter’s Social Media Guidance 2023.

St Peter’s approaches safeguarding according to the principles set out in The Church of England’s Parish Handbook. This brings the safeguarding responsibilities for all parishes as outlined in the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance into a single document. The handbook has been designed to support the day-to-day work of all parishes in relation to safeguarding and those who have a key role to play with children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable.

We are here to listen and help if you are worried or upset about something that’s happening, or has happened to you or someone you know. See contacts below.

Our churches and church-related activities must be safe for all, with safeguarding policies and practices that promote a safer church. We need to be certain that all known cases of concern about the behaviour of our clergy or church officers towards children and adults have been considered and dealt with appropriately.

If you have lived experience of abuse from within the Church of England, you may prefer to call the dedicated telephone NSPCC helpline, which is independent of the Church. Call 0800 80 20 20

The NSPCC helpline is also available to anyone wishing to provide information or to raise concerns regarding abuse within the Church of England. The helpline is there for you whether you are reporting issues relating to children or adults or seeking to whistleblow about poor safeguarding practice. Your call is confidential, and your concerns will be taken seriously.

What to do if you think a child is at risk of abuse or neglect

Immediate danger

If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

Immediate concern

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the front door to Children’s Social Care for all child protection and immediate safeguarding concerns. If there is an immediate safeguarding concern where a child is deemed at risk or has potentially suffered significant harm, the MASH team should be contacted immediately.

If you have a concern about a child, please call MASH on 0345 050 7666 during office hours (8.30am – 5pm, Monday to Thursday, 8.30am – 4pm, Friday)

Outside office hours call the Emergency Duty Team on 0800 833 408; and/or
Out of Hours Safeguarding Helpline: For enquiries outside of operational hours of an urgent safeguarding nature, call our partners Thirtyone:eight (formerly Churches Child Protection Advisory service (CCPAS)) on +44 (0) 303 003 1111. You will get confidential advice, guidance, and support.