The leadership team of St Andrew’s Cherry Hinton is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults who may be at risk of harm. We recognise the important role that the church has in caring for both young and old alike and to that end we seek to provide a safe and caring environment that promotes the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised in our society. As a church we fully subscribe to the safeguarding commitments and guidance of the Church of England outlines in Promoting a Safer Church (2017).
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of abuse, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others please seek advice from a Safeguarding Adviser or if necessary report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Services or the Police without delay.
You can contact St Andrew’s directly regarding safeguarding matters by speaking to the following people:
Kerry Calvo (Safeguarding Officer) safeguarding.standrewschurch@gmail.com
Revd Karin (Vicar) 07971 936253
You can also contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team directly. Their duty telephone number is 01353 652747.
You can also contact the Local Authority without giving your name and your conversation will be treated confidentially.
Telephone: 0345 045 5203 (8-6pm Monday to Friday) 01733 234 724 (out of hours)
referralcentre.children@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
If you consider a child is at immediate danger and needs urgent help you can call the police on 999.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding means the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. This means we will promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that have been abused. We will take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks.
The PCC will ensure that we have the following in place:
Staff, leaders and volunteers are recruited in accordance with the principles of safer recruitment.
Staff, leaders and volunteers are informed and supported to behave in a way that is appropriate and above reproach.
Staff, leaders and volunteers are trained in the recognition and response to the needs of children and adults who may be at risk of harm.
Staff, leaders, volunteers and the congregation are made aware of who to contact within the church when they have a concern about a child, adult or person with responsibility towards these groups.
Staff, leaders, volunteers and the congregation are supported when they are affected by abuse.
The PCC recognises that:
The gospel compels us to protect the vulnerable and marginalised as part of our witness
Our church culture should be characterised by integrity, transparency and vigilance.
The Church is a place where people who have been abused may come for care and support.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Our church culture should be characterised by integrity, transparency and vigilance.
All people have the potential to perpetrate abuse against another person.
Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child or adult at risk.
Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
Download our Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding
at St Andrew's Cherry Hinton