More about safeguarding

Who is Sue? The PSO!
What is a PSO, what do they do? 
What is Safeguarding, and who does it? 
Who do we speak to about Safeguarding? 
So safeguarding is everyone’s job? 
What do we need to do?  (Recognise; Respond; Respond; Refer)
A recap…
Who can we contact?
Training – why, who and where?

Who is Sue?
The Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), that’s who!

Sue says:
“My name is Sue Parkin and I started worshipping at St Barnabas more than two years ago, shortly after relocating from Kent to be nearer my family. In May 2024 I felt that God was calling me to become more involved with the church and volunteered to be the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), not really realising the scope and size of the job!”

What is a PSO, what do they do? 

The PSO, working alongside Rector Jenny, is the primary link between our church and the Diocese for all safeguarding matters. We aim to ensure that St. Barnabas is a safe and supportive place for children, young people and adults. 
Part of Sue’s responsibility is to oversee church activities from a safeguarding perspective, implement safeguarding policies and practices, and act as the first point of contact for any concerns. 

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What is Safeguarding, and who does it? 

Safeguarding isn’t just about allegations of abuse, although this is important, it’s about looking out for each other, providing support and involving other agencies when appropriate.
Every member of the congregation, PCC members and volunteers have a role to play in making and keeping St Barnabas a safe place. 
Jenny and Sue have been looking at the various roles our volunteers cover, and want to ensure each one included the important element of safeguarding. 
To that end, they’ve drafted a range of job descriptions to include this. Let me reassure you they recognise that all, besides Jenny, are volunteers and give of their time freely. Having this guidance in place will also help when newcomers feel they want to volunteer and ask to know about different roles.

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Who do we speak to about Safeguarding? 

If you have any questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to Sue, or contact her at safeguarding@stbarnabasbromborough.org.uk. More people and agencies that might be able to help are listed at the end of this page.

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So safeguarding is everyone’s job? 

Yes. Every member of our congregation has a responsibility to ensure all are kept safe and supported. Some members of our congregation have taken on additional roles within the church such as PCC members and helpers with our growing outreach to children and their families. With this commitment they are required to complete a series of courses to ensure they are fully equipped to recognise a safeguarding issue. 

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What do we need to do? 

To help everyone within the congregation, here’s an outline of the four Rs of Safeguarding: Recognising, Responding, Recording and Referring. We’ll look at each separately.

RECOGNISE RESPOND RECORD REFER

First, let’s look at RECOGNISING. 
Many of you may be surprised at the types of abuse that occur in our society. Unfortunately, it is likely that someone within our congregation is or has been a victim of one or more of those listed below.

RECOGNISING 
The main forms of abuse are:

  • Physical: Bruises and other injuries with no explanation.
  • Emotional: Depression, aggression, extreme anxiety, low self-esteem, mood or behaviour changes, withdrawn or clingy.
  • Neglect: Failure to grow, under-nourishment, hungry, inadequate care, unkempt.
  • Sexual: Adult sexual behaviour knowledge in children shown in words or drawings.
  • Domestic Abuse: May present in any of the ways listed here.
  • Discriminatory: Based on disability, race or gender.
  • Spiritual: Controlling and manipulating people using faith and spirituality.
  • Financial: Possessions, valuables or money disappearing.
  • Institutional: Care homes for example.
  • Grooming: Of individuals or families.
  • People Trafficking: Modern day slavery; use of force or coercion

Please let Sue know if you have any concerns or worries – disclosures (if someone tells you something). Allegations and concerns must be taken seriously and acted on.

RECOGNISE RESPOND RECORD REFER

RESPOND
If someone makes a disclosure (tells you something): 

DO

  • Reassure them that they are not to blame.
  • Assure them that talking to someone was the right thing to do.
  • Be calm and aware of your body language.
  • Listen carefully, do not ask questions or make comments.
  • Explain what you are going to do and let them know what is happening at each stage.
  • Refer to the Parish Safeguarding Officer (Sue Parkin) as soon as possible.
  • Make sure you find support for yourself. 

DON’T

  • Promise to keep it secret – make it clear you may need to share,
  • Try to investigate yourself,
  • Discuss the case with anyone apart from the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO),
  • Speak to the accused,
  • Ignore it.

RECOGNISE RESPOND RECORD REFER

The third R is:
RECORD
If someone says something to you or you see something that concerns you, please:

  • Make notes of what you are told, including names, dates and times.
  • Use the same words that the adult/child uses.
  • If someone else is involved include their contact details.

The original document will be kept safely and may be forwarded to the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, if necessary.

Please record:

  • WHO was involved – naming key people
  • WHAT happened – the facts
  • WHERE it happened
  • WHEN it happened – date and time
  • WHY it happened
  • to WHOM it was referred
  • HOW it happened

Please date and sign your notes and hand them to Sue, or to the Rector.
If you have any safeguarding issues please contact Sue – the PSO – in the first instance.

RECOGNISE RESPOND RECORD REFER

The last R in the series is 

REFER
No-one is expected to be an expert on all areas of safeguarding.
All allegations and disclosures must be referred to the Diocesan Safeguarding Officers.  
Please let me, as Safeguarding Officer, help with this and notify me in the first instance. If I am not around, please contact Rector Jenny and she will do this for you.
If you believe that someone is in immediate risk of harm when they leave you please make a referral directly to the appropriate agency – the Police or Social Services.
No concern is too small – all disclosures, issues or concerns, must be acted on as soon as possible.

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So, let’s recap:

Sue Parkin is the parish safeguarding officer.
She’s here to help and advise with any concern you have about the welfare of people who have contact with our parish. If you’re concerned and unsure if the concern is a safeguarding issue, ask her.

Remember the four R’s: Recognising, Responding, Recording and Referring
Most important – if you recognise something isn’t right, tell Sue. 
If you can’t tell Sue, or you need other advice, here’s the contacts that may be able to help:

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Who to contact

If a child or adult is in imminent danger, please dial 999 and ask for Police.
If there is no immediate danger, please let either the Rector, Reverend Jenny Gillies, Tel. 07806 608219, or  Sue Parkin, Parish Safeguarding Officer, know safeguarding@stbarnabasbromborough.org

Further information can be obtained from the Diocesan Safeguarding Team:

Non church agencies:

  • Safe Spaces Helpline 0300 3051056 – for free and independent support for survivors of church related abuse.
  • NAPAC – National Association for People Abused in Childhood- 0808 80103331
  • National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 200 0247 (lines free and open 24hours)
  • Childline – 0800 1111 (Free 24-hour helpline)
  • Parent Line- 0808 800 2222
  • Samaritans Helpline – 116 123 (Free 24-hour helpline)
  • Wirral Social Services (Children) – 0151 606 2008 (Office Hours) 0151 677 6557 (Out of Hours)
  • Wirral Social Services (Adults) – 0151 606 2006 (Office Hours) 0151 677 6557 (Duty Team for urgent support)

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Why do we have safeguarding training? 

We all want our church to be a safe place, we want to foster a safe and caring environment to enable everyone to feel safe.  Safeguarding training is conducted in churches to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults, to raise awareness of church policies and procedures, to define roles and responsibilities, to ensure legal and policy compliance, to support leadership and trustees and to foster a culture of vigilance.

Who needs to be trained:

  • Clergy, churchwardens, licenced readers, parish safeguarding officers, vergers, church leaders, PCC members and trustees.
  • Anyone working with, or responsible for, children, young people (even if parents are present) or vulnerable adults
  • Volunteers in various roles.

Where do we access training?

Safeguarding training can be accessed online https:// safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org and from time to time we arrange some local face to face training.

Please contact me  Sue Parkin – Parish Safeguarding Officer
safeguarding@stbarnabasbromborough.orgif you are having problems or concerns related to training.