Safeguarding

• If you are a child and you need to talk to someone about things that are happening to you that you don’t like, please click on this link which takes you the Childline website, or telephone Childline on 0800 1111

• If you are an adult and you need to access support about something that is happening to you, please click on this link to find out how you can do that. Scroll down to find links to various support organisations for you to contact.

• If you need to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, please click on this link.

• If you need to report a safeguarding concern to the statutory authorities in Sussex, please click on this link, click on the option on the left that most describes the situation you are concerned about, and follow the advice and further links you find there. Please remember to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as well once you have contacted the statutory authorities.

Safeguarding policy

  1. As members of the P.C.C. in the Parish of Fletching, we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members.

  2. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

  3. We are committed to implementing all safeguarding policies and practice guidance issued by the House of Bishops.

  4. We will carefully select and train all those who work or volunteer in positions of trust. We will use the Disclosure and Barring Service, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.

  5. We will respond, without delay, to every concern made that a person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed.

  6. We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church community.

  7. We will seek to ensure that anyone for whom we have pastoral responsibility who has suffered abuse is offered support that meets their needs.

  8. We will respond appropriately to those who have committed sexual offences who wish to join our fellowship, following House of Bishop's guidance and the advice of the Safeguarding Team.

  9. We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.