Safeguarding

Ascension Stirchley has agreed to adopt all of the House of Bishop’s safeguarding policy and practice guidance and The Church of England – Birmingham’s procedures for their implementation.

All forms of abuse are wrong and must stop

The care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Church activities is the responsibility of the whole Church. Everyone who participates in the life of the Church has a role to play in promoting a safer Church for all.

If you have any concerns or need to talk to someone

please contact Catherine Grylls on 0121 443 1371 or [email protected]

If you cannot contact the person above and someone is being harmed or is not safe and needs immediate help, dial 999, or contact social care services, or, for a child, the NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000

The Bishop's Safeguarding Adviser can be contacted on 07342 993 844 or [email protected]

Our commitments:

Promoting a safer environment and culture

Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults within the Church

Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation

Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons

Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons

Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others

We will implement good safeguarding practice by ensuring:

the welfare of the child, young person and vulnerable adult is paramount;

a leadership commitment, at all levels, to the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults;

our safeguarding policy is available to all church officers;

a clear line of accountability within our church for work on safeguarding;

clear reporting procedures to deal with safeguarding concerns and allegations;

we report all concerns and allegations against church officers to the Bishop’s Safeguarding Adviser and statutory agencies;

clear roles for church officers;

we have clear arrangements for support and/or supervision of church officers;

all church officers working with or in contact with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults attend diocesan safeguarding training;

our practice and services are informed by on- going learning, review and by the views of children, young people, families and vulnerable adults;

safer recruitment procedures are in place;

effective working with statutory and voluntary sector partners;

we have publicly advertised arrangements for children, young people and vulnerable adults to be able to speak to an independent person, as required;

our complaints and whistleblowing procedures are well publicised;

effective information sharing;

good record keeping.

Other useful contacts: 

Childline 0800 1111

Family Lives Helpline 0808 800 2222

Samaritans 116 123

Elder Abuse 0808 808 8141

Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247

Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 801 0327

LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline 0300 999 5428

National Association of People Abused in Childhood 0800 085 3330

Stop It Now! Helpline  0808 1000 900</span

Local Authority Children’s Social Care Services:  0121 303 1888 (Birmingham)

Local Authority Adult Social Care Services:  0121 303 1234 (Birmingham)