Safeguarding

Safeguarding: Our Ethos

Church should be a place where everyone can feel safe. We will never be perfect, but we can work together to make our churches safer. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility - and it needs to be at the heart of everything we do - so we all need to be on the look-out for signs of harm and abuse.

We need to be vigilant so that if something doesn’t seem right, then we’ll spot it. We can’t assume ‘that kind of thing’ won’t happen here – it can and it does. But we can work together to make our churches safer and to minimise the risks of harm and abuse.

To do that we need to listen to that gut feeling that tells you when something isn’t right. And, in safeguarding, if it doesn’t feel right then chances are it’s not. If there’s a situation that doesn’t feel right then our Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors are here to help. If you’re concerned about someone or something, just call them (details below) and they’ll offer support and advice. Don’t worry that you might be wasting their time – they’re here to help and a two minute phone call may be all it takes to get you the support and reassurance you need. In making that call, you could be providing the missing piece of a jigsaw that helps to keep someone else safe.

Safeguarding is about caring for one another and looking out for one another – and each of us has a crucial role to play in that. Our churches can be safer if we all work together.

Our Safeguarding Team

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers

Our Safeguarding Advisers are qualified and experienced social care practitioners who can provide advice and guidance to parishes and others in the diocese on child and adult protection. They can offer advice, discuss any protection matters and clarify anything in the Diocesan Guidelines. They are always ready to work with you to plan a detailed response to any  protection issue, taking into account all aspects of your particular situation. Please do not hesitate to contact them; they are always very ready to help.

Fiona Coombs Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser 07548 232395 fcoombs@diocant.org

Paul Brightwell Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser 07398 009951 pbrightwell@diocant.org

DBS Checking & Support

Karen Carolan-Evans Safeguarding Administrator 01227 459401 safeguarding@diocant.org

Canterbury Diocesan and Cathedral Safeguarding Advisory Panel

Carol Iddon Chair ciddon@diocant.org

Kent County Council services

• Main contact: 03000 41 41 41
• Adult social services & health: 03000 41 61 61
• Children & Families Information Service: 03000 41 23 23
• Children’s social services: 03000 41 11 11