SAFEGUARDING

Each of our PCCs take the issue Child and Adult safeguarding seriously. We have adopted the Church of England’s House of Bishops’ ‘Promoting a Safer Church; safeguarding policy’ as our policy. A full copy of that policy is available at the back of each of the churches.

What to do if you have a concern that a child or adult is or may be being abused, or that a church officer is or may be abusing a child or adult.

IN AN EMERGENCY: If you believe a child or adult is in immediate danger of significant or serious harm, contact the emergency services on 999.

In a Non- Emergency: Contact the Parish Safeguarding Officer or incumbent, in the first instance for each Church in the Benefice as follows:

St Michael's, Somerton - Parish Safeguarding Office - Linda Smallwood

St Mary the Virgin Charlton Mackrell and St Peter and St Paul Charlton Adam - Parish Safeguarding Officer - Dot Squire

All Saints, Kingsdon - Bel Allan

You can also contact our Priest in Charge, 

We are currently in Vacancy and during this period contact details are shown below. We also offer ministry through baptisms, weddings, funerals, and pastoral care of all in the area.

During the Vacancy If you would like to avail yourself of any of these services or for any other reason, please contact the Benefice office by email somerton.benefice@gmail.com Tel: 01458 273499 or use email somerton.vicar@gmail.com Tel: 07483137623 and these will be monitored regularly.

If urgent contact is required please call 01458 272029 for any of the churches in the Benefice.

They must then contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor. If neither are available, or if they may be the source of the concern please contact the DSA directly; simply click the button below which will direct you to the DSA reporting page on the Bath and Wells Diocesan website.

In the extremely unlikely situation that neither the PSO/incumbent or the DSA are not available within 24 hours, contact Children’s Social Care or Adult Social Care and/or the police directly, if the concern is that a child or adult is being abused. Contact the Local Authority Designated Officer and/or police if the concern is that a church officer may be abusing a child or adult. 

What will happen next?  The DSA will act in line with the House of Bishops’ guidance. They will offer advice, support and guidance and refer the concerns to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and/or police within 24 hours.

The DSA will take over the management of the safeguarding concern in conjunction with the statutory agencies

You can also go the Diocesan Safeguarding page using the ling below, which includes and out of hours phone number for contact.

http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/diocese/safeguarding/reporting-concerns-or-abuse/