What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is about more than the child and adult protection systems. It is about preventing harm to children and adults wherever possible- sometimes this results in needing to use the child and adult protection systems to address concerns, make someone safer and bring an offender to justice.
Our Aims
Children, young people and adults are part of the learning, worshipping, caring and changing community of St Matthew’s.
We are committed to:
- The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all adults and children.
- The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable
- The establishment of safe, caring communities that provide a loving environment where there is a culture of ‘informed vigilance’ as to the dangers of abuse.
(Protecting All God’s Children 2010)
Useful Contacts
| Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) and Nominated Person for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults |  |
| Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) | (secure email) 0117 906 0100 |
| The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) | For any urgent out of hours concerns. Helpline 0303 003 1111 CCPAS staff will advise on whether an issue should be reported to a Local Authority, Police or other agency and on immediate management of any concern. Please say that you are calling from the Diocese of Bristol. |
| First Response (Children’s Social Care) | If a child is at risk of harm. 0117 903 6444 |
| Care Direct (Adult’s Social Care) | If an adult is at risk of harm. 0117 922 2700 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday (answerphone outside office hours). |
| Police | If a child or adult is in immediate risk of harm dial 999 |
| NSPCC | 24 hour Helpline: 0800 800 5000 (free from a landline) Asian Languages Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (free from a landline) Text helpline: 88858 (service is free and anonymous) |
Advice & Support for Children and Young People—Safeguarding for children from Bristol Safeguarding Children Board
