A SAFER CHURCH
Reporting abuse or raising a concern If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical attention contact the emergency services on 999. If the situation you are reporting is not an emergency please use the contact details below. There are Safeguarding Leads in every local church across the country and Regional Safeguarding Officers in each Region. If you are worried about someone and want to raise a concern or report abuse, please contact your Safeguarding Lead in your local church in the first instance. The Corporate Safeguarding Team are here to provide support and guidance to the Board of Trustees, Senior Pastors, Ministers, Regional and Local Safeguarding representatives. Reports of children and young people at risk of abuse and neglect should be made to the Children's Social Care team at their local council. There is a Safeguarding team in every local authority and please note, it is not the role of the CoGoP Safeguarding team to investigate any allegations. Please email the Corporate Safeguarding Team at: safeguarding@cogop.org.uk for more information and any further support you may require. The Safeguarding Adults policy document is addressed to everyone in the Church but especially to church workers who have some responsibility for the pastoral care of others. Such workers may be ordained or lay, licensed, commissioned or accredited; they may be volunteers with no official authorisation. The policy is intended to help members of the Church to consider issues of vulnerability, disability and integration. Understanding the needs of people with vulnerabilities will enhance pastoral ministry, whilst information about what constitutes mistreatment of adults will be a necessary part of ministerial training. The procedures outlined in the Safeguarding Adults policy document are therefore particularly relevant to those who work or volunteer in a more informal way. There is a particular responsibility for members of the Church to ensure that all people are treated with respect and that any complaints against church workers are dealt with promptly and fairly. Safeguarding adults within the Church is based on sound pastoral care and good practice. Therefore, everyone who participates in the life of the Church has a role to play in promoting a Safer Church for all
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