Safeguarding
We take our responsibilities to keep young children and vulnerable adults safe whenever they are in the church or with church staff. The Church of England’s Parish Safeguarding Handbook: Promoting a Safer Church can be found here The Joint Council of Penshurst and the Chiddingstone Churches has formally adopted the House of Bishops’ ‘Promoting a Safer Church safeguarding policy statement’ (click here to see the formal statement). The Joint Council Safeguarding Policy can be viewed by clicking here.
If you have cause to believe that a child or adult may have been, or is at risk of being harmed you should contact one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers
If you have reason to believe that a child is in imminent danger of harm you must contact the police on 999. You should not speak to the police about an adult at risk unless with the permission of that adult.
If you have any concerns about a safeguarding issue, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officers (above) to talk confidentially.
You may also contact our Revd Lisa Cornell, the Rector, on 01892 487519.
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
Lead Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser: Greg Barry
Tel: 01634 560000 or 07585 952174
Email: greg.barry@rochester.anglican.org
Website: https://rochester.anglican.org/safeguarding/
HELPLINES
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
Childline: 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/
Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900 https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/
NAPAC: 0808 801 0331 https://napac.org.uk/
Samaritans: 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org/
Family Lives: 0808 800 2222 https://www.familylives.org.uk/
To access specialist Domestic Abuse support please call Victim Support 0808 168 9111 or visit www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk.
To access specialist Drug and alcohol support see: https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/drug-misuse/alcohol-and-drug-support
In an emergency, call the police on 999 (if you can’t speak, cough, or tap the handset then press 55 on your phone – the police will know it’s an emergency).
DAVSS: 01892 570538 https://www.davss.org.uk/
Action on Elder Abuse: 0808 808 8141 https://www.elderabuse.org.uk