Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If you become aware of a safeguarding concern, where the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult at risk is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention, call emergency services on 999.
If you wish to report any safeguarding concerns within the church, past or present, please email the Westminster Diocese Safeguarding Service on: safeguarding@rcdow.org.uk or Phone: 020 7798 9352, and choose option 1. The Safeguarding Service operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm only. Emails and phone calls are not monitored outside these times. You can also contact the Parish Safeguarding Representative, Teresa Smith as above.
https://safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/ Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales.
Information can be found here for where to find other help and support out of hours and details of external national helplines. All allegations of abuse reported to the Catholic Church in England and Wales are immediately passed on to the police. The Church works closely and cooperatively with the statutory authorities as these allegations are investigated.
Safeguarding at St Margaret’s Parish
At St Margaret’s we are committed to doing all we can to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, in line with RCDOW and CSSA (the national Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency) policies and procedures.
You can contact our Parish Safeguarding Representative, Teresa Smith at smotsg@safeguard.rcdow.org.uk
All who work with children or vulnerable adults within the Parish must have been through the Parish’s Safer Recruitment Process. Additionally, a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check must have been completed and processed by the Diocese of Westminster before anyone can function in a role which has contact with children or vulnerable adults.
Outside organisations use our premises for different activities. All must have an up to date Safeguarding Policy and provide evidence that DBS checks have been carried out.
