SAFEGUARDING CONTACTS
If you know of a child or vulnerable adult in immediate danger, or requires immediate medical attention, call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.
The safeguarding team in Chatteris is committed to helping you create protective and supportive environments where all people, and especially those who may be vulnerable, are able to worship and pursue their faith journey in safety.
We follow the national legal and procedural framework for safeguarding children and adults, and Church of England policy and practice.
Elaine Green: Acting Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) and Church Warden
E | elaine@chatteris.org T | 01354694880
Rev.d Canon Wendy Thomson: Vicar of Chatteris Parish Church
E | wendy@chatteris.org T | 01354 692173
Diocese of Ely Safeguarding Officer - Rebecca Boswell, Duty Phone 01353 652747
National Church of England Safeguarding Website - please follow the link below:
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/promoting-safer-church-safeguarding
PCC Policies
The PCC have posted Policies, including Policies for (1) Safeguarding and (2) Privacy.
Please contact a Church Warden or the Operations Manager if you would like to see more of our policies.
1. Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Policy
PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH
The Parochial Church Council of St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Chatteris
The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 29th June 2023. In accordance with the National House of Bishop’s Safeguarding Policy for the Church of England, our church is committed to:
● Promoting a safer environment and culture.
● Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church
● Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
● Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
● Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
● Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The Parish will:
Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
Adopt zero tolerance to discrimination, harassment, inappropriate behaviour, and bullying, by ensuring that all complaints and incidents are recorded and promptly reported to the PSO or vicar.
Safely recruit, train, and support all those with any responsibility for people to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse. Ensure that refresher training and DBS updates take place every three years.
Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
Respond to all safeguarding concerns or allegations: Respond; Record; Report.
Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of when it occurred, being sensitive to how our language and use of scripture may be interpreted.
Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices annually.
Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.
This church appoints Elaine Green as the ‘Acting’ Parish Safeguarding Officer.
Elaine Green 01354 694880 - ‘Acting’ Parish Safeguarding Officer & Church Warden
Revd Canon Wendy Thomson 01354 692173 - Vicar
Diocese of Ely Safeguarding Duty Phone 01353 652747
2. Privacy
The Law is changing and it requires us to be transparent about how people’s personal data is being used. As a church we use your personal data in a number of ways.
This Privacy Notice explains what to expect when Chatteris Parish Church collects and uses your personal data.
PERSONAL DATA – WHAT IS IT?
Personal data is information about a living individual which is capable of identifying that individual. It might include information such as title, name, and address, date of birth, email and telephone number.
OUR PROMISE We are committed to respecting your privacy and ensuring that the personal data you have entrusted us with is kept safe and processed only for the purposes declared. We will always treat any sensitive personal data with the greatest of care. We will never share your data with third parties outside of the parish without your explicit consent unless we are legally required to do so
WHAT WE USE YOUR DATA FOR
We collect your personal data for various reasons at various times and may be used for any of the following:
To inform you of news, events, activities and services running at Chatteris Parish Church;
To enable us to provide a voluntary service for the benefit of the Parish;
To provide necessary pastoral care if you are seeking assistance as required;
To administer membership and attendance records according to our Safeguarding Policy;
To maintain parish registers for the Church of England; such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals;
To fundraise and promote the interests of Chatteris Parish;
To manage our employees and volunteers;
To maintain our accounts and finances, including the processing of gift aid applications;
YOUR RIGHTS Unless there is a greater legal duty, you have the following rights
To request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
To request that any incorrect data is corrected.
To request that any data is deleted where it is no longer necessary to keep such data.
To object to your data being used, and ask us to stop.
The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioners Office.
THE LAW We can only process your data if we have a legal basis for doing so, and we do.
As a not-for-profit religious organisation we can process personal data for the purposes specified providing you are a member, previous member or have regular contact; and that we do not disclose your information to any third party without your consent.
It is deemed a legitimate activity to process your data in order to continue to be an active Christian presence, supporting you and the local community in this place.[1]
It is necessary to process your data in order to provide you with a service and ongoing support. For example as a result of baptism, wedding or funeral ministry
We have a legal duty to process data as an employer and as a church reliant on volunteers.
HOW LONG WE KEEP YOUR DATA
We will only keep your personal data for as long as it is required, after which time, your data is destroyed. Gift Aid, financial records and attendance records are kept for six years. Electoral role membership is renewed every five years. Parish Registers are kept permanently for all Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals.
REPORTING CONCERNS
Please contact the Vicar if you wish to raise a concern about our handling of your personal data.
Vicar: Revd Canon Wendy Thomson
The Vicarage, Church Lane, Chatteris, PE16 6JA
Tel: 01354 692173
[1] Details about retention periods can currently be found in the Record Management Guides located on the Church of England website at: - https://www.churchofengland.org/more/libraries-and-archives/records-management-guides