Our PCC Safeguarding Policy Statement
The following policy was agreed at the PCC meeting held on 18 May 2025.
In Accordance with:
- The House of Bishops’ Policy Statement ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ (2017)
- Protecting all God’s children (2010)
- The Diocese of London Safeguarding Policy ‘Promoting a Safer Diocese’ (2023)
- The Parish Safeguarding Handbook
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:
- Create a safe and caring place for all.
- Have a named Church Safeguarding Officer (CSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
- Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
- Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
- Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
- Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
- 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 at least annually.
Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.
The Church of England Policy Documents may be found by clicking here and here
Paper copies of this, together with any parish guidelines and procedures, are held by our Safeguarding Officer Sarah Watts.
The PCC of this Church agreed and adopted the above Policy at its meeting on 18 May 2025. The PCC shall review this policy annually.
We have appointed Sarah Watts as our CHURCH SAFEGUARDING OFFICER (CSO).
Our Safeguarding Officer is the first person to speak to if you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult.
Sarah can be contacted at safeguarding@emmanuelnw6.com
Her photograph is on the Who’s Who page of our website.
Current Statutory Safeguarding Display Poster
Signed on 18 May 2025.
Revd Catriona Laing – Vicar (at time of signing)
Antony Edwards – Churchwarden
John-David Papworth – Churchwarden
Operation Lanark
Operation Lanark is an ongoing police investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met). It relates to serious offences, including child sexual abuse, committed by a nursery worker at a now-closed Bright Horizons nursery in Camden. It does not relate to any setting run by Camden Council or any Camden Council staff member.
You can find more information at Operation Lanark – including dedicated support for directly affected families and if you want to, how to participate in the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR), which begins in January 2026.
If you’re directly affected by Operation Lanark, a range of confidential support is available:
You can call the dedicated NSPCC helpline number on 0800 028 0828 who may refer you to other services as needed. It’s open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also email NSPCC on help@nspcc.org.uk. You can contact them anonymously if you want to and your call or email will be dealt with confidentially.
Our Children’s Social Care team can provide emotional and practical support. If you want to speak to a social worker, call our Children and Families Service on 0207 974 3317 or email them at LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk. The call or email will be handled by trained staff who are ready to help and will make sure that you get the most appropriate support.
You can speak to your GP who can also help you access the support you need.
Safeguarding
If you are worried about a child or a young person, please let us know and contact the council’s children’s social work team on 020 7974 3317 or email LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk. For more information visit Are you worried about a child?
.Other Useful Numbers
London Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers DSA 020 7932 1224
Thirty-one eight 24 hour helpline 0303 003 1111
Family Lives 0808 800 222
Childline 0800 1111
Action on Elder Abuse helpline 0808 808 8141
24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline 0808 2000 247
NAPAC offers support and advice for adult survivors of sexual abuse 0808 8010331
MACAS for people who have been abused by church officers 0808 801 0340