Safeguarding at St Antony's Priory
St Antony’s Priory 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.
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 who may pose a present risk to others.
As part of this commitment, we ask that all active members of our Spiritual Accompaniment Network complete training in Safeguarding and keep their knowledge and learning up to date with regular refresher training.
We recommend the Safeguarding Basic Awareness Course provided by the Church of England (details below), together with bespoke training specific to spiritual direction, which we can offer at the Priory.
Safeguarding training should be refreshed every three years.
Resources
SSM Safeguarding Policy (on our website)
Policy and practice guidance | The Church of England
Safeguarding e-manual | The Church of England
Downloads
Safeguarding Basic Awareness Training
Training is available online through the Church of England Safeguarding Training Portal
If you haven’t already used this service you will need to create an account. Once you have done so, you will then be able to complete the basic Awareness Training.
You may also wish to consider some of the other modules, such as Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse.
Please make a note of the date you completed the training and retain a copy of your certificate. You will be asked for the date of the most recent training you have completed each year when you complete your Annual Return Form.
Further Information
Reporting Abuse
If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention, call 999.
If you do not think there is a risk of immediate danger, but you are concerned that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm, or you want to report abuse whether it is currently happening or happened some time ago, do not hesitate to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser for advice and support.
You can also contact your local police force by dialling 101 or your local children’s or adult services.
Anyone can report a safeguarding concern.
You can:
• Speak to one of our employees if you are attending one of our activities or events.
• Speak to the Director, the Designated Safeguarding Person, the Safeguarding Lead Trustee or the
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser if you are an employee, volunteer or spiritual director.
• If you are worried about the safety or welfare of an adult, call the NSPCC Adult Helpline for
confidential advice on 0808 800 5000.
Anyone can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser directly on beth.miller@durham.anglican.org or mobile no 07968 034075.
If as an employee or volunteer you make a report to the NSPCC, the Police or any other agency you must also inform the Director of St Antony’s Priory, Designated Safeguarding Person, Safeguarding Trustee or Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
More information can be found on the Diocese of Durham website here.
Finding Support
In addition, a number of other agencies are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:
- NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
- Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
- National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
- Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
- Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5 pm)
- NAPAC (The National Association for People Abused in Childhood) 0808 801 0331 (Monday – Thursday 10am – 9pm Friday 10am – 6pm) or email support@napac.org.uk
- The Survivors Trust: 08088 010818 (free 7 day a week helpline) or email helpline@thesurvivorstrust.org
Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, Church in Wales or the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
Safe Spaces comprises a team of trained support advocates, who have undergone specialist training in supporting survivors of sexual violence and who have received additional specific training in how the churches respond to abuse cases, the way in which faith and church-related settings have been used to carry out abuse, and the particular issues affecting people who have had or still have, a relationship with the church.
The service is for those who may have experienced any form of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, psychological abuse (including spiritual abuse), domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour.Anyone can report a safeguarding concern. You can:
• Speak to one of our employees if you are attending one of our activities or events.
• Speak to the Director, the Designated Safeguarding Person, the Safeguarding Lead Trustee or the
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser if you are an employee, volunteer or spiritual director.
• If you are worried about the safety or welfare of an adult, call the NSPCC Adult Helpline for
confidential advice on 0808 800 5000.
• If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child call the police. 999 for an emergency. 101 for a
non-emergency.
Anyone can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser directly on beth.miller@durham.anglican.org
mobile no 07968 034075. If as an employee or volunteer you make a report to the NSPCC, the Police or any
other agency you must also inform the Director of St Antony’s Priory, Designated Safeguarding Person,
Safeguarding Trustee or Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.