Safeguarding

Safeguarding at St Ephraim's

At St Ephraim's Orthodox Parish, we are committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Our Safeguarding Policy outlines the measures we take to prevent and respond to all forms of abuse. This includes rigorous recruitment checks for volunteers, ongoing training, clear reporting procedures, and the appointment of designated safeguarding link persons. Guided by the Paramountcy Principle, we place the welfare of each individual at the heart of our community life.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of our Safeguarding Link persons:

email safeguarding@saintephraim.org.uk 

Overview of the Safeguarding Policy of the Orthodox Parish of St Ephraim in Cambridge
(The full policy is available here)

• The policy ensures the safety and welfare of children (under 18) and vulnerable adults within the parish’s care.

• It applies to all workers, staff, and volunteers involved in parish activities.

Key Principles

• The Paramountcy Principle guides all action: the welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is the top priority.

• Everyone in the parish has a responsibility to prevent and report abuse, including neglect, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Safeguarding Procedures

1.  Minimising Risk:

• Avoid one-on-one situations; always have two adults present where possible.

• Maintain clear visibility during activities and ensure safe environments.

• Keep proper attendance and incident records.

2.  Recruitment & Roles:

• Proper recruitment, including DBS checks.

• Written applications and references for anyone working with children/vulnerable adults.

• Clear role descriptions to avoid confusion or misuse of trust.

3.  Support & Training:

• Ongoing training and supervision for workers.

• Workers meet regularly to share experiences and monitor wellbeing.

• Guidelines issued on how to deal with suspected abuse.

4.  Safeguarding Link Persons:

• Two appointed individuals (Themba Sikhosana and Julia Komlewa) are the first point of contact for safeguarding issues.

• Contact details are clearly published for transparency and accountability.

5.  Handling Disclosures & Allegations:

• Clear reporting procedure for suspicions or allegations
    (see flow chart and incident form in appendices).

• Guidance for reacting to abuse, including what to do in emergencies.

• Special section on disclosures made during sacramental confession, respecting confidentiality while encouraging victims to seek help.

Types of Abuse Covered

• Detailed descriptions of various forms of abuse for both children and adults, including: Physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, domestic, discriminatory, spiritual abuse, and modern slavery.

Data Protection

• Compliance with data protection laws: personal information will only be used appropriately, securely stored, and shared only when legally permissible.