Safeguarding
St George's Roman Catholic Church is fully committed to making our parish a safe, secure and transparent environment.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding relates to the action taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and to protect them from harm. Safeguarding should be embedded in everything we do as part of the church community and should provide a safe space for all.
Everyone has the right to be safe, and safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
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Livestreaming and Privacy
Our regular services in this church are livestreamed on the internet, via a camera located towards the front of the church, on the left-hand side. The camera focuses on the sanctuary and the area in front of it.
People may be briefly visible on camera when entering or leaving the church through the door next to the sanctuary and when receiving Holy Communion in front of the altar. If it is not appropriate for you or any children you care for to be seen online, please enter and leave by the rear door and use the side aisle by the Lady Chapel to join those receiving Holy Communion in the transept by the door to the sacristy.
Safeguarding Children
The term ‘child’ is used to include all children and young people up to the age of 18. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing impairment of children’s health and development
- Ensuring that children are growing up with safe and effective care
Safeguarding Adults
In the same way arrangements must be in place to respond to concerns about any form of abuse or maltreatment of an adult at risk. Statutory safeguarding duties apply to an adult who meets the following criteria:
- Has needs for care and support (whether or not a local authority is meeting any of these needs)
- Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
- As a result of these care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.
St. Georges Safeguarding Team
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Father Chris Fallon – Parish Priest
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Stuart Burke – Retired Police
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Anna Loveless – Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead for a Sefton Primary school
If you need to speak to a member of the team please contact us via the parish office - Tel: 0151 526 1071 stgeorge@rcaol.org.uk
If you believe that you or someone you care for are in immediate danger, please contact the police by ringing 999.
If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the safeguarding office for your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the Police.
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If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations to the police as well as the diocese safeguarding office:
Tel: 01515221103 or 01515221043
Email: safeguarding@rcaol.org.uk
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Alternatively, you can contact the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA): Website: catholicsafeguarding.org.uk Tel:02079011020
Email: admin@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk
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Please see the Archdiocese of Liverpool safeguarding page for more information.
As a Parish, we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults so that all can worship and grow safely in our community. Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults is the responsibility of the whole Church and central to our mission.
The Parish of St. Georges has adopted the Safeguarding policy and guidelines of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
For further services and organisations that offer support…
NSPCC –
Child Line 0800 1111
National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
You can call REFUGE, for free and in confidence, 24-hours a day.