WELCOME TO THE LA CÔTE SAFEGUARDING PAGE

Thank you for visiting our page

Your safeguarding team members are Liz Martinez and Cate Bichara. If you would like to get in touch, please do by sending us an email at safeguarding@lacotechurch.ch, or chat to us at a Church service, or use the form at the bottom of the page.

Safeguarding is increasingly important in our world

The Church is committed to safeguarding as an integral part of its ministry and mission, promoting a safer culture and the welfare of every child, young person and adult.
Who is responsible for Safeguarding in our Chaplaincy?
The Chaplain and the Council, as well as the Safeguarding officers appointed by them. The Council commits to a written safeguarding statement (read here or download a copy) which is renewed annually. This is on display at the Gingins, Divonne and Crassier churches.
What is the role of a Safeguarding Officer?
To implement the Safeguarding Policy set out by and based on the current best practices of the Church of England. Details on this policy and procedures can be found here: https://www.europe.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding-diocese-europe
The role is two–fold:
  1. Safeguarding officers are responsible for contacting all those working with children and the vulnerable within the Chaplaincy who need to follow the Safeguarding process. They then guide them through standard background
    checks. They also encourage them to understand fully the implications of their roles by following the Church of England’s online training courses.
  2. The officers can be contacted in case of suspected abuse and will determine whether it is a safeguarding issue or not and the immediate course of action to take.
In case of concern you can also contact safeguarding@lacotechurch.ch

Contact & Resources

SWISS RESOURCES
– Police 117
–  Medical assistance 144
–  Republique et Canton de Genève
    Website: https://www.ge.ch/signaler-mineur-danger
– LAVI Centre Genevois de consultation pour victimes d’infractions
Website: http://centrelavi-ge.ch
     Telephone: +41223200102
–  Centre LAVI (aide aux victimes d’infractions) | Centre PROFA Lausanne LAVI
    https://g.co/kgs/vtmezkS
– LAVI
https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/20041159/index.html
– 147  
A confidential 24/24 helpline for children & the young, by telephone, text or
internet http://www.147.ch/fr/
Service de protection des mineurs (SPMi)  +41 22 546 10 00 (children)
Service de protection de l’adulte (SPAd)  +41 22 388 77 66 (adults)
Email: info@centrelavi-ge.ch
–  AVEC Aide aux victimes de violence en couple
Website: https://www.avvec.ch
Telephone: +41227971010
–  Stop violence à la maison Telephone: 0840110110
–  abusécoute (free confidential helpline) Telephone: 0800800922
 
FRENCH RESOURCES
FRANCE National sites
https://arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr/
Violence against women tel:3919
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A13048
Children in Danger tel: 119
https://www.allo119.gouv.fr/
Association ni putes ni soumises – permances https://www.niputesnisoumises-
paysdegex.fr/
 
EUROPE
Assorted helplines available
here http://assembly.coe.int/LifeRay/SOC/Pdf/DocsAndDecs/2020/AS-SOC-CHD-INF-
2020-02-BIL.pdf
Diocese of Europe Resources:
Safeguarding in the Diocese in Europe | Diocese in Europe
Diocesan confidential reporting line:
For urgent enquiries during operational hours, please call: +44 (0)207 898 1159
For non-urgent enquiries, contact: +44 (0) 7464 544715 
​
Out of hours:
For urgent enquiries outside operational hours call our partners Thirtyone:eight (formerly
Churches Child Protection Advisory service) on +44 (0) 303 003 1111. You will be able to get
confidential advice, guidance, and support.
​For non-urgent concerns outside operational hours, please leave a message on the number
above and a member of the team will respond on the next working day.
Our operational hours are 9 am to 5 pm UK time, Monday to Friday.
​To report a concern by email, please complete the referral form which you can download
here.  Please email it to europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org Our team will respond
within 48 hours. Please tell us if you need help in completing the form, or need to have a
form in a language other than English.
​General enquiries:
Contact number: +44 (0)7464 544 715 or email: europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org
 The Diocese in Europe Safeguarding team operational hours are:
Monday – Friday from 9 am – 5 pm (UK time)
Firstlight Safe Spaces
If you have been affected by any kind of abuse, bullying or other safeguarding issues, no
matter how long ago, Firstlight Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have
to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with
the church.
​
Firstlight Safe Spaces is a free support service for victims and survivors of church-related
abuse. The organisation offers a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has
been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, The Church in
Wales or The Catholic Church in England and Wales, regardless of disability, age, gender or
sexual orientation.
​Their services are available on +44 (0)300 303 1056 or via their website. Opening hours are
Monday to Friday 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm UK time.
La Côte contacts:

Safeguarding officer - Cate Bichara

Safeguarding admin - Liz Martinez

Contact email safeguarding@lacotechurch.ch or use this form:

RUNNING ZOOM MEETINGS SECURLY

The La Cote Safeguarding team has been looking into the security of Zoom Meetings. Please find below our guidelines for organizing a Church meeting. Do not hesitate to contact the Safeguarding team for further help or information. safeguarding@lacotechurch.ch. 

PLANNING A MEETING

Meetings should be classified as OPEN or RESTRICTED by the meeting lead.

DEFINITION OF OPEN AND RESTRICTED

Open means open to all.  A link and password are published on the website for unrestricted access to meetings through a waiting room.

Restricted access status is recommended for, but not confined to, the following meetings:  Children, Youth, Pastoral care, and Prayer group meetings.

These are organized through email contact, by a meeting lead, to an established list of names (usual participants).

The contact name and e-mail address of the meeting lead is published on the Church website for enquiries and requests to join the group.  –

The meeting lead will send the link and password to requestees.

Advice about inviting outsiders to small groups: No forwarding of restricted meeting invitations to mailing lists. Please contact the meeting lead.

DEFINITION OF MEETING LEAD AND MEETING ADMINISTRATOR

Meeting leads are those who lead the meeting itself.

Meeting administrators manage the live zoom sessions (allow people to enter, mute or block, etc). They may be the same person as the meeting lead.

ORGANIZING A MEETING

In setting up a Zoom meeting all Zoom administrators should use the waiting room option to be able to vet those who wish to enter.

All participants must be identifiable, if not, they are not admitted to the meeting.

Zoom provides 5 security measures.
1. Waiting rooms
2. Delete chat and private messages
3.Lock up meeting
4.Delete a participant during a meeting
5. Disable screen sharing

The meeting administrators need to know that they can exclude someone if they feel uncomfortable particularly for the restricted meetings.

Training and help is available from Johan Crocoll. An open training session can be arranged and will be open to all. This will be also useful for other zoom meetings in other contexts.

Cate Bichara, Christine Warren, Liz Martinez

3 July 2020