Leadership Safeguarding Statement

The Leadership, Jessica Hartwig, Ross Hartwig and Alison Tyler (hereafter referred to as the Leadership) recognises the importance of its ministry /work with children and young people and adults in need of protection and its responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to our care. We are committed to creating and enabling a healthy culture in order to minimise any coercion and control within our church.

The following statement was agreed by the leadership on 23rd January 2018:

This place of worship/organisation is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well-being.

Specifically:

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people (those under 18 years of age) and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
• All children and young people have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to and to be protected from all forms of abuse.
• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults who have care and support needs and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults who find themselves victims of forced marriage or modern slavery and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.
• We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the place of worship/organisation unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve.
• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.
• We believe in the necessity of creating a healthy culture in our church where the value of all people is recognised and challenges are responded to appropriately.

We are committed to:

• Following the requirements for UK legislation in relation to safeguarding children and adults and good practice recommendations.
• Respecting the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with disabilities.
• Ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
• Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
• Following any denominational or organisational guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults in need of protection.
• Supporting the safeguarding co-ordinator/s in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children/ adults with care and support needs.
• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation.
• Supporting parents and families
• Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding of children and young people
• Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake this work.
• Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse.
• Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.

We recognise:

• Children’s Social Services (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult with care and support needs.
• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy and procedures annually.

If you have any concerns for a child or adult with care and support needs then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this place of worship/organisation.

• Jacqui Pattison - Safeguarding Coordinator
• Alison Tyler - Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator

A copy of the full policy and procedures is available from the Safeguarding Coordinator