WEST VIEW BAPTIST CHURCH
POLICY ON SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AT RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT
Introduction
This policy applies to children and young people (under 18 years of age) and adults at risk of abuse or neglect (see definition below, hereafter referred to as ‘adults’).
Children, young people and adults are part of our church today. All have much to give as well as to receive. We will listen to them. As we nurture them in worship, learning and in community life, we will respect their wishes and feelings. We acknowledge that it is the responsibility of each of us to prevent neglect and abuse of children, young people and adults and to report any neglect or abuse discovered or suspected.
We will follow the most recent guidelines from the Government and the Baptist Union of Great Britain in fulfilling our duty to safeguard children, young people and adults.
See final section for current guidelines
Designated Persons
We authorise Lynn Fletcher, Terry Hegarty and Mark Armitage to work in partnership with the Leadership Team, with Lynn as Designated Person for Safeguarding, Terry as Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding and Mark as Safeguarding Deacon, to implement this policy.
Lynn, Terry and Mark will:
• Be available to advise any member of the church community on safeguarding,
• Support the Leadership in the recruitment, training and support of all those working with children, young people and adults,
• Visit all church activities annually and provide a report to the Annual General Meeting,
• Review this policy annually and provide a report to the Annual General Meeting,
• Make a referral to Police and/or Social Care, as appropriate, if a child, young person or adult is in need of protection, in consultation with the Leadership Team.
Implementing the Policy
The Leadership Team will ensure that leaders of activities follow these guidelines when recruiting workers:
• Provide the worker with a job profile,
• Ask the worker to complete an application form and provide references,
• Interview the worker and, if the worker is accepted for the post,
• Ask the worker to liaise with Lynn to complete an application for the relevant DBS check and to receive basic instruction in safeguarding using the BUGB document “Gateway to Safeguarding”, until such time as the worker can attend NBA safeguarding training. As part of the DBS process, the worker is expected to present their certificate to Lynn as soon as it has been received, to sign up for the Update Service and to give Lynn permission for an annual check on their certification.
• Will not allow the worker to start work until Lynn has confirmed that the worker has a clear DBS and has received basic safeguarding training
The Leadership Team will require all leaders and all those involved in delivering or overseeing work with children, young people or adults to attend training sessions provided by the NBA, at a relevant level and once every three years, and any sessions provided from time to time by Lynn, Terry and Mark.
Equal opportunities statement
A DBS Disclosure will be requested in line with our church’s recruitment policy only after it has been determined that it is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned. A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to a person serving with children, young people or adults at risk. Any decision will be dependent on the nature of the position and the nature and circumstance of the offence(s).
Safety on Church Premises
• Parents and carers are expected to take responsibility for their own children, young people and adults at risk when they are on church premises, except when they are in the care of a church activity leader.
• Care should be taken when using the toilets by the front door, with children under 5 always being accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult and older children encouraged to go in twos of the same gender.
Current Government and Baptist Union Guidelines
• Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (Department for Education 2015, most recent update February 2017)
• Chapter 14 ‘Adult Safeguarding’ of Care and Support Statutory Guidance Issued under the Care Act 2014 Department of Health, updated December 2016).
• Safe To Grow Sixth Edition (Baptist Union of Great Britain 2011)
• Safe to Belong (Baptist Union of Great Britain 2015)
• Baptist Union of Great Britain updates as disseminated in Level 2 and Level 3 training and via the safeguarding area of BUGB website.
• Safe to Belong adopts the following definition of a “adult at risk” (from Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service):
“Any adult aged 18 or over who due to disability, mental function, age, illness or traumatic circumstances may not be able to take care or protect themselves against the risk of significant harm, abuse, bullying, harassment, mistreatment or exploitation”.
For a website link, electronic copy or hard copy of these documents, please see Lynn or Terry