Safeguarding to Protect Children, Young Adults and the Elderly at Risk
Safeguarding
Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy for WHITCHURCH
Methodist Church
This policy was agreed at a
Church Council held on October 18, 2017.
The Methodist Church, along with
the whole Christian community, believes each person has a value and dignity
which comes directly from God’s creation in God’s own image and likeness.
Christians see this as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among
other things, this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of
God and therefore to protect them from harm.
Whitchurch Methodist Church is
committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and
adults and affirms that the needs of children or of people when they are
vulnerable and at risk are paramount.
Whitchurch Methodist Church
recognises that it has a particular care for all who are vulnerable whether by
disabilities or by reduction in capacities or by their situation. It is
recognised that this increased vulnerability may be temporary or permanent and
may be visible or invisible, but that it does not diminish our humanity and
seeks to affirm the gifts and graces of all God’s people.
This policy addresses the
safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. It is intended to
be a dynamic policy. It is intended to support the Church in being a safe
supportive and caring community for children, young people, vulnerable adults,
for survivors of abuse, for communities and for those affected by abuse.
Whitchurch Methodist Church fully
agrees with the Connexional statement reiterated in Creating Safer Space 2007:
As the people of the Methodist Church we are concerned with the
wholeness of each individual within God’s purpose for everyone. We seek to
safeguard all members of the church community of all ages.
Whitchurch Methodist Church
recognises the serious issue of the abuse of children and vulnerable adults and
recognises that this may take the form of physical, emotional, sexual,
financial, spiritual or institutional abuse or neglect. It acknowledges the
effects these may have on people and their development including spiritual and
religious development. It accepts its responsibility for ensuring that all
people are safe in its care and that their dignity and right to be heard is
maintained. It accepts its responsibility to support, listen to and work for
healing with survivors, offenders, communities and those who care about them.
It takes seriously the issues of promotion of welfare so that each of us can
reach our full potential in God’s grace.
1. Whitchurch Methodist Church
commits itself to RESPOND without
delay to any allegation or cause for concern that a child or vulnerable adult
may have been harmed, whether in the church or outside
its boundaries. This may involve making
direct contact with the appropriate authorities. It commits itself to challenge
the abuse of power of anyone in a position of trust.
2. Whitchurch Methodist Church
commits itself to ensuring the
IMPLEMENTATION of Connexional Safeguarding Policy, government legislation
and guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.
3. Whitchurch Methodist Church
commits itself to the PROVISION of
support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure
people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be
vulnerable.
4. Whitchurch Methodist Church AFFIRMS and gives thanks for the work
of those who are workers with children and vulnerable adults and acknowledges
the shared responsibility of all of us for safeguarding vulnerable adults who
are on our premises.
Whitchurch Methodist Church appoints
Monica Symonds as church Safeguarding Adults’ Representative as church
Safeguarding Children’s Coordinator and supports her in her role, which is to:
i) support and advise the
minister and the stewards in fulfilling their roles
ii) provide a point of reference
to advise on safeguarding issues
iii) liaise with circuit and
district safeguarding officers
iv) promote safeguarding best
practice within the local church with the support of circuit ministers
v) ensure proper records are kept
of all incidents/concerns according to Methodist policy and practice (see
Safeguarding Records: Joint Practice Guidance for the Church of England and the
Methodist Church - Updated Jan 2015)
vi) ensure that all safeguarding
training which is required is undertaken by those in post and appropriate
records kept and made available
vii) attend training and meetings
organised to support the role
viii) oversee safeguarding
throughout the whole life of the church (eg lettings, groups property etc)
ix) report to the Church Council
annually
x) ensure the church completes a
yearly audit/monitoring on safeguarding confirming that policies are in place
for the church and all groups and lettings in the church and that these have
been annually reviewed
xi) ensure the church completes a
risk assessment on each area of activity in the church; that this is stored and
reviewed at least annually, and that it is readily available on request
xii) ensure that the church
recruits safely for all posts
xiii) ensure that the church has
a safeguarding noticeboard with copy of the current, signed safeguarding
policy, contact numbers for local and national helplines and other suitable
information.
a) Purpose
The purposes of this safeguarding
policy are to ensure procedures are in place and people are clear about roles
and responsibilities for children, young people and vulnerable adults in our
care and using our premises. It is to be read in conjunction with the
Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidance for the Methodist Church (2017).
b) Good practice
We believe that good practice
means:
i) All people are treated with
respect and dignity.
ii) Those who act on behalf of
the Church should not meet or work alone with a child or vulnerable adult where
the activity cannot be seen unless this is necessary for pastoral reasons, in
which case a written note of this will be made and kept, noting date, time and
place of visit.
iii) The church premises will be
assessed by the church Safeguarding Officer with the property steward and/or
their representatives at least annually for safety for children and vulnerable
adults and the risk assessment report will be given annually to the Church
Council in written form. This will include fire safety procedures. The Church
Council will consider the extent to which the premises and equipment are
suitable or should be made more suitable.
iv) Any church-organised
transport of children or vulnerable adults will be checked to ensure the
vehicle is suitable and insured and that the driver and escort are appropriate.
An agreed record kept in the church file for each driver/car.
v) Promotion of safeguarding is
recognised to include undertaking those tasks which enable all God’s people to
reach their full potential. The Church Council will actively consider the
extent to which it is succeeding in this area.
These things are to safeguard
those working with children, young people and those adults who may be
vulnerable.
c) Appointment and training of workers
Workers will be appointed after a
satisfactory DBS disclosure and following safer recruitment procedures of the
Methodist Church. Each worker will have an identified supervisor who will meet
at regular intervals with the worker. A record of these meetings will be agreed
and signed and the record kept. Each worker will be expected to undergo basic
safeguarding training, within the first year of appointment. The other training
needs of each worker will be considered (eg food hygiene, first aid, lifting
and handling, etc) and each worker will have an annual review conducted by a
named member of the Church Council and another worker within the organisation.
d) Pastoral visitors
In terms of safeguarding,
pastoral visitors will be supported in their role with the provision of basic
safeguarding training upon appointment.
e) Guidelines for working with children, young people and vulnerable
adults
A leaflet outlining good practice
and systems will be produced and given to everyone who works with children,
young people and vulnerable adults. This leaflet will be reviewed annually.
Church Councils may produce their own material or use appropriate connexional
leaflets (eg the Quick Reference Guide or Code of Safer Working Practice).
f) Ecumenical events
Where ecumenical events happen on
church premises, safeguarding is the responsibility of this Church Council.
g) Events with church groups off the premises
Adequate staffing, a risk
assessment and notification of the event to be given to the church safeguarding
officer PRIOR to the agreement for any event or off site activity. Notification
of the event will be given to Monica Symonds.
The church safeguarding officer
will forward it immediately to the circuit safeguarding officer in order that
an appropriate response can be made. The district safeguarding officer and
district Safeguarding Group will need to be informed of all off-site events.
h) Other groups on church premises
Where the building is hired for
outside use, the person signing the letting agreement [which should include
Safeguarding Form E – to be found on the Connexional Methodist Safeguarding
Forms webpage] will be given a copy of
this policy and the leaflet (e.g. the Code of Safer Working Practice leaflet or
the quick reference guide) . The lettings secretary will consider the various
users of the building in making lettings. All lettings will be notified to the
church safeguarding officer who will keep the records and take advice as
appropriate from both the DSO and CSO.
i) Complaints procedure
It is hoped that complaints can
generally be dealt with internally by the organisations. However, a complaint
may be made to a person who will be appointed by the Church Council and who is
currently Rev. Catherine Gale. If
a complaint is made to another
person, it should be passed to Rev.
Catherine Gale who will arrange to meet with the complainant and attempt to
resolve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved, consideration will
be given to invoking the complaints system of the Methodist Church which will
involve initially speaking with the local complaints officer, who is Rev. Nick
Oborski.
j) Review
This policy will be reviewed annually
by the Church Council. The date of the next review is:
October 2018.
k) Key concepts and definitions
i) Vulnerable Adults: any adult
aged 18 or over who, by reason of mental or other disability, age, illness or
other situation is permanently or for the time being unable to take care of her
or himself, or to protect her or himself from significant harm or exploitation.
ii) Safeguarding and protecting
children or vulnerable adults from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their
health and ensuring safe and effective care.
iii) Adult/child protection is a
part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which
is undertaken to protect children/specific adults who are suffering or are at
risk of suffering significant harm, including neglect.
iv) Abuse and neglect may occur
in a family, in a community and in an institution. It may be perpetrated by a
person or persons known to the child or vulnerable adult or by strangers; by an
adult or by a child. It may be an infliction of harm or a failure to prevent
harm.
Dated October 18, 2017
Signed
Chair of Church Council