Safeguarding

BITTERNE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

This Church is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk, and to ensuring their well-being.

  • We believe that all children and adults at risk should know that they are valued within the Church and safely enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of our place of worship.
  • We recognise the personal dignity and rights of children and adults at risk (for example as set out in the Human Rights Act 1989 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).
  • We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children under 18 years of age.
  • We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults at risk
  • We recognise that domestic abuse affects both adults and children and believe that domestic abuse in all its forms is unacceptable and inconsistent with a Christian way of living.
  • We recognise that Children’s Services have responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child and that Adults Services have responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult at risk.
  • 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 a whole Church responsibility.

We are committed to:

  • Following relevant legislation, statutory, denominational and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults at risk and ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
  • Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that as a place of worship all will work within the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policies.
  • Supporting the Safeguarding Coordinator in any action they may need to do in order to protect children and adults at risk.
  • Exercising proper care, following safer recruitment principles, in the appointment and ‘selection of all those who work with children and adults at risk, be they volunteer or paid employees, lay or ordained.
  • Supporting, supervising, resourcing and training all those who undertake work with children and adults at risk.
  • Taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the children and adults that we have contact with know that they are valued and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
  • Reporting any abuse of children or adults at risk that we discover or suspect.
  • Supporting all in our place of worship affected by abuse.

 

ANYTHING WHICH MIGHT POSSIBLY CAUSE CONCERN REGARDING SAFEGUARDING MUST BE REPORTED TO THE SAFEGUARDING OFFICER AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.

 

Safeguarding Officer                                                           Tel.