Safeguarding Policy

SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT FOR NEW ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH

Our vision

The vision/purpose of the church is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with him as living Lord, including by proclaiming and communicating the message of ‘Peace to the City’.
 
The church fulfils this vision/purpose in a variety of ways, including:

• creating a safe space for all, especially for children and adults at risk
• having a programme of activities with children and adults at risk
• welcoming children and adults at risk into the life of our community
• making our premises available to organisations working with children and adults at risk

Our safeguarding responsibilities

The church recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding all children and young people under the age of 18 and adults at risk regardless of gender, ethnicity, or ability.
 
As members of this church and in response to our call, we affirm the value we place on children and adults at risk.  We want our church to be a welcoming place where children and adults at risk feel happy and secure, and where they can grow in faith.  We commit ourselves to nurturing, protecting, and safeguarding all children and adults at risk associated with the church and will pray for them regularly.
 
In pursuit of this, we commit ourselves to this policy and to the development of sound procedures to ensure we implement our policy well.

Prevention and reporting of abuse

It is the duty of each member of the church and its wider family to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse of children and adults at risk and the duty of all to respond to concerns about the well-being of children and adults at risk. Any abuse disclosed, discovered, or suspected will be reported in accordance with our procedures.  The church will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the church.

Safer recruitment, support and supervision of workers

The church will exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and adults at risk, whether paid or voluntary.  All workers will be DBS checked and provided with appropriate training, support, and supervision to promote the safeguarding of children and adults at risk.

Respecting children and adults at risk

The church will adopt a code of behaviour (see procedures) for all who are appointed to work with children and adults at risk so that all children and adults are shown the respect that is due to them.

Safer working practices

The church is committed to providing an environment that is as safe as possible for children and adults at risk. We will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being. In addition, we will take steps to ensure that all groups using our premises adhere to safer working practices.

A safer community

The church is committed to the prevention of bullying.  The church will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any who may pose a risk to children and adults at risk in the community of the church is managed appropriately.

Putting our policy into practice

A copy of this policy statement will be displayed permanently on the notice board at the rear of the main church sanctuary and is available on the Church website. A full copy of the policy and procedures will be made available on request to any member of, or other person associated with, the church.
 
Each worker with children and young people whether paid or voluntary will be given a full copy of the policy and procedures and will be asked to sign to confirm that they will follow them.    
 
The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed annually and updated as required.
 
The Safeguarding Trustee will be responsible for this, working in conjunction with the Designated Person for Safeguarding.
 
A report on the outcome of the annual review will be presented to the church meeting annually in September with discussion of any relevant items.

Safeguarding contact points within our church

The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team:

Marion Fiddes, Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS)

She will advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.

Susan Grote, Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding (DDPS)

She will assist the Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) in helping the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.

Myra Blyth, Safeguarding Trustee

She will raise the profile of safeguarding within the church and oversee and monitor the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures on behalf of the church trustees.

All the above individuals can be contacted via the church office - see our 'Contact Us' page.

The Diaconate will review the Safeguarding policy and procedures annually.

Our church minister is also an important part of the Church Safeguarding Team.  Where possible, the Church Safeguarding Team will work together if and when issues arise. However, each person has a responsibility to report allegations of abuse as soon as they are raised.
 

Revised September 2022