Safeguarding
Our Safeguarding Commitment Hanham Methodist Church is fully committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All our paid staff, ministers, church officers, local preachers and those working with children, young people and vulnerable people are required to have a current DBS check and ongoing safeguarding training. If you have any safeguarding concerns, you should, in the first instance, contact:
Click the link above for key safeguarding information.
Our Safeguarding Policy: Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy for Hanham Methodist Church This policy was agreed at a Church Council held on October 23rd2019 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. Hanham 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. Hanham 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. Hanham Methodist Church fully agrees with the 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. HanhamMethodist 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, discriminatory, domestic or institutional abuse or neglect, abuse using social media or human trafficking (slavery). 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. Hanham Methodist Church commits itself to:
Church Council of Hanham Methodist Church It is the responsibility of each Church Council to appoint a Church Safeguarding Officer and there should be no gaps in this crucial provision. It is not appropriate for the minister to fill any gap, because of the potential conflict of roles. The role will usually be undertaken on a voluntary basis although expenses should be met. appoints Dr Anna Wheatleyas church Safeguarding Officer (Adults) and Dr Anna Wheatleyas church Safeguarding Officer (Children) and supports them in their 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) [-] xii) ensure that the church recruits safely for all posts xiii) ensure that the church has a safeguarding noticeboard with a 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 (2019).
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 vulnerableadults 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 to be kept in the church file for each driver/car. v) Activity risk assessments will be undertaken before any activity takes place to minimise the risk of harm to those involved. Approval will be obtained from the event leader/minister. A written record of the assessment will be retained securely in case they need to be seen at a later date. vi) 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 6 months (agreed by Methodist Conference in 2011 -Creating Safer Space Report) of appointment. The other training needs of each worker will be considered (eg food hygiene, first aid, lifting and handling, etc). 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 the church council secretary:Mrs Brenda Thompson
the circuit safeguarding officer in order that it can be ratified or any queries raised. h) Other groups on church premises Where the building is hired for outside use, the person signing the letting agreement (www.tmcp.org.uk/property/letting-property-and-third-party-use) will be given a copy of and the appropriate leaflet3. 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 District safeguarding officer and Circuit Safeguarding Officer. i) Complaints procedure It is hoped that complaints can generally be dealt with internally by the organisation. However, if the complaint is of a safeguarding nature, relating to possible abuse of children or vulnerable adults, then it is very important that your district safeguarding officer is consulted as statutory services may need to be informed. A complaint should be addressed to the superintendent minister: Rev. David Alderman (superintendent@bsgc.org.uk). If a complaint is made to another person it should be referred to him. Meetings will be arranged with the person making the complaint and, usually, the person against whom the complaint has been made, in an attempt to resolve it. If the complaint is against the superintendent, it should be sent to the District Chair: Rev. Jonathan Pye (jonathan.pye@methodist.org.uk) Such as the code of safer working practice leaflet in the appendices or the quick reference guide https://www.methodistpublishing.org.uk/books/pe750-sg-16/safeguarding.
j) Review This policy will be reviewed annually by the Church Council. The date of the next review is: October 2020
Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidance for the Methodist Church – Updated April 2019 k) Key concepts and definitions
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