Safeguarding Co-ordinators
If you have a concern about the safety of an individual within our church, please contact the relevant member of the team. Under no circumstances should a church worker or volunteer or member of the public carry out their own investigations into the allegation or suspicion of abuse.
With reference to Adults at Risk: Mrs Hilary Constable info@clivevalechurch.org
With reference to Children or Young People: Mrs Liz Edbrooke info@clivevalechurch.org
Clive Vale Church - Hastings
The United Reformed Church
Safeguarding Policy Statement
The leadership of Clive Vale Church agreed the following statement:
This church is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults in need of protection, and to ensuring their well-being.
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 in need of protection.
We believe that domestic abuse in all it’s forms is unacceptable and inconsistent with a Christian way of living.
We will report any abuse of children or adults in need of protection that we discover or suspect.
We recognise the personal dignity and rights of children and adults in need of protection and will ensure that all our policies and procedures reflect this.
We believe that all children and adults in need of protection should safely enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of our place of worship.
We undertake to exercise proper care, following safer recruitment principles, in the appointment and selection of all those who work with children and adults in need of protection, be they volunteer of paid staff, lay or ordained.
We believe that everyone should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that the children and adults that we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
We are committed to:
The establishment of a loving environment which is safe and caring, and where there is an informed vigilance about the dangers of abuse.
The safeguarding and protection of all children and adults in need of protection Respecting the Rights of children as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Respecting the Rights of all as set out in The Human Rights Act 1989 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Implementing the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation.
Building constructive links with Voluntary and Statutory Agencies.
Following statutory, denominational and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults in need of protection.
Ensuring that as a place of worship all will work within the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policies.
Supporting, supervising, resourcing, and training all those who undertake work with children and adults in need of protection
Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
Supporting all in our place of worship affected by abuse.
Supporting and supervising those who pose a risk to children or adults in need of protection, implementing contracts of behavior, whilst bearing in mind the overarching principle that the welfare of the child is paramount.
If an assessment is made that someone poses an unmanageable risk to those that are vulnerable and in need of protection and could no longer safely attend our place of worship, we will ensure that they continue to be offered pastoral care and will also be signposted to appropriate agencies that could support them
Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by the recommendations and guidelines established by this place of worship.
Supporting the Safeguarding Coordinator and Deputy in their work and in any action, they may need to take to protect children and adults in need of protection.
We recognise that:
Children’s Services has responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child.
Adults Services has responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult in need of protection.
Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
Local Authority Designated Officers have responsibility to deal with all allegations and concerns about people working with children and adults in need of protection whether they are interacting with them as paid or volunteer workers and whether they are lay or ordained.
Safeguarding is a whole church responsibility.
Date: 7th July 2021