Safeguarding Policy

This policy was agreed at a Church Council held on 18th Oct 2022

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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.

 

Burley In Wharfedale 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.

 

Burley In Wharfedale 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 adults with care and support needs. 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, adults with care and support needs, for survivors of abuse, for communities and for those affected by abuse.

 

Burley In Wharfedale Methodist Church fully agrees with the statement reiterated in Creating Safer Space 2007:

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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.

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Burley In Wharfedale Methodist Church recognises the serious issue of the abuse of children and adults with care and support needs 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.

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Burley In Wharfedale Methodist Church commits itself to:

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● RESPOND without delay to any allegation or cause for concern that a child or adults with care and support needs may have been harmed, whether in the church or in another context. It commits itself to challenge the abuse of power of anyone in a position of trust.

 

● Ensure the IMPLEMENTATION of Connexional Safeguarding Policy; government legislation and guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.

 

● 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 with care and support needs.

 

● AFFIRM and give thanks for those who work with children and adults with care and support needs and also acknowledge the shared responsibility of all of us for safeguarding adults with care and support needs who are on our premises.

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Church Council 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. The Church Council appoints Karen Shinn as church Safeguarding Officer (Until Dec 31st 2022, thereafter), Viv Pitts and Joanne Wilson, Joanne Wilson as church Safeguarding Officer (Adults) and Lyndsey Perkins as church Safeguarding Officer (Children) and supports them in their role, which is to:

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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.

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 a copy of the current, signed safeguarding policy, contact numbers for local and national helplines and other suitable information.

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1. 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 adults with care and support needs 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 (2018).

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2. Good practice

We believe that good practice means:

● All people are treated with respect and dignity.

● Those who act on behalf of the Church should not meet or work alone with a child or adults with care and support needs 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.

● 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 adults with care and support needs 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.

● Any church-organised transport of children or adults with care and support needs 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.

● 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 with care and support needs.

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3. 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 and attend refresher training as required. The other training needs of each worker will be considered (eg food hygiene, first aid, lifting and handling, etc) including additional safeguarding training as required by the Methodist Church.

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4. Pastoral visitors

In terms of safeguarding, pastoral visitors 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 and attend refresher training as required.

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5. Guidelines for working with children, young people and adults with care and support needs

A leaflet outlining good practice and systems will be produced and given to everyone who works with children, young people and adults with care and support needs. 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). Information on good practice is available in the Methodist Church Safeguarding Policy Section 6.

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6. Ecumenical events

Where ecumenical events happen on church premises, safeguarding is the responsibility of this Church Council.

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7. 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: Gillian MacIntosh. If the activity is unusual or considered to be high risk the church safeguarding officer will contact the circuit safeguarding officer in order that it can be ratified or any queries raised.

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8. Other groups on church premises

Where the building is hired for outside use, the person signing the letting agreement will be given a copy of the church safeguarding policy and the appropriate leaflet1 . 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.

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9. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Church Council. The date of the next review is: Oct 2023.

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10. Key concepts and definitions

10.1. A child is anyone who has not yet reached their eighteenth birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education, a member of the armed forces, in hospital or in custody in the secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements to services or protection.

10.2. Adult with care and support needs: Any adult aged 18 or over who, due to disability, mental function, age or illness or traumatic circumstances, may not be able to take care or protect themselves.

10.3. Safeguarding and protecting children or adult with care and support needs from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health and ensuring safe and effective care.

10.4. 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.

10.5. 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 adult with care and support needs or by strangers; by an adult or by a child. It may be an infliction of harm or a failure to prevent harm.

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Dated: 18th Oct 2022

Signed: Timothy M Perkins (Chair of Church Council)

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1 Such as the code of safer working practice leaflet in the appendices of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidance for the Methodist Church or the quick reference guide https://www.methodistpublishing.org.uk/books/pe750-sg-16/safeguarding .

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Appendix to Church Safeguarding Policy in relation to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Coronavirus Pandemic has resulted in national and local guidelines and restrictions which have resulted in the church moving to a range of different approaches to providing worship opportunities and engaging with individuals and families. These include virtual services, online meetings and increased pastoral support both via telephone/virtual and face to face. Burley in Wharfedale Methodist Church recognises the increased vulnerabilities of individuals and families as a result of the pandemic, and in turn the church is committed to ensuring that it will respond appropriately to any increased need or risk of harm as a result of the pandemic. The church also recognises the increased potential risk for abuse or exploitation brought by the new ways of engaging with the church family, and will therefore will ensure that safeguarding is considered and the appropriate safety measures are implemented when new ways of working are employed including:

● Adopting the Methodist Church Coronavirus Visiting Guidance

● Risk assessing online activities with children, young people and adults with care and support needs

● Safe way of working for online activities with children, young people and adults with care and support needs.

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