SAFEGUARDING AT FALCON LODGE METHODIST CHURCH

STATEMENT OF SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES

Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential 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.

PRINCIPLES

We are committed to:

• The care and nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults

• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable

• The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.

We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.

We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.

We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.

We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.

We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice.

SAFEGUARDING CHECKLIST

As the people of Falcon Lodge Methodist Church we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God’s purpose for everyone. We seek to safeguard all members the church community, of all ages. It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

All members/adherents or users of these premises must take all possible steps to ensure that the people in their group are kept safe from any abuse.

It is the duty of all group leaders working with children, young people and vulnerable adults to do everything that they can to prevent abuse occurring and to report any concerns to the person to whom they are responsible or to the Minister or Church Safeguarding Officer.

Keeping people safe is the responsibility of everyone using the church premises.

TO PROTECT CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOURSELF YOU MUST

-Ensure that all activities are open and transparent

-Treat everyone with respect

-Lead by example

-Always have more than one adult present, or at least within sight or hearing of others

-Respect the right to personal privacy

-Be ready to listen to any concerns they may have

-Develop an atmosphere where they feel at ease and comfortable and able to talk if necessary

-Avoid physical contact

-Be sensitive when dealing with difficult situations, such as bullying, bereavement or abuse, any meetings  

   need to be within sight of another adult

-Always remember that your actions could be misinterpreted, no matter how well intentioned.

TO PROTECT VULNERABLE ADULTS AND YOURSELF YOU MUST

-Ensure that your dealings with them are open and transparent

-Treat them with respect

-respect their personal privacy

-be ready to listen to any concerns

-be very open if handling money for them

-always remember that your actions could be misinterpreted no matter how well intentioned

WHEN DEALING WITH ANY GROUP YOU MUST NOT:

-Permit any abusive behaviour

-Have any improper physical or verbal contact

-Exaggerate or trivialise any concerns discussed with you

-Rely on just your good name to protect you

-Believe ‘it couldn’t happen to me.’

Useful contacts:               Church Safeguarding Officer (Local) Lynne Horton    07748522965 

Church Minister  – Reverend Sarah Butcher  07483355718 

                                        Circuit safeguarding Officer – Gerald Peel (Erdington)   0121 354 6592 

                                                Regional Safeguarding Officers (West Mids Region) :-  

                                                                Neil Hutchinson – 07384810901  or Steph Bradley – 07817808557              

                                            Childline: 0800 1111

Other organisations using or hiring the premises are required to have procedures which are at least as rigorous:

Office Holders and Key Holders:

Holders of an Office, duty or responsibility within the church and Key Holders are required to complete and sign Safeguarding Forms C and D respectively

Users

Organisations which use the premises are required to:

i) Provide copies of their own policies and procedures to show that these are as rigorous as those of

   the Methodist Church. (If these are not as rigorous, they are expected to follow the church’s procedures.)

ii) Sign and complete Safeguarding Form E

Copies of this policy and procedures are to be displayed in every area where activities with children/young people take place.

Signed…………………………………………………………                        Dated:    

Church Council Secretary   ( Mr. C. Osborn)

Signed…………………………………………………………                        Dated:

Minister Falcon Lodge Methodist Church

Rev Sarah Butcher

The Superintendent Minister is:

Rev Nick Jones

The Church/Safeguarding Coordinator is:

Lynne Horton

With thanks to the members of the Safeguarding Team at Quinton Methodist Church who produced a first draft of this document for use in their church and Circuit, thus inspiring the Safeguarding Group to develop the present document so that it is available for use by other churches in the Birmingham District

FALCON LODGE METHODIST CHURCH – POLICY DOCUMENT

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy for

Falcon Lodge Methodist Church

This policy to be agreed at a Church Council annually.

The Methodist Church, along with the whole Christian community, believes each person has a value and dignity which comes directly from God’s creation of male and female 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.

Falcon Lodge Methodist Church is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and affirms that the needs of children or of people when they are vulnerable are paramount.

Falcon Lodge Methodist Church recognises that none of us is invulnerable but that there is a particular care for those whose vulnerability is increased by situations, by disabilities or by reduction in capacities. 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.

Falcon Lodge Methodist Church fully agrees with the Connexional 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.

Falcon Lodge Methodist 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 or institutional abuse or neglect. 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.

Falcon Lodge Methodist Church:

• commits itself to respond without delay to any allegation or cause for concern that a child or vulnerable adult 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.

• commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy;

government legislation and guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.

• commits itself to 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 who may be vulnerable.

•affirms and gives thanks for the work of those who are workers with children and vulnerable adults and acknowledges the shared responsibility of all of us for safeguarding vulnerable adults who are on our premises.

Falcon Lodge Methodist Church appoints Lynne Horton as Church Safeguarding Adults Representative and as

Church Safeguarding Children Coordinator and supports her in her 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 Coordinators

iv) promote safeguarding best practice within the local church with the support of circuit ministers.

a) Purpose

The purposes of this safeguarding policy are to ensure procedures are in place and people are clear

about roles and responsibilities for vulnerable adults in our care and using our premises. It is to be read

in conjunction with the Methodist Safeguarding Handbook (2010).

b) Good Practice

We believe good practice means that:

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 for safety for children and vulnerable adults 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.

v) 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. Each worker will be expected to undergo basic safeguarding training, within the first year of appointment The other training needs of each worker will be considered (e.g. food hygiene, first aid, lifting and handling, etc.) and each worker will have an annual review conducted by a named member of the Church Council and another worker within the organisation.

d) Pastoral visitors

In terms of safeguarding, Pastoral Visitors will be supported in their role with the provision of basic safeguarding training.

e) Guidelines for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults

A safeguarding checklist will be reviewed annually to be shared with each worker with vulnerable adults or children outlining good practice and systems. The leaflet will be reviewed annually with this policy.

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 will be ensured for such events. Notification of the event will be given to Lynne Horton.

h) Office Holders and Key Holders

Holders of an Office, duty or responsibility within the church and Key Holders are required to complete and sign Safeguarding Forms C and D respectively

i) Other groups on church premises

Where the building is hired for outside use, the person signing the letting agreement which includes Safeguarding Form E, will be given a copy of this policy and the checklist. They must provide copies of their own policies and procedures to show that these are as rigorous as those of the Methodist Church.

(If these are not as rigorous, they are expected to follow the church’s procedures.)

If they are to be issued with keys to church premises, they will be required to sign form D.

The lettings secretary will consider the various users of the building in making lettings.

j) Complaints procedure

It is hoped that complaints can generally be dealt with internally by the organisations. However, a complaint may be made to a person who will be appointed by the Church Council and who is currently the senior steward Giles Wheeler. If a complaint is made to another person, it should be passed to Giles Wheeler who will arrange to meet with the complainant and attempt to resolve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved, consideration will be given to invoking the complaints system of the Methodist Church which will involve initially speaking with the Local Complaints Officer who can be contacted through the circuit office.

j) Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Church Council.

k) Key concepts and definitions

i) Vulnerable Adults: any adult aged 18 or over who, by reason of mental or other disability, age. illness or other situation is permanently or for the time being unable to take care of her or himself, or to protect her or himself from significant harm or exploitation.

ii) Safeguarding and protecting children or vulnerable adults from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health and ensuring safe and effective care.

iii) 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

iv) 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 vulnerable adult or by strangers; by an adult or by a child. It may be an infliction of harm or a failure to prevent harm.

Signed………………………………………………… Church Council Secretary  (Mr. C. Osborn)

Dated :

Signed…………………………………………………………     Minister Falcon Lodge Methodist Church (Rev Sarah Butcher)

Dated :