SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Contents
Section 1 - Safeguarding Policy Statement. 4
Our vision for the care and welfare of children and young people in our care. 4
Our safeguarding responsibilities. 4
Prevention and reporting of abuse. 4
Safer recruitment, support and supervision of workers. 4
Respecting children and adults at risk. 4
Safeguarding contact points within our church. 4
Sue Staddon, Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS). 5
Rev. Katherine Pickford, Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding (DDPS). 5
Rob Hall, Safeguarding Trustee. 5
Putting our policy into practice. 5
Section 2 - Safeguarding Procedures. 5
2.1 Procedure for Recognising, Responding to and Reporting Abuse. 6
2.1.1 What to do if Abuse is Suspected or Disclosed. 6
2.1.2 Responding to Concerns. 6
2.1.3 Responding to Concerns Raised about Adults at Risk. 7
2.1.4 Allegations Against Workers. 8
2.1.6 Allegations Made Against Children and Adults at Risk. 9
Section 3 - Best Practice Guidelines. 13
3.1 – Working With Children. 13
3.1.2 Children with Special Needs. 13
3.1.3 Visiting Children or Young People at Home. 13
3.1.4 Children with no adult supervision. 13
3.1.6 Peer Group Activities for Young People. 14
3.1.8 Electronic Communications - Cyber Safety. 14
3.2 Working With Adults At Risk. 16
3.2.9 Pastoral Relationships. 17
3.3 Health and Safety - Safe Practice And Safe Premises. 17
3.3.9 Outings and Overnight Events involving Children. 19
3.3.10 Outings and Overnight Events involving Adults at Risk. 20
3.3.11 Hiring of Church Premises. 21
3.4.2 Working with Alleged or Known Offenders. 22
3.4.3 Alleged or known offenders who are themselves adults at risk. 23
Section 4 - Useful Contacts. 23
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). 23
Children’s Social Services. 23
Local Baptist Association Safeguarding Contact. 23
Understanding, Recognising and Responding to Abuse. 24
Appendix 2 – Detailed Guidance on Reporting Requirements. 27
Stage 2 – The Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS). 27
Appendix 3 – Safeguarding Incident Form.. 30
Individual of Concern - Contact Details. 30
Any Action That Has Been Taken. 31
BUGB Excellence in Safeguarding training for your church: 34
“We are all children of God and as a church recognize that it is our responsibility to help people grow spiritually, morally and emotionally in a community, so that they will all be aware of and experience God’s love in a safe and caring church environment.”
In fulfilling this vision, we:
The church recognises its responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.
As members of this church we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all 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.
It is the duty of each church member to help prevent the abuse of children and adults at risk, and the duty of each church member 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.
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 provided with appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safeguarding of children and adults at risk.
The church will adopt a code of behaviour 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.
The church is committed to providing an environment that is as safe as possible for children and adults at risk and will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being.
The church is committed to the prevention of bullying. The church will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any individuals who may pose a risk to children, young people and adults at risk in the community of the church is managed appropriately.
The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team:
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.
Phone number: 07758 791080 Email address: suestaddon51@gmail.com
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.
Phone number: 07739 402554 Email address: katherinepickford@hotmail.com
He 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.
Phone number: 07419 831938 Email address: mail@robjhall.co.uk
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.
Our church’s safeguarding procedures set out how our safeguarding policy is implemented in all the services, groups and meetings that are part of the life of our church.
Each trustee, church leader and worker (paid or voluntary) needs to be familiar with these procedures, and those in leadership roles attend both Level 2 and Level 3 BUGB Excellence in Safeguarding training (delivered through your HEBA) to ensure that they have the knowledge and confidence needed to deal with safeguarding issues as they arise.
Over the following pages you will find clear, specific information on how to recognise and report abuse and how to respond to concerns raised within our church.
All church workers (paid and voluntary) who work with children and/or adults at risk should attend the BUGB Level 2 Excellence in Safeguarding training before they are able to work without supervision.
Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child or adult at risk. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child or adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children and adults at risk may be abused in a range of settings, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. There are many ways in which people suffer abuse. For more information, please see Appendix 1.
Everyone has his or her part to play in helping to safeguard children and adults at risk within the life of the church:
What to Do |
What Not to Do |
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When there are concerns that a child, young person or adult is being abused, the following process must be followed. More detailed information can be found in Appendix 2.
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If the DPS is not available, or is implicated in the situation, any reports or concerns should be passed to another member of the church Safeguarding Team.
If you think that anyone is in imminent danger of harm, a report
should be made immediately to the police by calling 999.
When a concern is raised about an adult it should be treated in the same way as a concern about a child ie the concerned person (paid or voluntary) should:
It is not your role to decide whether someone has mental capacity, and is therefore able to make decisions that impact on their safety and well-being. Decisions on mental capacity are best made by professionals with the relevant background information to hand. Always share your concerns with the DPS even if you do not have the consent of the adult to do so – in this instance, make sure the DPS knows that the person concerned has not given consent for the information to be passed on.
The Care Act 2014 provides helpful guidance on these situations:
“If the adult has the mental capacity to make informed decisions about their safety and they do not want any action to be taken, this does not preclude the sharing of information with relevant professional colleagues. This is to enable professionals to assess the risk of harm and to be confident that the adult is not being unduly influenced, coerced or intimidated and is aware of all the options. This will also enable professionals to check the safety and validity of decisions made. It is good practice to inform the adult that this action is being taken unless doing so would increase the risk of harm”.
The DPS will consider all the information to hand and decide whether it is appropriate for the information to be reported to the statutory authorities (see appendix 2 for further information). If there are any concerns about an adult's mental capacity, the DPS will contact the Local Authority Adult Safeguarding Team for advice.
If you see another worker acting in ways which concern you or might be misconstrued, speak to the DPS about your concerns as soon as you can. This includes the actions or behaviours of those in leadership positions in the church.
Church workers should encourage an atmosphere of mutual accountability, holding each other to the highest standards of safeguarding practice. The following procedure should be followed:
The suspension of a worker following an allegation is, by definition, a neutral act. Our priority as a church is to protect children and adults at risk from possible further abuse or from being influenced in any way by the alleged perpetrator.
It may be necessary, for the sake of the child / adult at risk or to satisfy the needs of an investigation, for the alleged perpetrator to worship elsewhere. In such cases the new church DPS will be informed of the reasons for this happening.
Any safeguarding concerns involving a Minister should always be reported immediately to the local Baptist Association Safeguarding Contact in addition to following the church’s usual procedures. Do not tell the Minister that a concern has been raised about them.
Any safeguarding concerns involving the DPS or Safeguarding Trustee should be raised with the Minister. Do not tell the DPS / Safeguarding Trustee that a concern has been raised about them.
Relationships between children and adults at risk and their church workers can be described as 'relationships of trust'. The worker is someone in whom the child or adult at risk has placed a degree of trust. This may be because the worker has an educational role, is a provider of activities, or is even a significant adult friend. It is not acceptable for a church worker to form a romantic relationship with a child or adult at risk with whom they have a relationship of trust.
While by no means restricted to young leaders, those who are in their early adult years will need to be particularly aware of the need not to abuse their position of trust in their relationships with other young people who are not much younger than themselves.
Children and young people are by nature curious about the opposite sex. However, where a child is in a position of power, has responsibility over another child (as in a babysitting arrangement) and abuses that trust through some sexual activity, then this is abusive. Where one child introduces another child to age-inappropriate sexual activity or forces themselves onto a child, this is abusive. Such situations will be taken as seriously as if an adult were involved, because the effects on the child victim can be as great.
When such an instance occurs, they are investigated by the statutory authorities in the same way as if an adult were involved, though it is likely that the perpetrator would also be regarded as a victim in their own right, as they may have also been abused. It cannot be assumed that young people will grow out of this type of behaviour, as most adult sex offenders started abusing in their teens or even younger.
Allegations against adults at risk will be investigated by the statutory authorities. If the alleged perpetrator is unable to understand the significance of questions put to them or their replies, they can access support from an ‘appropriate’ adult whilst they are being questioned. This role can be filled by a range of people, such as a family member, carer, social worker, etc. In court, adults at risk may be allowed to be assisted by an intermediary or give evidence through a live link.
When an allegation is made against a child or adult at risk the following procedure should be followed:
When an allegation/suspicion arises in the church, a period of investigation will follow, which will be stressful for all involved. The church will ensure that one person is responsible for dealing with the authorities, another offers support to the victim/s and their family, and another gives pastoral care to the alleged perpetrator, without compromising the alleged victims or their families. It may be necessary to appoint other people to support the families involved.
Where a statutory investigation is under way, this support will be provided with the knowledge of the statutory authority involved.
Where the perpetrator accepts some responsibility, they will be encouraged to seek specialised interventions/treatment to reduce the risk of re-offending. This may only be appropriate once the investigation and legal processes have been completed.
As a church, we are committed to caring for those who have experienced abuse and refer to the Baptist Union of Great Britain Supporting Those who have Experienced Abuse guide to ensure that we adhere to a model of best practice.
We recognise it is important that those who have experienced abuse:
It may be necessary to signpost individuals to specialist support. The DPS has a list of relevant local information and contacts, ready for anyone who may need it. ### Create List
As a church, we are committed to safer recruitment practices. When recruiting both paid and volunteer church workers, the following process will be applied:
Note: Under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, it is an offence for anyone disqualified from working with children or adults at risk to knowingly apply, accept or offer to work with children or adults at risk. It is also a criminal offence to knowingly offer work with children or adults at risk to an individual who is so disqualified or to knowingly allow such an individual to continue to work with children or adults at risk.
In addition to the above checks which should be completed for both paid and volunteer church workers, an applicant’s UK residency status and/ or right to work in the UK will be checked when recruiting for a paid role.
Formal written references will be requested, ideally in the form of at least one professional and one personal reference
The church’s safeguarding policy and procedures will be discussed with the applicant and they will be required to sign their agreement to adhere to them. All workers will have a role description and clear lines of accountability to a leader and the leadership team.
Paid workers will also have an assigned supervisor whom they will meet with regularly to discuss work and address any issues or areas of concern. There will be a probationary period of six months in the role before any paid appointment is confirmed.
There will also be regular team meetings to review procedures, share concerns and identify other matters that may need clarification and guidance.
It is important that all workers understand our church’s agreed safeguarding procedures and attend BUGB Excellence in Safeguarding training at least once every four years. Where a worker is successfully recruited but has not yet been able to attend the training, they should be given a copy of the Baptist Union of Great Britain’s Gateway to Level 2 Excellence in Safeguarding booklet and asked to complete the relevant sections. Additional specialist training will also be arranged where needed, for example, in First Aid.
Young leaders under 18 years of age
In law, young leaders under the age of 18 are children and cannot be treated as adult members of a team. Training and mentoring will be given to ensure that they are helped to develop and hone their skills, attitudes and experience. Young leaders must always be closely supervised by an adult leader and never given sole responsibility for a group of children. When considering ratios of staff to children, young leaders need to be counted as children, not leaders. The safeguarding procedures apply to a young leader just as they do to any other person. Parent / carer permission needs to be sought for young leaders just as you would for any other person under 18 years of age.
2.3 SAFER BEHAVIOUR
The church has a code of behaviour for all those working with children and/or adults at risk so that everyone is shown the respect that is due to them:
Specific considerations when working with children:
No one should normally be left working alone with children, young people or adults at risk, but should instead work as part of a team. If there are insufficient leaders for groups:
If workers do find themselves on their own with children or adults at risk, they should:
If a child or adult at risk wants to talk on a one-to-one basis you should make sure that:
Consideration should be given to how many workers should be involved with the group and whether they should be male or female workers, or both. See section 3.11 for recommended ratios. The only adults allowed to participate in children’s and adult at risk activities are those safely appointed and appropriately trained. The leader of the activity should be aware of any other adults who are in the building whilst the activity is running.
The church is in an amazing position in society, with the opportunity to minister to individuals from the whole community, from the very young to the very old. These best practice guidelines are in place to help those working on behalf of the church to do it well, prioritising the safety and well-being of those they are working with. Whilst this section is divided into adults and children, some aspects of good practice will overlap.
When working with children the following recommended minimum ratios of workers to children apply:
Age range |
Recommended minimum ratio for INDOOR activities |
Recommended minimum ratio for OUTDOOR activities |
0 – 2 years |
1:3 (minimum 2) |
1:3 (minimum 2) |
3 years |
1:4 (minimum 2) |
1:4 (minimum 2) |
4 – 7 years |
1:8 (minimum 2) |
1:6 (minimum 2) |
8 – 12 years |
1 for the first 8, then one for every additional ten children (preferably one of each gender) with an extra adult for every 10 additional children |
2 adults for up to 15 children (preferably one of each gender) with an extra adult for every 8 additional children |
13 years and over |
2 adults for up to 20 children (preferably one of each gender) with an extra adult for every 10 additional children |
2 adults for up to 20 children (preferably one of each gender) with an extra adult for every 10 additional children |
This does not take into account special circumstances such as behavioural issues, developmental issues, disability and so on, which may mean an increase to the recommended ratios. In calculating the ratios of workers to children, young leaders who are under the age of 18 should be counted as one of the children, not one of the workers.
Children and young people who have a disability can be at greater risk of abuse. They will often require more help with personal care, such as washing, dressing, toileting, feeding, mobility, etc, and may have limited understanding and behave in a non-age-appropriate way. It is good practice to speak with the parents/carers of children/young people with special needs and find out from them how best to assist the child or young person.
It is unlikely that workers will need to make pastoral visits to children and their families at home on behalf of the church. If a situation occurs where it is needed then it should be done in pairs, and with the prior agreement of the Minister.
When children turn up to and want to join in with church activities without the knowledge of their parents/carers, workers will:
If a worker is working with a young person as part of the recognised church mentoring programme:
All youth activities will be overseen by named adults who have been selected in accordance with safer recruitment procedures. It is accepted that groups aged 16+ may benefit from being led and run by peers. In this situation, adult leaders will contribute to programme planning and reviews and will always be present to oversee any peer-led activities taking place.
Keep everything public. A hug within a group context is very different from one behind closed doors.
A worker’s role description will include an acknowledgement and approval of technologies such as email, social networking and mobile phone communications as a legitimate means of communicating with young people. It should also include the expectations of the church in relation to their use. On the general consent form, parents/carers sign to agree that the young person can receive such communications.
Young people also need to be aware of the protocols that workers follow in relation to electronic communications. It is important to remember that as well as the parent/carer, young people have a right to decide whether they want a worker to have their contact details and should not be pressurised otherwise.
It is not appropriate to use these communication methods with children aged 11 years and younger. For more information on cyber safety, please refer to the Baptist Union of Great Britain Cyber Safety Guide, which can be found on their website.
Email should be limited to sharing generic information, for example, to remind young people about meetings. If email is being used, workers will ensure that they are accountable by copying each message to a designated email address. It is important workers use clear and unambiguous language to reduce the risk of misinterpretation, for example, avoiding inappropriate terms such as ‘love’ when ending an email.
Instant messaging should be kept to an absolute minimum. Workers should save significant conversations and keep a log stating with whom and when they communicated.
Workers need to take care in using mobile phones to communicate with young people:
Since the introduction of the Data Protection Act in 1998, churches must be very careful if they use still or moving images of clearly identifiable people. There are several issues to be aware of:
The church building will be made as accessible as possible to all people. Any restrictions to access, visibility, audibility, toilet facilities, lighting or heating will be addressed wherever possible, and where necessary, aids and adaptations put in place.
Every effort will be taken to use appropriate language and suitable vocabulary, enabling the greatest level of inclusivity and accessibility. We will be mindful of the language used within worship and the language used to describe people (such as derogatory words focusing on aspects of someone’s disability, race or sexuality rather than the person themselves).
We will take reasonable steps to safeguard adults at risk and will follow any specific safeguarding requirements as laid out by our insurance company.
Arrangements are in place for dealing with money, financial transactions and gifts, as outlined below:
Workers should make sure that they have the person's permission to take a picture, and that the subject is happy with the intended use of the pictures. When taking group pictures, workers should remember to get permission from everyone who will be photographed.
All church computers will have suitable parental controls and blocks put on. Although this is not failsafe, it will make using the computers for inappropriate behaviour more difficult, whilst also protecting any vulnerable users. We will create a policy specifically for church computer use, including terms and conditions for use as well as what will happen if someone breaches these conditions.
It is good practice to record pastoral visits or meetings, noting the date, time, location, subject and any actions which are to be taken. The record of these meetings should stick to facts and try to avoid opinion. Any records of safeguarding allegations, concerns or disclosures should be passed on to the DPS and stored in a safe and secure manner for at least 75 years.
All those involved in pastoral ministry should work in a way that follows clearly defined procedures, which set out the boundaries to protect those carrying out the pastoral ministry as well as those receiving it:
It is essential that we have important information about all children and young people involved in any activities at the church, which is recorded on our consent forms. The first week someone attends workers must record their name, medical emergency information and a contact name and number. Then they must bring their completed form back with them. Where it is deemed appropriate, similar details will be gathered for adults at risk.
All activities for children, young people and adults at risk will comply with the church’s current health and safety policy and will be conducted in accordance with Guidelines for users of Radford Semel Baptist Church, with particular attention paid to the sections on Fire Action, First Aid, PAT testing, Health and Safety and Kitchen and Food Hygiene.
Whenever possible, at all events involving food preparation, at least one worker will hold a valid Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
Buildings being used for children’s and adult at risk groups will be properly maintained. A representative from the teams involved will take part in an annual health and safety review in order to consider all aspects of safety for everyone involved in using the premises.
It is the responsibility of all group leaders/responsible persons within the building to ensure the safety of themselves and those who are in their care. In addition, it is a legal requirement that all group leaders/responsible persons are familiar with the emergency procedures in the event of a fire.
All church groups will ensure that they have sufficient trained first aiders on their regular team so that there is always a first aider present at events and activities. Details of trained first aiders are posted on the noticeboard.
We have a first aid kit as well as an incident reporting book, which must be completed in the event of any accidents, injuries or incidents. A separate first aid kit will be provided for external events. A nominated individual will ensure that the contents of the first aid kits are checked on a regular basis. Completed accident forms should be passed on to the nominated individual.
The appropriate regulations governing the preparation and storage of foodstuffs should be followed.
When food stuffs is prepared on the premises:
Before undertaking any activity with children or adults at risk, the leader will ensure that a risk assessment is carried out and recorded. It is advisable to appoint someone specifically for this task.
Residential activity organisers will check that there is adequate insurance cover for any activities planned. If the trip is at a centre it is also important to establish that there is appropriate public liability insurance in place.
These guidelines apply to all drivers involved in the transportation of children, young people and adults at risk on behalf of the church. They do not apply to private arrangements, for example, transport arrangements made between friends.
Our practice specifically for transporting children is as follows:
There are some specific considerations which need to be made for outings and overnight events involving children:
Sleeping arrangements for overnight events will be carefully considered. It may be acceptable for workers to share sleeping accommodation with children/young people in a large dormitory or on an activity such as youth hostelling, where it is customary practice and there is more than one worker per room. Workers will not share sleeping accommodation with fewer than three children. Arrangements will be age-appropriate, provide security for the child/young person and be safe for everyone involved. The event leader will ensure that parents understand what the arrangements will be and are happy with them.
No child will participate in adventurous activities without the written consent of the parent /carer. The activity leader will ensure that the staff engaged in such activities are properly trained and qualified and that the correct ratio of staff to children is met. At an activity centre or for an organisation whose own staff undertake such activities, if the activities come within the scope of the Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 1996, the activity leader needs to ensure that the premises are licensed.
The event leader will have a fire safety procedure in place, which will include the following:
It is the responsibility of the workers to always know the whereabouts of every child/young person participating in an overnight event, and this may include monitoring access on and off the site.
General safety rules will be applied as appropriate (e.g. no running around tents due to the risk of injury from tripping over guy lines).
There will be an increased adult to child ratio for swimming trips. Prior to the trip, workers will establish the swimming ability of the children attending and obtain specific consent. Workers should never change in front of the children.
As with outings and events for children, there are additional considerations for a group taking adults with additional needs, such as learning difficulties or mental health needs, on outings or overnight events:
Consideration should be given to the individual needs of those staying overnight. If there is a need for personal care or additional support during the night, it would be better that the person’s usual caregiver also attends the event and therefore shares a room with them.
It is not appropriate for church workers to perform personal care for adults at risk unless this is their usual task (ie if they have come along to help generally, but also have a caring role for a member of the group, they can provide personal care for that person).
Leaders should consider the mobility needs of the group when deciding on activities or events. For example, if members of the group have difficulty walking, then including a walking tour around a town may be inaccessible to some who are attending. If you have members of the group who use wheelchairs then consideration needs to be given as to whether you have sufficient workers to support those who may need pushing.
It is the responsibility of the workers to always know the whereabouts of every person in the group; this may include monitoring access on and off the site.
General safety rules will be applied as appropriate and advice sought from the event organiser / venue about the fire evacuation procedures. A copy of the event / venue risk assessment should be included with the group leader’s risk assessment.
It is important to recognise that adults at risk are mostly able to give consent for their own involvement in activities, inclusion in photographs and medical treatment. However, in some situations the question of capacity may arise. The guidelines clearly state that an adult at risk should have a say in their care and any arrangements made for them, however, there may be occasions when you need to involve others in decision making. In these situations, seek advice from the DPS with regard to who should be involved.
A medical consent form should be completed by each member of the group and held by the leader. This will include any health concerns, emergency contact information and contact details for their GP. This will allow emergency medical personnel to have access to information should the need arise.
Church workers should never agree to hold or dispense medication for those on an event. If someone is unable to manage their own medication then consideration should be given as to whether their usual carer could attend with them or whether they will not be able to attend the event.
The responsible adult for an activity held at Organisation that hold regular activities at Radford Semele Baptist Church must adhere to the Church Policies.
Bullying is another form of abuse, and it can be verbal or physical. Bullying doesn’t just happen to children, often adults can be victims too. There is no legal definition of bullying, but it is usually defined as a repeated pattern of behaviour intended to cause emotional or physical harm to another person, or exert power over them. The effect of bullying on the victim can be profound, both emotionally and physically, regardless of their age, ability or status.
It is important to recognise that bullying happens within churches, and it is not isolated to the children and young people. Anyone in the church can be a victim of bullying, just as anyone in the church can be the bully, including those in leadership.
Bullying will always cause a great deal of pain and harm for those on the receiving end. Many people affected by bullying, both children and adults, believe they have nowhere to turn. They are scared to speak out and often blame themselves. They can become fearful and reclusive. It is important that churches are able to recognise when bullying is occurring and are prepared to take action to resolve the situation.
Some signs that can indicate a person is being bullied are as follows:
In order to help prevent bullying, the following procedures will be adopted within the church:
It is important to distinguish bullying from other behaviour, such as respectfully challenging or disagreeing with someone else’s beliefs or behaviours, setting reasonable expectations with regard to work deadlines and activities or taking legitimate disciplinary action.
When someone attending the church is known to have abused children or adults at risk, or a serious allegation has been made, the church safeguarding team will supervise the individual concerned and offer pastoral care, but in its commitment to protect vulnerable groups, will set boundaries for that person which they shall be expected to keep. These will be set out in what is known as a Safeguarding Contract.
When it is known that a person who has been convicted of abusing children, young people or adults is attending our church, it is important that their behaviour within the church community is properly managed and that a contract is put in place. There are also times when it will be appropriate to take such measures with a person who has faced allegations of abuse, but hasn’t been convicted.
In determining the details of the contract:
An open discussion will be held with the person concerned in which clear boundaries are established for their involvement in the life of the church. A written contract will be drawn up which identifies appropriate behaviour. The person will be required to sign the contract and it will be monitored and enforced. If the contract is broken certain sanctions will be discussed and considered with the local Baptist Association Safeguarding Contact.
A formal contract may be quite a daunting process for someone with learning difficulties or a young person, yet having safeguards in place is still necessary. Therefore, an alternative may be to arrange a meeting with the individual in question where they can be taken though the main elements of a formal contract in a way that is non-threatening and easy to understand. Notes would be taken and the individual would need to verbally agree to the requirements laid out in the meeting.
Rather than signing a formal ’contract’, the individual would instead sign to say that they agree with the minutes or meeting notes, and that they will stick to what has been agreed during the meeting. This will result in the same outcome as a contract, but is a more informal and appropriate approach for an adult at risk. The agreed requirements will need to be reviewed regularly to make sure that the individual is complying, exactly as a formal contract would be.
For the purpose of this guide, the term ‘child’ refers to anyone under the age of 18 years.
As there is no standard single definition for an adult at risk, our policy will use the following simple definition taken from CCPAS (Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service):
‘Any adult aged 18 or over who due to disability, mental function, age, illness or traumatic circumstances may not be able to take care or protect themselves against the risk of significant harm, abuse, bullying, harassment, mistreatment or exploitation’.
Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child or adult at risk. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child or adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children and adults at risk may be abused in a family, or in an institutional or community setting; by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults or a child or children. There are many different ways in which people suffer abuse. The list below is, sadly, not exhaustive.
Type of abuse |
Child |
Adult at risk |
Physical |
Actual or likely physical injury to a child, or failure to prevent physical injury to a child. |
To inflict pain, physical injury or suffering to an adult at risk. |
Emotional |
The persistent, emotional, ill treatment of a child that affects their emotional and behavioural development. It may involve conveying to the child that they are worthless and unloved, inadequate, or that they are given responsibilities beyond their years. |
The use of threats, fear or power gained by another adult’s position, to invalidate the person’s independent wishes. Such behaviour can create very real emotional and psychological distress. All forms of abuse have an emotional component. |
Sexual |
Involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This includes non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. |
Any non-consenting sexual act or behaviour.
No one should enter into a sexual relationship with someone for whom they have pastoral responsibility or hold a position of trust.
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Neglect
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Where adults fail to care for children and protect them from danger, seriously impairing health and development. |
A person’s wellbeing is impaired and their care needs are not met. Neglect can be deliberate or can occur as a result of not understanding what someone’s needs are.
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Type of Abuse |
Additional Definitions |
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Financial |
The inappropriate use, misappropriation, embezzlement or theft of money, property or possessions. |
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Spiritual |
The inappropriate use of religious belief or practice; coercion and control of one individual by another in a spiritual context; the abuse of trust by someone in a position of spiritual authority (e.g. minister). The person experiences spiritual abuse as a deeply emotional personal attack. |
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Discrimination
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The inappropriate treatment of a person because of their age, gender, race, religion, cultural background, sexuality or disability. |
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Institutional |
The mistreatment or abuse of a person by a regime or individuals within an institution. It can occur through repeated acts of poor or inadequate care and neglect, or poor professional practice or ill-treatment. The church as an institution is not exempt from perpetrating institutional abuse. |
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Domestic Abuse |
Domestic abuse is any threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between adults who are or have been in a relationship, or between family members. It can affect anybody regardless of their age, gender, sexuality or social status. Domestic abuse can be physical, sexual or psychological, and whatever form it takes, it is rarely a one-off incident. Usually there is a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour where an abuser seeks to exert power over their family member or partner. |
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Cyber Abuse |
The use of information technology (email, mobile phones, websites, social media, instant messaging, chatrooms, etc.) to repeatedly harm or harass other people in a deliberate manner. |
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Self-harm |
Self-Harm is the intentional damage or injury to a person’s own body. It is used as a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. An individual may also be neglecting themselves, which can result in harm to themselves. |
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Mate crime |
‘Mate crime’ is when people (particularly those with learning disabilities) are befriended by members of the community, who go on to exploit and take advantage of them. |
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Modern Slavery |
Modern slavery is the practice of treating people as property; it includes bonded labour, child labour, sex slavery and trafficking. It is illegal in every country of the world. |
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Human Trafficking |
Human trafficking is when people are bought and sold for financial gain and/or abuse. Men, women and children can be trafficked, both within their own countries and over international borders. The traffickers will trick, coerce, lure or force these vulnerable individuals into sexual exploitation, forced labour, street crime, domestic servitude or even the sale of organs and human sacrifice. |
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Radicalisation |
The radicalisation of individuals is the process by which people come to support any form of extremism and, in some cases, join terrorist groups. Some individuals are more vulnerable to the risk of being groomed into terrorism than others. |
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Honour / Forced Marriage |
An honour marriage / forced marriage is when one or both of the spouses do not, or cannot, consent to the marriage. There may be physical, psychological, financial, sexual and emotional pressure exerted in order to make the marriage go ahead. The motivation may include the desire to control unwanted behaviour or sexuality.
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Female Genital Mutilation |
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO). FGM is a cultural practice common around the world and is largely performed on girls aged between 10 and 18. Performing acts of FGM is illegal in the UK as is arranging for a child to travel abroad for FGM to be carried out. |
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Historic Abuse |
Historic abuse is the term used to describe disclosures of abuse that were perpetrated in the past. Many people who have experienced abuse don’t tell anyone what happened until years later, with around one third of people abused in childhood waiting until adulthood before they share their experience. |
Whilst it is not possible to be prescriptive about the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, the following list sets out some of the indicators which might be suggestive of abuse:
It should be recognised that this list is not exhaustive and the presence of one or more indicators is not in itself proof that abuse is actually taking place. It is also important to remember that there might be other reasons why most of the above are occurring.
The duty of the person who receives information or who has a concern about the welfare of a child, young person or adult at risk is to RECOGNISE the concerns, make a RECORD in writing and RESPOND by passing on their concerns to the DPS. If he/she is not contactable, or they are implicated in the situation, another member of the church Safeguarding Team should be contacted instead.
Concerns should be passed on to the DPS within 24 hours of the concern being raised. If anyone is considered to be in imminent danger of harm, a report should be made immediately to the police by calling 999. If such a report is made without reference to the DPS, they should be informed as soon as possible afterwards.
A written record using the standard incident report form should be made as soon as possible after a child or adult at risk tells you about harmful behaviour, or an incident takes place that gives cause for concern.
The record should:
If concerns arise in the context of children’s or adult at risk work, the worker who has the concern may in the first instance wish to talk it through with their group leader, where appropriate. However, such conversations should not delay concerns being passed on to the DPS. It should be clear that the duty remains with the worker to record and pass on their concerns to the DPS.
If an issue concerns an adult at risk who does not give permission to pass on the information to anyone else, the worker should explain that they will need to speak with the DPS, who will have greater expertise in dealing with the issue at hand.
If a concern is brought to the attention of a group leader by one of the workers, the leader should remind the worker of their duty to record and report, and will also themselves have a duty to pass on the concern to the DPS.
The duty of the DPS on receiving a report is to REVIEW the concern that they have received and REPORT the concern on to the appropriate people, where necessary.
In reviewing the report that is received, the DPS:
The DPS will decide who the report should be referred on to, working in conjunction with the church Safeguarding Team where appropriate. They may:
*If a worker has an allegation made against them, they should step down from all church duties until the incident has been investigated by the statutory authorities. It may also be appropriate to put a Safeguarding Contract in place; this should be discussed with the local Baptist Association Safeguarding Contact.
A record should be kept of all safeguarding incidents and should be considered in the annual review of the church’s safeguarding policy. All original reports should be retained safely and securely by the DPS and a written record should be made of the actions taken.
Responsibilities to REPORT and SUPPORT in stage 3 of the process are shared by the church Safeguarding Team and the Minister.
Once concerns, suspicions and disclosures of abuse have been addressed, the church continues to have a responsibility to offer support to all those who have been affected, including:
Victims; Alleged perpetrators; Children; Adults at risk; Other family members; Church workers; Church Safeguarding Team; Minister; Leadership Team.
If a church worker has been accused of causing harm to children, young people or adults at risk this would be classed as a serious incident that should be reported to the Charity Commission by those churches that are registered with the Charity Commission.
If a worker has been removed from their post or would have been removed from their post because of the risk of harm that they pose to children, young people or adults at risk, there is also a statutory duty to report the incident to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
This form should be completed by the Designated Person for Safeguarding
Name of church |
Radford Semele Baptist Church |
Contact details of church |
Lewis Road, Radford Semele, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 1UQ |
Name of Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) |
Sue Staddon |
Contact details of Designated Person for Safeguarding |
Phone number: 07758 791080 Email address: suestaddon51@gmail.com |
Name of concerned person or to whom disclosure was given
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Contact details of concerned person or whom disclosure was given
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Name |
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Date of birth |
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Address
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Phone Number / Email address
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(Attach additional sheet if required)
What happened? (Nature of concern / disclosure made - use the person’s own words if known)
When did it happen? (date, time)
Where did it happen? (specific location)
Who was allegedly involved and in what way? (includes witnesses)
Have the carers or parents / guardians been informed? Yes o No o (Please tick)
If so, when and by whom?
Have the statutory authorities been informed? Yes o No o (Please tick)
If so, please complete the table:
Authority |
(Example) Police |
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Name |
PC Bobby (1389) |
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Position |
Child Abuse Officer |
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Email contact |
bobby@police.com |
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Phone contact |
01926 077999 |
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Contacted by |
Minister |
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Date and time of contact |
1:30 pm 1/2/2018 |
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Has the Local Association been
informed?
Yes o No o (Please tick)
(Please do so if the statutory authorities are involved)
If so, when and by whom?
Any other action taken:
What action needs to be taken?
Who is responsible for this?
Signature of Designated Safeguarding Person
Date & time
Signature of minister, or Church Safeguarding Team member
Date & time
Name of Individual of Concern_______________________________________________________
Name of person completing this form____________________________¬¬¬___________________
These diagrams are designed for the recording of any observable bodily injuries that may appear on the person. Where bruises, burns, cuts, or other injuries occur, shade and label them clearly on the diagram. Remember it’s not your job to investigate or to decide if an injury or mark is non-accidental. Listen, observe and pass it on.
Signature
Date & time
Please see www.baptist.org.uk for more information about safeguarding in Baptist churches, including a range of specialist guides and a library of free downloadable resources.
Information and booking arrangements for the BUGB Levels 2 and Level 3 Excellence in Safeguarding training can be made through your local Baptist association team. Please see their website for details of nearby courses or the opportunity to host safeguarding training at your church.
If you find yourself facing an emergency situation, where you believe that someone attending your church is being harmed or is at imminent risk of harm, please ring the police on 999 and ask to speak to an officer in the child or adult protection teams. Always keep records and let your DPS know that you have made this call.