Safeguarding Policy 

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS POLICY STATEMENT

Barnabas Community Church

The following statement was agreed by the Directors of Barnabas Community Church on 7th June 2023.

● Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

● This place of worship is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well-being

● We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent harm or Abuse to children and adults with care and support needs in all their recognised forms

● We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults and children and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this

● We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.

● We believe every child and adult should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that all those we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing significant harm.

We are committed to:

● Following statutory specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that as a place of worship/organisation all workers will work within the agreed procedure of our safeguarding policy.

● Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation including, but not limited to;

● Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and referring concerns about adults with care and support needs to the local authority under the Care Act 2014.

● Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work.

● Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.

● Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation.

● Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse.

We recognise:

● Children’s Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child.

● Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult with care and support needs.

● Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.

We will review this statement and our policy annually.

If you have any concerns for a child or adult, then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this place of worship/organisation.

Sarah Birchall, Safeguarding Lead

Gary Branfield, Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Click Here to access our full Safeguarding Policy

The person in receipt of allegations or suspicions of abuse should report concerns as soon as possible to:

Name: Sarah Birchall - hereafter the "Safeguarding Co-ordinator"

Tel: 077 8067 1027

Email: sarah.birchall@barnabas.church

The above is nominated by the Leadership to act on their behalf in dealing with the allegation or suspicion of neglect or abuse, including referring the matter on to the statutory authorities.

In the absence of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or, if the suspicions in any way involve the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, then the report should be made to:

Name: Karen Williams hereafter the "Deputy"

Tel: 077 294 22693

Email: karen@bcp.onl

If the suspicions implicate both the Safeguarding Co-ordinator and the Deputy, then the report should be made in the first instance to: thirtyone:eight PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ.

Tel: 0303 003 1111. Option 2

Alternatively contact Social Services or the police.