Safe to Grow; Safe to Belong
Good Practice Guidelines for the Prevention of Abuse
(reviewed and updated March 2021)
Children and Young People and ‘Adults at Risk’ are part of our church today. They have much to give as well as to receive. We will listen to them as we nurture them in worship, learning, and in community life, and respect their wishes.
Policy Statement
Houghton Regis Baptist Church and Community Link Project
A child is a whole person with rights and needs to be honoured & respected by us all. Indeed children possess qualities which show adults the way to God’s kingdom (Matthew 18:7).
An adult at risk of harm is a person who has needs for care and support and Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect. (Care Act 2014).
Our church must model in our worship fellowship & mission a community where:-
Children, Young People and Adults at Risk are given a sense of belonging, nurtured, kept safe & listened t.
Parents/ carers are supported, strengthened & encouraged.
Those who work with children & young people or vulnerable adults are supported and protected.
· As members of this church, we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all, especially children and young people and adults at risk.
· It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse and/or neglect of children and young people and vulnerable adults, and to report any abuse discovered or suspected.
· We recognise that our work with children and young people/ adults at risk is the responsibility of the whole church. We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with them.
· The church is committed to supporting, resourcing and training those who work with children, young people and adults at risk, and to providing supervision of their activities.
· The church is committed to following the guidelines and procedures published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Each person who works with children, young people or adults at risk will agree to abide by the recommendations and the guidelines established by the church.
It will be reviewed annually by the Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) and Deputy DPS, Safeguarding Trustee, and Church Leadership together with this Guidance document and recommendations for updates/ requirements for monitoring will be brought to the Church meeting as appropriate.
Each worker with children and young people/ adults at risk must know the recommendations and undertake to observe them. Each shall be given a copy of the Church’s agreed procedures and Good Practice guidelines and are required to sign a statement to confirm they have read and understood.
As part of our commitment to children and young people/ adults at risk, the church has appointed a Designated Person for Safeguarding and a Safeguarding Trustee, who is a member of the Church Leadership team.
Their roles will be regularly explained to children, young people/ adults at risk, parents / carers and their names, and contact details will be displayed publicly.
Our safeguarding responsibilities
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 appropriately.
Prevention and reporting of abuse
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.
Safer recruitment, support and supervision of workers
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 safekeeping of children and adults at risk.
Respecting 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.
Safer working practices
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.
A safer community
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.
