Safeguarding Policy

BARNES METHODIST CHURCH

SAFEGUARDING POLICY 2011-12

Statement

‘Barnes Methodist Church operates a policy of good practice in the care of, and work with, children and young people and vulnerable adults. This is in accordance with the Methodist church’s policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection.

As the people of the Methodist Church, we are concerned with the wholeness of each person within God’s purposes for all people. We seek to safeguard all members of 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.

The policy aims to outline the practices which the church has employed to promote safeguarding; the procedure for applying for CRB checks; the contact details and process of disclosing or discovery of abuse; support given to survivors of abuse; and guidelines for supporting the person who has abused within the church community.

Good Practice within Barnes Methodist Church.

Weekly Notices – the statement above is printed as part of the weekly notice sheet which is given to all attending the services on Sundays.

Posters – a poster with the statement is displayed on the main notice board in the church as well as on the boards in the foyer and the main hall.

Website – the safeguarding poster is accessible on the church website, under the weekly notice section www.barnesmethodistchurch.org.uk

Photographs – there are no individual photographs on the website of children and it has been agreed that it is not necessary to complete consent forms at this point. When new families and children are welcomed into the Junior Church, it is the responsibility of the teachers to talk with them and discover whether or not there is a problem with their picture being taken.

Junior Church Volunteers – are required to complete a CRB check.

Key Holders – all church-key holders are required to sign a declaration form (Safeguarding Form D) which are filled in with the minister.

Other Organisations using the premises – are being asked to complete their own CRB checks by the Booking Administrator, Ms Robin Eastwood.
Copies of these are kept in the church safe.

Trips and Off-site Activities – At Barnes this is rarely appropriate. However, if children, young people or vulnerable adults are leaving church premises for trips or activities a signed parent consent form must be obtained and a risk assessment carried out.

Procedure for applying for CRB checks (Junior Church volunteers only)

CRB forms and the Methodist Safeguarding forms can be obtained from the minister or church Safeguarding representative. These are completed, with the volunteer, by the minister who verifies the identification documents and then forwards them to the Churches Agency for Safeguarding (CAS). Once the check is complete, both the church and the volunteer each receive a copy and are informed if there are issues arising.

Contact details

The Minister: The Rev. Nicola Morrison
020 8876 0606

The Church Safeguarding Representative:
Miss Charlotte Davies
07748 482 692

The Circuit Safeguarding Representative:
Mrs Mary Ludlow
020 8788 0850

London Methodist District Safeguarding Officer:
Rev Jan Atkins
020 8550 2460

Richmond Safeguarding Children’s Board:
Ms Karen Neill
020 8831 6202

In case of emergency: Richmond Specialist Children’s Services 020 8891 7969

Guidelines for disclosing or discovering abuse.

If abuse is suspected by disclosure from a child, young person or vulnerable adult or from information from a third party, or through observation, do not delay in telling the minister or safeguarding representative. The responsible person will then contact the appropriate agencies e.g. social services or the police. The person in charge of pastoral care should also be informed to support the victim during the process of any investigations and legal proceedings. Complete confidentiality in cases of child abuse cannot be maintained and the best interests of the child must be paramount. Notes should be recorded of times, dates, events, signed, and a copy kept. It is also important that the sensitive nature of this information is kept to those people who need to know of the situation and is not spread around the church community.

Support for survivors of abuse.

People may disclose the abuse which took place as a child many years after the event(s), as adults within the church. Although this may have no direct link to the church taking action, they will need sensitive support and understanding while they work through the many issues they may have. With the consent of the survivor the minister, and where appropriate their pastoral leader, may be informed.

Supporting the person who has abused.

The church follows the Methodist Church guidelines on supporting those convicted of abuse and the wider community.

Forms and further resources can be found on the Methodist Church website at: www.methodist.org.uk

The Safeguarding Handbook is also available in the Church office.