This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of Bridge Community Church with children, young people and adults with care and support needs, including the staff, elders, trustees, deacons and volunteers.
Bridge Community Church is committed to:
- Ensuring all children, young people and adults with care and support needs, are kept safe from harm whilst involved in any activity within our church organisation, in accordance with law and regulatory guidance.
- Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and adults with care and support needs who interact with church and church community.
- Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
- Caring pastorally where possible for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
- Caring pastorally where possible for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
We will seek to keep children, young people and adults with care and support needs safe by:
- Adopting child and adult safeguarding best practice through our policies and procedures for our church staff and volunteers.
- Having a Safeguarding Designated Lead, a Safeguarding Team and a Safeguarding Trustee.
- Providing effective training, supervision for our church staff and volunteers.
- Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
- Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
- Making sure that children, young people and adults with care and support needs, know where to go for help if they have a concern.
- Notifying the relevant agencies, following our safeguarding procedure, of any safeguarding concerns or other relevant information.
- Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately.
- Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people, adults at risk, and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
- Ensuring that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities undertaken by our church involving children and adults.
- Caring for and monitoring any person who engages with our church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
- Ensuring that our church health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
- Reviewing the implementation of and training in the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices and reporting to the Trustees on this, at least annually.
Safeguarding Contacts
If you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or adult who is vulnerable or at risk, then the first person to speak to is our Safeguarding Lead or one of the Safeguarding team. If you need to report an allegation, please contact Bridge Community Church immediately 01284 723737.
Safeguarding Designated Lead:
Emma Malcolm – emma@bridgecommunitychurch.co.uk
Safeguarding Team:
David Oakley – david@bridgecommunitychurch.co.uk
Beverley Burroughs – beverley@bridgecommunitychurch.co.uk
Trustee Lead for Safeguarding:
David Oakley
Alternative Contacts
Suffolk Customer First: If you are unable to contact one of the safeguarding team, and have an immediate concern, please ring the Suffolk Safeguarding team directly or alternatively email a referral:
Adults – 0808 800 4005
https://earlyhelpportal.suffolk.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/adultsa#h1
Children – 0808 800 4005
https://earlyhelpportal.suffolk.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/marf#h1
THIRTYONE:EIGHT: They oversee our Safeguarding practice and we are members of their organisation. They are able to give confidential advice: 0303 003 11 11
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
SAMARITANS: 116 123
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE: 0808 2000 247
ACTION ON ELDER ABUSE: 080 0699 784
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children, young people and adults with care and support needs.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children–2
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-policy-protecting-vulnerable-adults
