Overflow Church Safeguarding Policy 

   

2.1.3 Responding to Concerns Raised about Adults at Risk

When a concern is raised about an adult it should be treated in the same way as a concern about a child i.e. the church worker (paid or voluntary) should:
 

1. Recognise that abuse may be taking place
2. Respond to the concern
3. Record all the information they have received
4. Report the concern to the DPS who may, in turn, report it to the statutory authorities

 
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. 
 
 

2.1.4 Allegations Against Workers

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:
 

1. When an allegation of abuse has been made do not approach the alleged perpetrator about it
2. Follow the usual safeguarding procedure: Recognise, Respond, Record, Report
3. Once the allegation has been reported to the DPS they can liaise with the relevant statutory authority
4. Whilst waiting for an outcome from the statutory authorities, the worker about whom concerns have been raised will be supervised as closely as possible, without raising suspicion
5. Once the statutory authorities are involved, the church will follow their advice with regard to the next steps to take (for example, suspension of worker, putting a contract in place)
6. A written record of all discussions with statutory authorities or other parties should be maintained by the DPS and stored securely and confidentially, where only those directly involved in safeguarding (DPS, Safeguarding Trustee, Minister) can access them.
7. No information about the allegation will be shared with people in the church other than those directly involved in safeguarding; not even for prayer purposes.

 
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.
 
When concerns are expressed about the Team leader
Any safeguarding concerns involving a Minister should always be reported immediately to DPS.  Do not tell the Minister that a concern has been raised about them.
 
When concerns are expressed about the church DPS / Safeguarding Trustee
Any safeguarding concerns involving the DPS or Safeguarding Trustee should be raised to Deputy DPS.  If concerns involve DDPS, DPS and safeguarding trustee please contact another trustee.  Do not tell the DPS / DDPS/ Safeguarding Trustee that a concern has been raised about them.
 

2.1.5 Abuse of Trust

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.
 

2.1.6 Allegations Made Against Children and Adults at Risk

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:
 

• Do not approach the person about whom the allegation has been made or their parents / carers
• Follow the church’s safeguarding procedure: Recognise, Respond, Record, Report
• Seek advice from the DPS, who will speak to the police or social services about when to inform a parent. The DPS will also seek advice about what steps need to be taken to ensure the needs of both the victim and alleged perpetrator are met; this may include placing the child or adult at risk on a Safeguarding Contract or equivalent.
• Make sure there is pastoral support in place for the child or adult at risk throughout the process involved.

 

2.1.7 Pastoral Care

Following an allegation / suspicion
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. The Church will also see if some pastoral support is needed for the leader who first reported the incident/concern and if so, will arrange someone suitable for this role.
 
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.
 
 
Supporting those who have experienced abuse
As a church, we are committed to caring for those who have experienced abuse.
We recognise it is important that those who have experienced abuse:

• Are accepted for who they are, without being made to forgive or being put into a position of feeling guilty and responsible for what happened to them.
• Know that God loves them unconditionally, and that nothing can or will change this truth.
• Can be confident that those in the church community who know about the abuse are with them on their journey – no matter how long or difficult that journey may be.

 
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.
 

2.2 SAFER RECRUITMENT

As a church, we are committed to safer recruitment practices. When recruiting both paid and volunteer church workers, the following process will be applied:

• We will develop a clear role profile, person specification and application form;
• When advertising a role which involves working with children or adults at risk we will make it clear that any appointment is subject to a DBS check;
• All applicants will be asked to complete an application form and include the names of two referees;
• Short listing of applicants will be carried out by at least two people, including the line manager or group leader directly overseeing the role being recruited for;
• Interviews will be carried out by at least two people, including the line manager or group leader;
• References, a Self-Disclosure Form and an enhanced DBS check must be completed satisfactorily before the appointed person starts in their role.
• Children and Youth Leaders are to inform the DPS and Team leader of any new volunteers.
• Any new volunteers who haven’t yet received the Level 2 Safeguarding training, will be asked to meet with the leader of their area of ministry, to talk through the safeguarding together. This conversation will also include going through the Overflow Church vision and core values, and any practical details of their area of ministry.
• New volunteers must read and sign the Volunteer Declaration form and apply for a DBS (Or arrange for a DBS transfer from their workplace if necessary). They may begin to volunteer only once they have completed the Volunteer declaration form, and have received their DBS.
• New volunteers will receive copies of all the documents listed below, to sign once they have read and agreed.

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.
 
Tracking DBSs and signed Policies 
 
The DSP will monitor the Thirty Eight One system to ensure we renew DBS as needed.  As part of ensuring all our volunteers are update to yearly they will fill in a check list that has the below listed.  Team leader will work with DSP to ensure this is all kept up to date.
 
The check list will include the date that each worker/volunteer has read, agreed to and signed a copy of our: 

• Overflow Church’s Core Values and Mission & Vision Statements 
• Overflow Church’s Safeguarding Policy/Updates 
• GDPR Policy 
• Date of last GDPR review/deleting of data 
• Risk assessments relating to the areas they are involved in leading/helping 
• Volunteer declaration form 
• Any First Aid qualifications they have, what level and date of expiry 
• Date they last attended safeguarding training, what level it was and who it was with ie: Overflow church or their workplace. 

It will also include the following (once these documents are finalised) 

• Overflow Church prophetic guidance in Overflow activities 
• Overflow Church moving in healing document 

 
Additional checks for paid workers
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.
 
References
Formal written references will be requested, ideally in the form of at least one professional and one personal reference.
 
Appointment and Supervision
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.
 
Training
It is important that all workers understand our church’s agreed safeguarding procedures and attend Safeguarding training offered by The Overflow Church. This training takes place every 2 years. On the alternate years, the DPS and Team Leader will lead a short session (1 hour) for all workers and volunteers, to refresh their safeguarding knowledge. This time will allow for any questions and issues to be raised, and to ensure that all are aware of any updates to the policy and procedures.
 
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:

• Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
• Use age and ability appropriate language and tone of voice. Be aware of your body language and the effect you are having on the child or adult at risk.
• Listen well to everyone. Be careful not to assume you know what a child or adult at risk is thinking or feeling. Listen to what is being spoken and how it is said. At the same time, observe the individual’s body language to better understand what is being said.
• Be aware of any physical contact you may have with a child or adult at risk and record it when necessary.  For instance, if you need to stop a fight, administer First Aid, give a hug to someone in distress, or protect yourself or others from danger.
• Do not make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child or adult at risk, even in 'fun'.
• Do not scapegoat, belittle, ridicule or reject a child or adult at risk.
• Keep a record of any significant incidents or concerns on a Safeguarding Incident Form (see Appendix 3).  Enter the names of all those present and anything of note which you observe, e.g. details of any fights broken up by the workers, allegations made, etc.  All workers who witnessed the incident, overheard it or responded in any way should record the details and sign and date the form.

 
Specific considerations when working with children:

• Do not invade the privacy of children when they are using the toilet or showering
• The level of assistance with personal care (eg. toileting) must be appropriate and related to the age of the child, whilst also accepting that some children have special needs.
• Avoid rough games involving physical contact between a worker and a child
• Avoid sexually provocative games
• When it is necessary to discipline children, this should be done without using physical punishment. There may, however, on the rare occasion be circumstances where a child needs to be restrained in order to protect them or a third person.
• Only invite children and young people to your home or on trips in groups and always make sure that another worker is present.
• Notify the DPS of any children’s trips which take place in the name of the church.  Parental permission must always be sought.
• No person under 18 years of age should be left in sole charge of any children of any age. Nor should children or young people attending a group be left alone at any time.

 
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:

• Internal doors should be left open. 
• At least two people should be present before external doors are opened for an event.
• Consider whether you could combine groups together or rearrange planned activities.
• Reconsider whether you can run the group safely, carrying out a Risk Assessment to record your findings.

 
If workers do find themselves on their own with children or adults at risk, they should:

• Assess the risk of sending the child or adult at risk home.
• Phone another team member and let them know the situation.
• Train additional leaders as soon as possible.

If a child or adult at risk wants to talk on a one-to-one basis you should make sure that:

• You try to hold the conversation in a corner of a room where other people are present.
• You leave the door open if you are in a room on your own.
• Another team member knows where you are.

 
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.
 

SECTION 3 - BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES

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.
 

3.1 – WORKING WITH CHILDREN

 

3.1.1 Ratios

 
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.
 

3.1.2 Children with Special Needs

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.
 

3.1.3 Visiting Children or Young People at Home

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 Team Leader.
 

3.1.4a Children with no adult supervision

When children turn up to and want to join in with church activities without the knowledge of their parents/carers, workers will:

• Welcome the child and try to establish their name, age, address and telephone number.
• Record their visit in a register.
• Ask the child if a parent/carer is aware of where they are.  Where possible, phone and make contact.
• Without interrogating the child, find out as soon as possible whether they have any specific needs (e.g. medication) so that you can respond appropriately in an emergency.
• Where possible to send a consent form via email or post to parents.  In other situations, give the child a consent form and explain it needs to be filled in and brought back next time.

 
3.1.4b Consent Forms
The consent forms are to be reviewed each September.

• A child/young person can attend 2-4 sessions (maximum) without a consent form. After 4 sessions they will not able to attend until one is completed. In the meantime (the first 2-4 sessions) a simpler form (inc. emergency contacts, any allergies, ect) will be available on hand at the session, for the parent/guardian to complete on arrival.
• All consent forms will either be digital via the church website or if paper consent forms be scanned on to a cloud document, that will be password protected. Leaders will then have access to this document and to consent forms via weboffice on website.  This allows forms to all be kept safe in one place, and makes them accessible for leaders to log in and check any details re: the children (ie. Allergies, or consent for photography)

 
 

3.1.5 Mentoring/Pastoral

If a worker is working with a young person as part of the recognised church mentoring programme:
 

• The Youth Worker/volunteer is required to record and sign how and when they received permission from the parents, for mentoring/pastoral meetings to take place, and who it is with.
• From then on, the youth worker/volunteer is to inform/check with the parent each time they are meeting up with the young person. The youth worker/volunteer is then required to inform Team leader, of each time a meeting is taking place and where it is being held.
• Mentoring meetings should only be held in agreed places, and should be in view of other people.
• YWs/volunteers will not be required to record all issues/decisions discussed. However, the YW/volunteer will be required to inform team leader of any issues raised or discussed that gives them cause for concern. Any of such issues that are shared must be recorded and dated, and any safeguarding concerns must immediately be raised with the DPS, following the procedures set out in policy. 
• Appropriate boundaries should be put in place in regard to times and demand, ie not phoning or texting late at night, etc.

 

3.1.6 Peer Group Activities for Young People

All youth activities will be overseen by named adults who have been selected in accordance with safer recruitment procedures.  On occasions groups 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.
 

3.1.7 Physical Contact

• Keep everything public. A hug within a group context is very different from one behind closed doors.
• Touch should be related to the child's needs, not the worker's.
• Touch should be age-appropriate and generally initiated by the child rather than the worker.
• Workers should avoid any physical activity that is, or may be thought to be, sexually stimulating to the adult or the child.
• Children are entitled to privacy to ensure their personal dignity.
• Children have the right to decide how much physical contact they have with others, except in exceptional circumstances such as when they need medical attention.
• When giving first aid (or applying sun cream, etc), workers should encourage the child to do what they can manage themselves, but consider the child's best interests and give appropriate help where necessary.
• Team members should monitor one another in the area of physical contact. They should help each other by constructively challenging anything which could be misunderstood or misconstrued.

 

3.1.8 Electronic Communications - Cyber Safety

 

Modern Technologies and Safe Communication

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.
 
Email
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.
 
Communicating using Instant Messaging (eg, Whatsapp, Instagram)
Instant messaging should be kept to an absolute minimum.  Workers should save significant conversations, (Whatsapp conversations can be extracted and saved on a PC) and keep a log stating with whom and when they communicated.
When contacting a young person via Instagram direct message, this should only be done using the Church’s account and not from any personal accounts.
When contacting young people, one of the following options should be followed:

1. Every time a message is sent, another leader is to be copied in.
2. Phones are to be viewed by another youth worker on regular basis no less than once a month. (Phones are to be shown to the team leader; team leader to show their phone to DSP or line manager)   

Option 2 is the preferred option for those sending out more frequent messages.
 
All of the above applies to both paid and voluntary youth workers.
 
Mobile Phones
Workers need to take care in using mobile phones to communicate with young people:
 

•  Mobile phone use should primarily be for the purposes of information sharing.
•  Workers should keep a log of significant conversations/texts.
•  Any texts or conversations that raise concerns should be passed on to the worker’s supervisor.
• Workers should use clear language and should not use abbreviations like ‘lol’ which could mean ‘laugh out loud’ or ‘lots of love’.
• Paid workers can use their personal phones for work context.  Messages should copy in other leaders as stated above.  
• Workers should not take photos of children, young people or adults at risk unless permission is sought in advance and should not store such photos on personal phones.

 
Social Networking

• Workers should have a site that is used solely for children’s / youth work communications and is totally separate from their own personal site.  This is to ensure that all communication with children and young people is kept within public domains.  Passwords and access should be given to at least one other adult leader for accountability.
• Workers should not send private messages to children on social networks. Workers should ensure that all communications are transparent and open to scrutiny.
• Workers should not accept ‘friend’ or ‘following’ requests from children who they know solely through a church activity, on their personal site, nor seek to be ‘friends’ or a ‘follower’ of any child known to them in a church context. Family members and friends outside of these groups should be handled with careful consideration and parental permission.

 
Taking Videos and Photographs of Children
 
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:
 

• Permission must be obtained, via the consent form, of all children who will appear in a photograph or video before the photograph is taken or footage recorded.
• It must be made clear why that person's image is being used, what you will be using it for, and who might want to look at the pictures.
• If images are being taken at an event attended by large crowds, such as a sports event, this is regarded as a public area and permission from a crowd is not necessary.
• Many uses of photographs are not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998, including all photographs and video recordings made for personal use, such as a parent/carer taking photographs at school sports days or videoing a church nativity play.
• Children and young people under the age of 18 should not be identified by surname or other personal details, including email, postal address or telephone number.
• When using photographs of children and young people, it is preferable to use group pictures.

 
 

3.2 WORKING WITH ADULTS AT RISK

 

3.2.1 Premises

The hired premises 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.
 

3.2.2 Language

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).
 

3.2.3 Worship

In all worship services, we will consider the varied requirements of our congregation and try to be as inclusive as possible, by:

• Providing clear display on the projector.

• Speakers always facing the congregation and not covering their mouths when       talking, enabling those who rely on lip-reading
• Describing what is being presented on a screen for those who cannot see it clearly
• Using inclusive language
• Using a variety of liturgy and resources to cater for different levels of understanding
• Using a microphone during times of open prayer so that all can hear

 

3.2.4 Insurance

We will take reasonable steps to safeguard adults at risk and will follow any specific safeguarding requirements as laid out by our insurance company.
 

3.2.5 Financial integrity

Arrangements are in place for dealing with money, financial transactions and gifts, as outlined below:

• Those who work with adults at risk may become involved in some aspects of personal finance - collecting pensions or benefits, shopping or banking, etc. If handling money for someone else, always obtain receipts or other evidence of what has been done.
• Workers should not seek personal financial gain from their position beyond any salary or recognised allowances or expenses.
• Workers should not be influenced by offers of money.
• Any gifts received should be reported to the church trustees, who should decide whether or not the gift can be accepted.
• Any money received by the church should be handled by two unrelated church workers.
• Care should be taken not to canvass for church donations from those adults who may be at risk, such as the recently bereaved.
• Workers should ensure that church and personal finances are kept apart to avoid any conflict of interest.
• If someone alters their will in favour of an individual known to them because of their church work or pastoral relationship, it should be reported to the trustees. Workers should not act as Executors for someone they know through their work or pastoral role, as this may lead to a conflict of interests.
• Expert legal advice should be sought on matters such as Power of Attorney and Appointeeship to ensure that the situation is clearly understood and is the most appropriate course of action for the adult at risk.

 

3.2.6 Photographs

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.
 

3.2.7 Computers

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 have a policy specifically for church computer use, including terms and conditions for use as well as what will happen if someone breaches these conditions.
 

3.2.8 Record keeping

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. See GDPR Policy Appendix 2.
 

3.2.9 Pastoral Relationships

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:
 

• Workers should be aware of the power imbalance within pastoral relationships and the potential for abuse of trust.
• Behaviour that suggests favouritism or gives the impression of a special relationship, should be avoided.
• Workers should be aware of the dangers of dependency within a pastoral relationship.
• Workers should never take advantage of their role and engage in sexual activity with someone with whom they have a pastoral relationship.
• All people receiving pastoral ministry should be treated with respect and should be encouraged to make their own decisions about any actions or outcomes.
• Workers should not pastorally minister to anyone whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Workers need to recognize the limits of their own abilities and competencies, and get further help when working with situations outside of their expertise or role.

 

3.3 HEALTH AND SAFETY - Safe Practice and Safe Premises

 

3.3.1 Consent forms 

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. Similar details will be gathered for adults at risk.
 

• A child/young person can attend 2-4 sessions (maximum) without a consent form. After 4 sessions they will not able to attend until one is completed. In the meantime (the first 2-4 sessions) a simpler form (inc. emergency contacts, any allergies, ect) will be available on hand at the session, for the parent/guardian to complete on arrival.
• All consent forms will either be digital via the church website or if paper consent forms be scanned on to a cloud document, that will be password protected. Leaders will then have access to this document and to consent forms via weboffice on website.  This allows forms to all be kept safe in one place, and makes them accessible for leaders to log in and check any details re: the children (ie. Allergies, or consent for photography)

 

3.3.2 Health and Safety

All activities for children, young people and adults at risk will comply with the church’s current health and safety policy.
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.
 

3.3.3 Fire

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.
 

3.3.4 First Aid

Our church has a number of trained First Aiders.  All church groups will ensure that they have sufficient first aid provision for their activities this may be a trained first aider or designated person. 
 
First aid kit is available for our activities please speak to Paul Stevens or Sam Mahe if you require one.  Completed accident forms should be handed onto a church leader and comply with our GDPR policy. 
 

3.3.5 Supervision of Groups

For all groups specifically run for children, the person responsible for a group/activity must sign in at the start and end of that activity so that it is apparent who the ‘responsible person’ for that activity is – even if you were already in the building or are staying on afterwards.  You also need to make sure that you keep a register so that you know who is on the premises.
 

3.3.6 Risk Assessment

Before undertaking any activity with children or adults at risk, the leader will ensure that a risk assessment is carried out. It is advisable to appoint someone specifically for this task.
 

3.3.7 Insurance

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.
 
3.3.8 Transport
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.

• Only those who have gone through the church safer recruitment procedures for workers will transport children and adults at risk (within the DBS eligibility criteria).
• All drivers will have read the church’s Safeguarding Policy and agree to abide by it.
• Drivers will be aged 21 or over and have held a full driving licence for at least two years.
• Drivers must ensure that they have adequate insurance cover and that the vehicle being used is road worthy.
• All hired minibuses will have a small bus permit, the necessary insurance and a driver with a valid driving licence that entitles them to drive a minibus.

 
Our practice specifically for transporting children is as follows:

• Parental consent will be given for all journeys.
• All children and young people should be returned to an agreed drop off point. At collection or drop off points, children should never be left on their own; make sure they are collected by an appropriate adult.
• At least two workers should be present when transporting children as part of a church role.
•  For shorter journeys, less than 3 miles, with prior signed consent agreement from parents, a worker can pick up or drop off young people for church activities. The parents should be notified when arrived safely. The child should sit in the back of the vehicle.

 

3.3.9 Outings and Overnight Events involving Children

There are some specific considerations which need to be made for outings and overnight events involving children:

• A risk assessment must be carried out beforehand.
• Parents will be informed in writing of all the arrangements.
• Consent forms will be obtained for the specific activities involved.
• There will be workers with first aid and food hygiene certificates with the group.

 
Sleeping Arrangements
Sleeping arrangements for overnight events will be carefully considered.  The normal expectation is that where possible, adults will have separate sleeping areas from the children.  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.
 
Adventurous Activities
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.
 
Fire Safety
The event leader will have a fire safety procedure in place, which will include the following:

• Everyone will be warned of the danger of fire.  If the overnight event is in a building, then everyone must be made aware of the fire exits.  A fire drill will be practised on the first day.
• When using a building as a residential facility, ensure that the fire alarm is audible throughout the accommodation and that all signs and exits are clearly visible.  The building will also need to comply with fire regulations.
• In the case of an emergency, ensure measures are in place to alert children and young people with disabilities (e.g. a child who is hard of hearing).

 
Safety
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).
 
Swimming Trips
There will be an increased adult to child ratio for swimming trips. This will meet minimum requirement of the swimming pool (if they have one) and also based on a risk assessment taking into account the ability of the group and venue. 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.
 
3.3.11 Outings and Overnight Events involving Adults at Risk
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:

• A risk assessment must be carried out beforehand
• Planning for the trip should take into account specific medical, physical and support needs of each group member, bearing in mind that there may be people in the group who have individual care needs that will have to be met (including personal care)
• Adults at risk should be included in the planning of trips and events
• Consideration should be given to the suitability and accessibility of the venue and accommodation, travel time and mode of transport, and the affordability of the event
• Adults at risk should be given all the information about the trip beforehand so that they know where they are going, how long it will take to get there and what type of activities they will be taking part in.
• There should be a minimum of two leaders with each group; the individual needs of those attending may determine the additional number of people required.

 
Sleeping Arrangements
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.
 
Personal Care
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).
 
Activities
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.
 
Safety
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.
 
Consent and Medical Information
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.
 
Holding and Dispensing of Medication
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.
 
 

3.4 SAFER COMMUNITY

 

3.4.1 Bullying

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.
Some examples of bullying that could arise in the church context are:

• Being verbally or physically abusive towards another person
• Isolating or deliberately ignoring someone, or excluding them from group activities
• Spreading rumours and malicious untruths about another person in the church
• Use of email, phone or social media to publicly challenge or undermine someone
• Name calling and personal insults
• Making false accusations
• Sending abusive messages or degrading images via phone, email or social media

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:

• Withdrawal from group or church activities; appearing anxious, tearful or more reticent than usual, particularly in a certain context; development of mental health difficulties, such as depression or anxiety disorders; drop in performance relating to any church roles; physical injuries.
• In order to help prevent bullying, the following procedures will be adopted within the church:
• The children and young people will be involved in agreeing a code of behaviour for their groups, which makes it clear that bullying is unacceptable. This should then be displayed somewhere visible to the whole church.
• The church will actively encourage the importance of valuing and respecting each other even in disagreements and this will be practically embedded into the leadership approach to others.
• Everyone in the church, whether children or adults, should know how they can report any incidents of bullying.
• All allegations of bullying will be treated seriously and details will be carefully checked before action is taken.
• The bullying behaviour will be investigated and bullying will be stopped as quickly as possible.
• An attempt will be made to help bullies change their behaviour.
• All allegations and incidents of bullying will be recorded, together with the actions that are taken.
• Incidents of bullying may be reported to the statutory authorities in line with the church safeguarding procedures.

 
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.
 

3.4.2 Working with Alleged or Known Offenders

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:

• The DPS will inform and take advice from the Thirtyone:eight Contact.
• There will be a discussion about who should be informed about the nature of the offence and the details of the contract.
• The rights of the offender to re-build their life without people knowing the details of their past offence should be balanced against the need to protect children, young people and adults at risk.
• The members of the church Safeguarding Team will always be informed.
• The DPS should determine whether the person is subject to supervision or is on the Sex Offenders' Register. If so, the DPS should make contact with the offender's specialist probation officer (SPO) who will inform the church of any relevant information or restrictions that they should be aware of.

 
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 Thirtyone:eight Safeguarding Contact.
 

3.4.3 Alleged or known offenders who are themselves adults at risk

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.

SECTION 4 - USEFUL CONTACTS

 

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Catherine Appleton 0151 337 4570 safeguardinglado@cheshirewestandchester.gcsx.gov.uk

Police Contact 101, or 999 in an emergency Cheshire Police: 0845 458 0000 / 01244 350000  (999 in an emergency)

Adult Social Services 8.45am—5pm      Tel: 0300 123 7034               E: accesswest@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk Out of hours         Tel: 01244 977277                E: emergencydutyteam@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Children’s Social Services 8.45am—5.00pm    0300 123 7047 Out of hours                  01244 977277

Thirtyone: eight PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent. BR8 7UQ 0303 003 11 11 info@thirtyoneeight.org

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

APPENDIX 1 - DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

Understanding, Recognising and Responding to Abuse
 
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.
	Neglect	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.
	Type of Abuse	Additional Definitions
	Financial	The inappropriate use, misappropriation, embezzlement or theft of money, property or possessions.
	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.
	Discrimination	The inappropriate treatment of a person because of their age, gender, race, religion, cultural background, sexuality or disability.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
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.
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.
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.
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:

• unexplained injuries on areas of the body not usually prone to such injuries
• an injury that has not been treated/received medical attention
• an injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent
• a child or adult at risk discloses behaviour that is harmful to them
• unexplained changes in behaviour or mood (e.g. becoming very quiet, withdrawn or displaying sudden bursts of temper)
• inappropriate sexual awareness in children
• signs of neglect, such as under-nourished, untreated illnesses, inadequate care.
•  

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

APPENDIX 2 – DETAILED GUIDANCE ON REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

STAGE 1 – THE WORKER
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:

• be hand-written as soon as possible after the event
• be legible and state the facts accurately (when hand-written notes are typed up later the original hand-written notes should be retained)
• include the child or adult at risk’s name, address, date of birth (or age if the date of birth is not known)
• include the nature of the concerns/allegation/disclosure
• include a description of any bruising or other injuries that you may have noticed
• include an exact record of what the child or adult at risk has said, using their own words where possible
• include what was said by the person to whom the concerns were reported
• include any action taken as a result of the concerns
• be signed and dated
• be kept secure and confidential and made available only to the church Safeguarding Team (including the church minister), representatives of any statutory authorities involved and the Thirty one:eight.

 
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.

STAGE 2 – THE DESIGNATED PERSON FOR SAFEGUARDING (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.
The duty to REVIEW
In reviewing the report that is received, the DPS:

• should take into account their level of experience and expertise in assessing risk to children or adults at risk.
• must take into account any other reports that have been received concerning the same individual or family.
• may speak with others in the church where appropriate (including the church Safeguarding Team, unless allegations involve them) who may have relevant information and knowledge that would impact on any decision being made. Such conversations should not lead to undue delay in taking any necessary action.
• may consult with other agencies to seek guidance and advice in knowing how to respond appropriately to the concerns that have been raised.

 
The duty to REPORT
The DPS will decide who the report should be referred on to, working in conjunction with the church Safeguarding Team where appropriate. They may:

• refer back to the worker who made the initial report if there is little evidence that a child or adult at risk is being harmed, asking for appropriate continued observation.
• refer the concern to others who work with the child or adult at risk in question, asking for continued observation where appropriate.
• Inform parents / carers under certain circumstances, where doing so would not present any further risk of harm.

• Make a formal referral to the police or local Social Services team.  With adults at risk, confidentiality means that someone’s personal business is not discussed with others, except with their permission. This is not always possible when considering passing relevant information about abuse or concerns to the statutory authorities, however, it is possible to keep the information confidential to the relevant parties. This means not telling or hinting to others what has been disclosed, not even for prayer ministry purposes. For adults at risk, concerns will only be referred to the police or Social Services without consent where:
  • the person lacks the mental capacity to make such a choice
  • there is a risk of harm to others
  • in order to prevent a crime

 

• If an allegation is made against someone who works with children* the allegation should be        reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or equivalent. The LADO is located within Children’s Services and should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

 

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to  work with children.

 

• If an allegation is made against someone who works with adults at risk*, it should be reported to the police or Adult Social Services.

*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.
 
Whenever a formal referral is made to the police, Social Services or LADO, the DPS should report the referral to:

• The Safeguarding Trustee
• The Minister
• Thirty one:eight
   

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. 

STAGE 3 – THE NEXT STEPS
Responsibilities to REPORT and SUPPORT in stage 3 of the process are shared by the church Safeguarding Team.
The duty to SUPPORT
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.
The duty to REPORT
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).

APPENDIX 3 – SAFEGUARDING INCIDENT FORM

This form should be completed by the Designated Person for Safeguarding
 

Name of church/ organisation   The Overflow Church, Winsford Contact details of church/ organisation 01244 312037   office@overflowchurch.org.uk   Name of Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) Mr Peter Adams Contact details of DPS peterwcadams@gmail.com 07814051601 Name of concerned person or to whom disclosure was given   Contact details of concerned person or whom disclosure was given

 
 
INDIVIDUAL OF CONCERN - CONTACT DETAILS
 

Name
Date of birth
Address
Phone number / Email address

 
 
 
THE INCIDENT
 
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)
 
 
ANY ACTION THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN
 

Yes

No

 Have the carers or parents / guardians been informed?           
 If so, when and by whom?
 

Yes

No

Have the statutory authorities been informed?
If so, please complete the table:
 
                               Example

Authority	Police
Name	Bobby
Position	Child abuse officer
Email contact	bobby@police.com
Phone contact	077999
Contacted by	Minister
Date & time of contact	1.30pm 1/4/15

 
 
 
FUTURE ACTION TO BE TAKEN
 
What action needs to be taken?
 
 
 
 
Who is responsible for this?
 
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 

Designated Safeguarding Person		Minister, or Church Safeguarding Team member
Date & time		Date & time

 
BODY MAP 
 
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.

Front                                                    Back
 
Signature _________________________________________________
 
Date and time ____________________________________________