Safeguarding 

Promoting a Safer Church

Our safeguarding policy is....

Hinckley Baptist Church Safeguarding Policy
Ref :HBC030
Objective :

To ensure that Hinckley Baptist Church recognises and fulfils its responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and vulnerable adults, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.

Description of Policy :
With Christ at the centre we seek to provide sanctuary for Hinckley by being a loving community of God’s People and offering a place where all are welcome to find security and wholeness in God’s holy presence.  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 well.

• Prevention and reporting of abuse

It is the duty of each church member to help prevent the abuse of children and vulnerable adults, and the duty of each church member to respond to concerns about the well-being of children and vulnerable adults. Any Safeguarding issues 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 vulnerable adults, whether paid or voluntary. All workers will be provided with appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safekeeping of children young people and vulnerable adults.

• Respecting children and vulnerable adults

The church will adopt a code of behaviour for all who are appointed to work with children and vulnerable adults 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 young people and vulnerable adults 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 vulnerable adults in the community of the church is managed appropriately.

Use :
The policy will apply to all activities run by, or on behalf of HBC including Pathways and will include the activities of the Girls Brigade and Boys Brigade companies affiliated to HBC.
All other groups and organisations that use the church facilities will be required to operate their own safeguarding policy and procedures that will be subject to review by the Pathways Manager, will be required to ensure that their policies adhere to the HBC Safeguarding policy and that the policy and procedures are managed by their organisations management team.
 
Users :
All church Employees and volunteers who work with children and/or vulnerable adults will be required to work in accordance with this policy and procedures and in addition will be required to attend the BUGB Level 2 Excellence in Safeguarding training and also have a completed DBS check. They must also have a DBS check before working unsupervised. The Baptist Union of Great Britain publication an ‘Introduction to Safeguarding’ guide for new workers will also be made available to new workers.
 
Further Reference
When implementing this policy and procedures, further guidance can be sought from the model BU Safeguarding Policy and Procedure document.

Availability of Policy :

• A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be available from the church office, and is available on our church website.
• Each worker with children and/or vulnerable adults will be given a full copy of the safeguarding policy and procedures and will be required to sign to confirm that they will follow them.
• A full copy of the policy and procedures will be made available on request to any member of, or other person associated with the church.
• The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed annually, and any necessary revisions adopted into the policy and implemented through our procedures.
• The policy statement will be read annually at the church AGM, together with a report on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review.

 
 
Safeguarding contact points within HBC
The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team:
 
Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS)
He/She will advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.
 
Designated Person :       Jackie Hurst, Church Secretary
 
Alternative contact :       Lesley Muggleton
 
Safeguarding Trustee
The Safeguarding Trustee will highlight the importance of safeguarding within the church and oversee and monitor the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures on behalf of the church trustees. The Church trustee for HBC is the Church Secretary.
 
Our church minister is also an important part of the Church Safeguarding Team. Where possible, the Church Safeguarding Team will work together if and when issues arise. However, each person has a responsibility to report allegations of abuse as soon as they are raised.