Pershore Baptist Church has a long and fruitful history of youth work but we realise the importance of not becoming complacent. The safety of children and young people in our care is of utmost importance to us.

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The church is committed to following the Home Office Code of Practice 'Safe from Harm' and adopts the guidelines and procedures published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in its booklet 'Safe to Grow'.

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That means that every leader, from a teacher with many years of youth work experience to a teenager helping out in creche for the first time must be checked and vetted as to their suitability.

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As part of our commitment to children and young people, we have appointed Bobby Pearson as our Designated Person for Safeguarding and Kate Portman as our DBS verifier. Rev James Martin serves as Safeguarding Trustee, Tracy Wheeler and John Allardice serve as Deputy Designated Persons for Safeguarding.

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The following statement was read out and agreed at our members meeting held in September 2022:

 

Safeguarding Policy Statement For Pershore Baptist Church

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Our vision

 

Pershore Baptist Church is an open, friendly and growing community of people, of various ages and many backgrounds, who share a common desire for:-

Love In Action.

• Loving God

• Loving Ourselves

• Loving Others

 

In fulfilling this vision, we:

ï‚· Welcome children and adults at risk into the life of our community

ï‚· Run activities for children and adults at risk

ï‚· Make our premises available to organisations working with children and adults at risk

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Our safeguarding responsibilities

 

The church recognises its responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability. 

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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.

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• 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 cooperate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the church.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

 

Safeguarding contact points within our church

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The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team:

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Bobby Pearson, Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS)

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She will advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.

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Rev James Martin, Safeguarding Trustee 

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He will raise the profile of safeguarding within the church and oversee and monitor the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures on behalf of the church trustees.

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Tracy Wheeler, Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding (DDPS)

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She will assist the Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) in helping the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected. She will also act as an advocate for children.

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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.

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Further definitions of these roles can be found in the BUGB publications ‘Safe to Grow’ (2011) & ‘Safe to Belong’ (2015)

 

Putting our policy into practice

• A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be displayed permanently on the church noticeboard and is available on our church website.

• Each worker with children and/or adults at risk will be given access to the safeguarding policy and procedures and will be asked 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 September members meeting, together with a report on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review.