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Safeguarding 

PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH
 

Summary:

South Devon Gospel Trust (Christ Church South Devon) is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well-being.

  • We recognise that we all have a responsibility to:
    • help prevent harm or abuse to children and adults with care and support needs in all their recognised forms.
    • report any such abuse that we discover or suspect
  • We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults and children, and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.
  • We believe all people should enjoy and have access to appropriate aspects of the life of South Devon Gospel Trust (Christ Church South Devon) unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve.
  • We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.
  • We believe every child and adult should be valued, safe and happy.  We want to make sure that all those we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing significant harm.
  • All children, young people and adults have the right to be treated with respect and to be listened to.

We are committed to:

  • Following statutory and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that all workers will work within the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
  • Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation, including, but not limited to; Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and referring concerns about adults with care and support needs to the local authority under the Care Act 2014.
  • Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work.
  • Reviewing our safeguarding policy and procedures annually.
  • Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
  • Ensuring that everyone (Trustees, staff and volunteers) agrees to abide by these recommendations and our guidelines.
  • Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse. 

We recognise:

  • Children’s Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child.  Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult with care and support needs.
  • Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

The Trustees recognise the following areas of work with children, young people and adults with care and support needs: 

On a Sunday:

  • Children’s groups
  • Pastoral care of adults with care and support needs

Midweek:

  • Children’s Groups
  • Pastoral care of adults with care and support needs

If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact our Safeguarding Lead, Sue Irving, or our Deputy Safeguarding Lead, Tom Brassil

For more details, click here to read our full Safeguarding Policy document.

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