SAFEGUARDING POLICY 

 Trinity Methodist Church Codsall 
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy 
This policy was agreed at the Circuit Meeting held on 25^th October 2022 It will be reviewed in October 2023 
The purposes of this safeguarding policy are to ensure procedures are in place and people are clear about roles and responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults in our care and using our premises. It is to be read in conjunction with the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidance for the Methodist Church (2020).  

The Methodist Church, along with the whole Christian community, believes each person has a value and dignity which comes directly from God’s creation of humans in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things, this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.  

Trinity Methodist Church Codsall is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults and affirms that the needs of children or of people when they are vulnerable and at risk are paramount 

Trinity Methodist Church Codsall recognises that it has a particular care for all who are vulnerable whether by disabilities or by reduction in capacities or by their situation. It is recognised that this increased vulnerability may be temporary or permanent and may be visible or invisible, but that it does not diminish our humanity and seeks to affirm the gifts and graces of all God’s people.  

This policy addresses the safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. It is intended to be a dynamic policy. It is intended to support the Church in being a safe, supportive, and caring community for children, young people, vulnerable adults, for survivors of abuse, for communities and for those affected by abuse.  

Trinity Methodist Church Codsall fully agrees with the statement reiterated in Creating Safer Space 2007:  
As the people of the Methodist Church, we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God’s purpose for everyone. We seek to safeguard all members of the church community of all ages.  

Trinity Methodist Church recognises the serious issue of the abuse of children and vulnerable adults and recognises that this may take the form of physical, emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual, discriminatory, domestic, or institutional abuse or neglect, abuse using social media or human trafficking (slavery), exploitive and radicalisation abuse, and anything which constitutes bullying and harassment. It acknowledges the effects these may have on people and their development, including spiritual and religious development. It accepts its responsibility for ensuring that all people are safe in its care and that their dignity and right to be heard is maintained. It accepts its responsibility to support, listen to and work for healing with survivors, offenders, communities, and those who care about them. It takes seriously the issues of promotion of welfare so that each of us can reach our full potential in God’s grace. 
 
Trinity Methodist Church Codsall commits itself to RESPOND without delay to any allegation or cause for concern that a child or vulnerable adult may have been harmed or is in danger of being harmed whether in the Church or in another context. It commits itself to challenge the abuse of power of anyone in a position of trust. It commits itself to providing informed pastoral care to those in need, including the supervision of those who have committed criminal offences.  

Trinity Methodist Church Codsall commits itself to ensuring the IMPLEMENTATION of Connexional safeguarding policy, and government legislation, guidance and safe practice within the circuit and its churches. 

Trinity Methodist Church Codsall commits itself to the PROVISION of support, advice and training for all lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable. The Church commits itself to the processes of safer recruitment in all aspects of its paid and voluntary work. 
 
Trinity Methodist Church Codsall AFFIRMS and gives thanks for all workers with children and vulnerable adults. It acknowledges the shared responsibility of us all for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults who are on our premises.

Church Council
The legal responsibility for safeguarding rests with the members of the Church Council.  The Safeguarding Officer is a member of the Church Council and therefore Safeguarding is an agenda item for every Church Council meeting.

Trinity Methodist Church Codsall appoints Mrs Jane Ellis as Church Safeguarding Officer for Children and Vulnerable Adults. 
The Church Council also supports the Safeguarding officer in their role, which is to:
• Provide Support and advise the minister and the stewards in fulfilling their roles with regards to safeguarding
• Ensure a suitable, signed church safeguarding policy is always available in the church, along with the name of the current safeguarding officer, national helplines, and other suitable information.  This policy must be renewed annually
• Record all safeguarding issues that are reported to the church safeguarding officer, according to the Methodist safeguarding policy and make appropriate arrangements for the secure storage, retention and appropriate sharing of safeguarding information held by the church. 
• Promote appropriate routes for reporting concerns
• Identify and inform those who are required to attend safeguarding training and maintain records of attendance.    
• Attend trainings and meetings relating to the role
• Work in partnership with others including stewards and user groups to promote good safeguarding practice on church premises.  This will include gaining written confirmation that hirers of church premises are aware of the church safeguarding policy or are using an appropriate policy of their own.  
• Ensure that safeguarding is included as an agenda item at all Church Council meetings and report to the Church Council annually
• Inform all those with responsibility for recruitment, whether paid or voluntary, of their obligation to follower the safer recruitment procedures
• Advise the Church Safeguarding Officer of any issues with compliance with safeguarding training, policy or safer recruitment and respond promptly to any request from them about audit of safeguarding activities

Purpose
• The purpose of the church safeguarding policy is to check that procedures are in place and provide clarity on the roles and responsibilities of those trusted with promoting the church as a safe space for all users
 
Good Practice
As a church we believe that good practice means:
• All people are treated with respect and dignity
• Those that act on behalf of the church should not meet or work alone with a child or vulnerable adult where the activity cannot be seen unless this is necessary for pastoral reasons, in all cases the written record will be made and kept noting the date, time and place of the visit
• The church premises are assessed by the Church Safeguarding Officer with the property steward(s) at least annually for the safety of children and vulnerable adults and a written risk assessment report is given to the Church Council.  The Church Council will consider the report and the extent to which the premises and equipment are suitable or need to be made suitable
• Activity risk assessments are undertaken before any activity takes place to minimise the risk of harm to those involved.  Approval will be obtained from the event leader/minister and a written record of the assessment retained securely
These things are to safeguard those working with children, young people and those adults who may be vulnerable

Appointment and training of workers in the church
• Workers will be appointed after satisfactory criminal records check and following the safer recruitment procedures of the Methodist Church

• Each work will have an identified supervisor who will meet at regular intervals with the worker
• A record of the meetings will be agreed and signed, and the record kept
• Each worker will be expected to undergo safeguarding training within the first 6 months of appointment
• Other training needs of each worker will be considered (such as food hygiene and first aid)

• If they are undertaking tasks for which a criminal records check would be required, this will be undertaken prior to appointment

• This leaflet will be reviewed annually

• If the activity is unusual or considered to be high risk the Church Safeguarding Officer will contact the Circuit Safeguarding Officer in order that it can be ratified, or any queries raised

Other groups on church premises
• Where the building is hired for outside use, the Church Safeguarding Officer is informed. 

Complaints procedure
• There is a formal complaints procedure within the Methodist Church, which allows concerns to be raised about actions or behaviour by a member or officer of the Church.  In addition, all employed staff will be subject to relevant contractual procedures.  All complaints will be responded to with care, diligence, and impartiality
• A complaint should be addressed to the superintendent minister, the Rev. Dr. Joanne Cox-Darling.  If a complaint is made to another person, it will be referred to them.  Meeting will be arranged with the person making the complaint and, usually the person against who the complaint has been made, in an attempt to resolve it.  If the complaint is against the superintendent, it should be sent to the District Chair, the Rev. Rachel Parkinson, District Office, Beckminster Methodist Church, Wolverhampton, WV3 7BQ
• Safeguarding officers will be informed of any complaint or issue relating to the potential abuse of children or adults who may be vulnerable.  They will support prompt action to respond to the circumstances of any safeguarding concern, whether or not any party involved wishes to make a formal complaint through the Methodist Church
 
Key Concepts and Definitions  
A child is anyone who has not yet reached their eighteenth birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education, a member of the armed forces, in hospital or in custody in the secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements to services or protection. 
Vulnerable adults: Any adult aged 18 or over who, due to disability, mental function, age or illness or traumatic circumstances, may not be able to take care or protect themselves. 
Safeguarding and protecting children or vulnerable adults from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health and ensuring safe and effective care. 
Adult/child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity undertaken to protect children/specific adults who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm, including neglect. 
Abuse and neglect may occur in a family, in a community or in an institution. It may be perpetrated by a person or persons known to the child or vulnerable adult or by strangers, by an adult or by a child. It may be an infliction of harm or a failure to prevent harm.  
Dated:
Signed: ............................................… (Rev. Dr. Joanne Cox-Darling)  Chair of the Church Council