Safeguarding 

Promoting a Safer Church

The Trustees [Pastor and the Elders - Leadership Team] of Banstead Community Church recognise the need to set an example of biblical behaviour in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12), and to encourage others to do so too. They accept that this includes the provision of a safe and caring environment for all people involved with all the activities of the church. The Safeguarding Policy is an important part of the way of the way in which this will be achieved.

Banstead Community Church is committed to supporting parents and families. Legal arrangements regarding child protection apply up to the age of 18 and references to children in this document therefore also include young people up to age 18.

We have specific responsibilities to:

• Help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• Recognise that all children and young people have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to and empowered to tell us if they are suffering any harm.
• Accept that all adults should have access to every aspect of the life of the Church unless they pose a risk to the safety of other people or to the premises.
• Recognise the personal dignity and rights of vulnerable adults and to help to prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial, and discriminatory abuse and neglect, and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• Exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children and vulnerable adults.

We are committed to:

• Following the requirements for UK legislation and good practice recommendations, adopting the 'Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service. We will also keep up to date changes and developments relating to safeguarding.
• Provide training, resources, support monitoring and providing supervision to all those involved to help ensure that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
• Supporting the safeguarding co-ordinator(s) in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children or vulnerable adults.
• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation
• Supporting those affected by abuse.

We recognise:

• Children's Social Services (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a vulnerable adult.
• 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 responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy and procedures annually.

A copy of the full policy and procedures is available from the Church Secretary and a copy of our Safeguarding Policy has been lodged with CCPAS.

If you have any concerns for a child or vulnerable adult then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this place of worship/organisation:

• Safeguarding Co-ordinator
  John Green
• Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinators
  Erica Brook; Kate Green
• Pastor
  Dan Green