Safeguarding
Promoting a Safer Church
Our vision
The vision statement of Paignton Baptist Church is.
As a loving community of worshippers focusing on Jesus, we aspire to be a safe place where everyone regardless of age, gender, faith, ethnicity, or ability and especially children, young people, and adults at risk know that they are welcome and valued at any time.
In fulfilling this vision we:
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Welcome children, young people and adults at risk into the life of our church.
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Run activities that children, young people and adults at risk can attend.
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Make our premises available to organisations working with children, young people and adults at risk.
Our safeguarding responsibilities
The church recognises its responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.
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, young people and adults at risk, and the duty of each church member to respond to concerns about the well-being of children, young people and adults at risk. Any abuse 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, young people 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.
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.
Safer working practices
The church is committed to providing an environment that is as safe as possible for children, young people, and adults at risk and will adopt ways of working with them that promote and maintain their safety and well-being. Therefore, where necessary, there will be a request that those people (church members or otherwise) who have a diagnosed mental illness and/or complex medical needs, may only attend church activities if they bring designated 1:1 support.
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 anyone, especially children, young people and adults at risk in the community of the church is managed appropriately.
Safeguarding contact points within our church
The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team:
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Sheila Goldsmith - Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) Children and Young People at Risk
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Sheila will advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of all children and young people at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered, or suspected.
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Phone number: 01803 428035 / 07966 170738. Email address: sgoldsmith637@gmail.com
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Joan Young - Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) Adults at Risk
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Joan will advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of all adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered, or suspected.
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Phone number: 01803 520604 / 07756 537812. Email address: joan.young5579@virginmedia.com
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Joan Young - Safeguarding Trustee
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Joan 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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Phone number: 01803 520604 / 07756 537812. Email address: joan.young5579@virginmedia.com
Our church Minister is also an important part of the Church Safeguarding Team, along with the Renew Wellbeing leader. 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.
Further definitions of these roles can be found in our full policy document (Appendix 4 – Safeguarding Roles and Responsibilities)
Putting our policy into practice
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A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be displayed permanently on the church noticeboard and church office and is available on our church website.
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Each worker with children and/or adults at risk will be given a full copy of the safeguarding policy and procedures and will be asked to sign to confirm that they will follow them.
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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.
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The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed annually, and any necessary revisions adopted into the policy and implemented through our procedures.
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The policy statement will be read annually at the church AGM, together with a report on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review.