SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding at Cosham Baptist

Cosham Baptist Church has a programme of activities with children, young people and welcomes adults at risk into the life of the community.

The church recognises its responsibilities for the safeguarding of all, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability. As Members and Trustees of Christchurch Baptist Church, we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all people associated with the church, especially children and adults at risk.

We recognise that our work with children and adults at risk is the responsibility of the whole church.  It is the responsibility of each member of the wider church family to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and to respond to any concerns about the well-being of children and adults at risk.  Any abuse disclosed, discovered or suspected must be reported, and the church will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation regarding any suspected abuse linked to the church.

We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and adults at risk, whether paid or volunteer.  The church is committed to supporting, resourcing and training all those who work with children and adults at risk, and to provide appropriate levels of supervision.

We will ensure that all workers are given a copy of the church’s agreed procedures and Good Practice Guidelines, and undertake to observe them.  We are committed to providing a safe environment for activities and will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being.

The church is committed to the prevention of bullying and will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any who may pose a risk to children and adults at risk in the community of the church is managed appropriately.

The Church has appointed Fiona and Eric as their Designated Persons for Safeguarding.

 Fiona                               Eric                             

Safeguarding Policy Statement for Cosham Baptist Church

The mission of the church is to be rooted in Jesus – demonstrating a great welcome, being united, encouraging whole-life discipleship, reaching out to the community and being intergenerational.

In fulfilling this vision, we:
● Welcome children and adults at risk into the life of our community
● Run activities for children and adults at risk
● Make our premises available to organisations working with children 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 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.
●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.
●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 and adults at risk and will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being.
●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 Cosham Baptist Church

The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team: Fiona Message, Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) 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. Eric Agyeman, Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding (Deputy DPS) He will assist the DPS, or take the place of the DPS when the DPS is absent, or when concerns are made about the DPS Simon Ford, Pastor and Safeguarding Trustee 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.

Putting our policy into practice

●A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be held in the church office and is available on our church website.
●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.
●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 and a report will be given annually on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review (usually in the AGM)

The full policy document can be viewed here.