Every Child, young person and adult at risk is important to us at Whitley Bay Baptist Church. We want everyone to feel secure and safe as the join in our church activities. Activities and events are all staffed by adults who have submitted references and completed a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You can read our safeguarding statement below and read our full policy online [PDF].
POLICY STATEMENT on
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at risk
in the Church Whitley Bay Baptist Church
(Hereafter referred to as “the Church” in the Policy Statement)
The purpose of the Church is to bring people to faith in Christ and through worship and nurture to enable them to glorify God through serving in the Church and witnessing to the world. This purpose will be achieved through the Church’s commitment to three relationships:
- The Relationship with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- The Relationship with the Body of Christ
- The Relationship with Those Outside the Church
- In fulfilling this purpose the Church
- Has a programme of activities with children and young people
- Welcomes children and young people into the life of our community
- Welcomes adults at risk into the life of our community
The Church recognises its responsibilities for the safeguarding of all children and young people under the age of 18 (regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability) as set out in The Children Act 1989 and 2004, Safe from Harm (HM Government 1994) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government 2010). As members of this Church we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safeguarding of all children and young people associated with the Church and will pray for them regularly.
The church recognises its responsibilities for the protection of adults at risk (regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability) and will pray for them regularly.
In pursuit of this we will follow the guidance outlined in Safe to Grow (Baptist Union of Great Britain, 2011) and Safe to Belong (Baptist Union of Great Britain 2015) and commit ourselves to the following policies and to the development of procedures to ensure their implementation.
Prevention and reporting of abuse
It is the duty of each Church member and each member of the wider Church family to prevent the abuse of children, young people and adults at risk and the duty of all to respond to concerns about the well-being of children, young people and adults at risk and to report any abuse disclosed, discovered or suspected. The Church will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the Church.
Safe 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. All workers will be provided with appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk and complete an application for the relevant DBS check.
A safe community
The Church will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any who may pose a risk to children, young people and adults at risk in the community of the Church is managed appropriately.
Parents and Carers are expected to take responsibility for their own children, young people and adults at risk when they are on the church premises, except when they are in the care of a church activity leader.
Responsible people
The Church has appointed a Safeguarding Team to:
Advise the Church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and young people
Take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected
The members of the Safeguarding Team are: –
- Team Leader – Joel Mercer
- Safeguarding Trustee – Lynne Gradwell
- Designated Person for Safeguarding – Dawn Watson
- Assistant Designated Person for Safeguarding – Andrew Thelwell
- DBS Verifier – Carol Clarke
- Ann Sudworth – adults at risk
Policy and procedures
A copy of the policy statement will be displayed permanently on the Church notice board.
Each worker with children and young people whether paid or voluntary will be given a full copy of the policy and procedures and will be required to follow them.
A full copy of the policy and procedures will be made available on request to any member of the Church, the parents or carers of any child, young person or adult at risk from the Church or any other person associated with the Church.
The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed at least annually.
The policy statement will be presented each year to the Annual Church Members’ Meeting.
Approved by the Church Members’ Meeting held on 31
