Safeguarding Policy for children and vulnerable adults
A. Responsibilities
Bath City Pastors (“City Pastors”) will:
1. Fully recognise its responsibilities for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
2. Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children and vulnerable adults.
3. Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and vulnerable adults and protect them from abuse.
4. Recruit, train, support and supervise its volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and to minimise risk to themselves.
5. Appoint a Safeguarding Officer.
6. Require volunteers to adopt and abide by this Safeguarding Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults and these Procedures.
7. Respond to all allegations of misconduct or abuse of children and/or vulnerable adults in line with this Policy and these Procedures.
8. Liaise with statutory and all other appropriate agencies in safeguarding everyone that Bath City Pastors comes into contact with in carrying out its work.
B. Principles
The welfare of children is everyone's responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting them from abuse. It is likely that through the normal working practices of City Pastors, their volunteers will come into contact with children and vulnerable adults who may require safeguarding and assistance. City Pastors will uphold its duty to offer such safeguarding and assistance.
This Policy and these Procedures are based on the following principles:
1. The welfare of children and vulnerable adults is of paramount concern.
2. All children and vulnerable adults, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to safeguarding from abuse.
3. It is everyone's responsibility to report any concerns about abuse and the responsibility of the statutory authorities (e.g. Adult Care Team, Children’s Social Services and the Police) to conduct, where appropriate a safeguarding investigation.
4. All incidents of alleged poor practice, misconduct and abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
5. All personal data will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Safeguarding Act 1998.
C. Review
This Policy and these Procedures will be regularly monitored and reviewed:
1. In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults or any changes within the City Pastors;
2. Following any issues or concerns raised about the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults within the City Pastors;
3. In all other circumstances, triennially.
BCP Detailed Safeguarding Procedures
1. Under no circumstances should a City Pastor volunteer carry out their own investigation into an allegation or suspicion of abuse. Follow the procedures as set out below.
2. The person in receipt of allegations or suspicions of abuse should report concerns as soon as possible to the Shift Leader who should report these concerns to DAVE WILES (Tel: 07799108339) who is the Safeguarding Officer. They have been nominated by Bath City Pastors to act on their behalf in dealing with the allegation or suspicion of neglect or abuse. The role of the Safeguarding Officer is to collate and clarify the precise details of the allegation or suspicion and pass this information on to statutory agencies who have a legal duty to investigate. Suspicions must not be discussed with anyone other than those nominated in these procedures. A written record of the concerns should be made in accordance with these procedures and kept in a secure place.
3. In the absence of the Safeguarding Officer or, if the suspicions in any way involve the Safeguarding Officer, then the report should be made to the BCP Coordinator.
5. You may also contact the Churches' Child Safeguarding Advisory Service (“CCPAS”) PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ. Telephone 0845 120 4550. CCPAS would be well positioned to guide you as to whether to proceed to contact Social Services or the police.
6. Where the concern is about a child, the Safeguarding Officer should contact Children’s Social Services. Where the concern relates to an adult in need of safeguarding, contact Adult Social Services or take advice from CCPAS as above.
7. The local Children’s Social Services office telephone number (office hours) is 01225 396313. The out of hours emergency number is 01454 615165.
8. The local Adult Social Services office telephone number (office hours) is 01225 396201. The out of hours emergency number is 01454 615165.
9. Whilst allegations or suspicions of abuse will normally be reported to the Safeguarding Officer, or his/her deputy, the absence of these persons should not delay taking advice from the CCPAS and if necessary, referral to Social Services and the Police
10. City Pastors will support the Safeguarding Officer in their role, and accept that any information they may have in their possession will be shared in a strictly limited way on a need to know basis.
11. It is, of course, the right of any individual as a citizen to make a direct referral to the safeguarding agencies or seek advice from CCPAS. However, we hope that all those involved with the City Pastors movement will use the procedure mentioned above. If, however, the individual with the concern feels that the Safeguarding Officer has not responded appropriately, or where they have a disagreement with the Safeguarding Officer as to the appropriateness of a referral they are free to contact an outside agency direct. We hope by making this statement that City Pastors demonstrates its commitment to effective safeguarding and the safeguarding of all those who are vulnerable.
Safeguarding Officer Responsibilities
The Safeguarding Officer is: DAVE WILES The Safeguarding Officer has the main responsibility for managing child and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues within the City Pastors charity. The role and responsibilities of the Safeguarding Officer are detailed below.
Role and Responsibilities of the Safeguarding Officer
Within City Pastors the Safeguarding Officer will:
1. Implement and promote the Safeguarding Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adult and associated Procedures.
2. Act as the main contact within City Pastors for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
3. Provide information and advice on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
4. Support and raise awareness of the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
5. Communicate with volunteers on issues of child and vulnerable adult safeguarding.
6. Keep abreast of developments and understand the latest information on data safeguarding, confidentiality and other issues that impact on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
7. Encourage good practice and support of procedures to protect children and vulnerable adults.
8. Organise training for volunteers of City Pastors
9. Establish and maintain contact with local statutory agencies including the Police and Care Trust and Children’s Services Directorate.
10. Maintain confidential records of reported cases and action taken and liaise with the statutory agencies and ensure they have access to all necessary information.
11. Regularly monitor and review the City Pastor Safeguarding Policy and Procedures for Children and Vulnerable Adults, and propose any changes needed.
12. Attend training on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
If a disclosure is made or suspicions reported to the Safeguarding Officer they will contact and liaise with the appropriate statutory authorities.
If a disclosure is made that leads to a suspicion or allegation of inappropriate behaviour or misconduct against a team volunteer, the Safeguarding Officer must clarify the basic facts to establish whether there is reasonable cause to suspect or believe that misconduct has occurred. If it is concluded that there is reasonable cause to suspect that misconduct may have occurred, then the Safeguarding Officer (or deputy) should inform the Genesis Trust (Bath) Safeguarding Officer.
If the basic facts support a suspicion or allegation of misconduct by a volunteer, the matter will be dealt with in accordance with City Pastors’ Complaints Policy only after the matter has been fully dealt with by the appropriate authorities.