St George’s Safeguarding Policy Statement

FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS

St George’s is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well-being.

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults at risk of harm and abuse and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.

• We recognise adults’ personal dignity and rights and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.

• We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of St George’s.

• We undertake to exercise proper care in appointing and selecting those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.

• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy. We want to ensure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing significant harm.

We are committed to:

• Following statutory guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that as an organisation, all workers will work within the agreed procedure of our safeguarding policy.
• Implementing the requirements of all legislation related to Disability Discrimination and, Equality and all other relevant legislation.
• Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work.
• Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with international, national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by New Generation Church.
• Supporting all in the organisation affected by abuse.

We recognise:

• Children’s Social Services has the lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care has the lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult with care and support needs.
• 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’s responsibility. 

We will review this statement and our policy annually.

If you have any concerns for a child or adult, then speak to one of the following who has been approved as safeguarding coordinators for this place of worship/organisation.

Rev. Deacon Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell – Safeguarding Co-Ordinator

If you would prefer to receive this Safeguarding Policy in paper form, we can make copies available for collection during any normal Sunday service.