Commitment to Safeguarding Statement
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS POLICY STATEMENT
Name of Place of worship - BRIGHTON UNITARIAN CHURCH
The following statement was agreed upon by the Safeguarding Team and the Trustees of Brighton Unitarian Church on:
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This place of worship 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 harm or Abuse to children and adults with care and support needs in all their recognised forms.
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We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults and children and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.
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We believe all people should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the place of worship/organisation.
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We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.
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We believe every child and adult should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that all those we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing significant harm.
We are committed to:
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Following statutory denominational and specialist guidelines about safeguarding children and adults will ensure that as a place of worship, all workers will work within the agreed procedure of our safeguarding policy.
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Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation including, but not limited to; Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and referring concerns about adults with care and support needs to the local authority under the Care Act 2014. (Please amend this list for appropriate legislation in N. Ireland and Scotland)
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Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work.
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Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
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Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation.
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Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse.
We recognise:
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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.
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Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
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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 have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this place of worship/organisation.
Rev Jennifer Sanders Safeguarding Co-Ordinator
Jo Howarth, Bella Cranmore, Simon Blackmore Safeguarding Team
Or email safeguarding@brightonunitarian.org.uk
A copy of Brighton Unitarian Church’s policy can be seen in the office