This Church is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and to ensuring their well-being. 

Specifically: 

• We recognise that all church members and regular attendees have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people (those under 18 years of age) and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
• All children and young people have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to and to be protected from all forms of abuse.
• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of vulnerable adults and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.
• We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the place of worship/organisation unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve.
• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children and vulnerable adults.

We are committed to: 

• Following the requirements of UK legislation in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and good practice recommendations.
• Respecting the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with disabilities.
• Ensuring that workers, both paid and volunteers, adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
• Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding via the monthly email from Thirtyone:eight. Thirtyone:eight is an independent Christian charity which helps individuals, organisations, charities, faith and community groups to protect vulnerable people from abuse.
• Following any organisational guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults in need of protection.
• Supporting the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/s in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children/vulnerable adults.
• Ensuring that everyone who works with our children and vulnerable adults agree to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation.
• Supporting parents and families as far as it is within our power or permission to do so.
• Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding of children and young people.
• Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake this work.
• Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by Thirtyone:eight.

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 a vulnerable adult.
• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the Police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
• Where working outside of the UK, concerns will be reported to the appropriate agencies in the country in which we operate, and their procedures followed, and in addition we will report concerns to our safeguarding officers.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.



A copy of the full Policy and procedures is available from the Church office and should be requested via email family.church@southmanchester.net