Kids are safe here

The Managing Trustees of Albert Road Evangelical Church recognise the importance of our work with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and our responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to our care. To this end they have put together a Safeguarding Policy to assist the Church in this work. This summary safeguarding statement is designed to be published online and on a safeguarding noticeboard within the premises and was agreed by the Trustees in January 2015.

Albert Road Evangelical Church is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care. Specifically:
  • We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people (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 and want to make sure that the children with whom we have contact 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, listened to and protected from all forms of abuse.
  • We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial, institutional 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 aim for all our policies and procedures to reflect this. We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of this Church, 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:
  • Implementing the requirements of UK legislation in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and to people with disabilities;
  • Following national good practice recommendations in those regards;
  • Making sure workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy;
  • Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding;
  • Following advice from the 31:8 (formerly Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS)) or Rural Ministries (of which we are members) in relation to safeguarding;
  • Ensuring everyone in the Church abides by the guidelines and procedures in this policy;
  • Supporting the Safeguarding Co-ordinators in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children and vulnerable adults;
  • Supporting parents, families and carers within the church;
  • Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who are involved in nurturing children and young people or caring for vulnerable adults;
  • Supporting any person within the Church affected by abuse;
  • Adopting and following 31:8's ten ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards.

We recognise:
  • Children’s Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child, Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a vulnerable adult, and that our role is to report such concerns, not to investigate;
  • Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed, that the Police must be contacted without delay;
  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

If you have any concerns over a child or vulnerable adult known to us, then speak to one of the following who have been appointed by the Trustees as Safeguarding Co-ordinators for the Church:

Rev Russell Howes, Safeguarding Coordinator
Mrs Rebekah Lachowicz, Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator

A copy of the full policy and procedures is available from the Pastor’s office, Albert Road Evangelical Church. A copy of our safeguarding policy has been lodged with 31:8 (formerly CCPAS) and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB). We will review this statement and our policy annually.

Signed by the Managing Trustees, 26 January 2015