SAFEGUARDING

Congleton United Reformed Church (URC) is committed to safeguarding in every area of its life and ministry. Safeguarding is the action taken to promote and protect the well-being and human rights of individuals.

This means we will:

Do all we can to create and maintain a safe and caring environment for all people
Respond promptly and effectively to any form of abuse and neglect, including reporting abuse to statutory agencies when necessary
Seek to prevent abuse in any form from occurring. We will seek to identify individuals who may pose a risk to others and take necessary actions to minimise risk whilst supporting these individuals in our communities when safe to do so.

If you wish to discuss a safeguarding concern, please contact:

Jane Turner, Church Safeguarding Coordinator (email) (turner[underscore]m16[at]sky[dot]com)

Julie Rafferty, Synod Safeguarding Officer (email or telephone) (safeguarding[at]urcmerseysynod[dot]org[dot]uk)

Safeguarding Coordinators

The policy above is in place and protects both children, and adults at risk.

If you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child or adult in need of protection you can contact our Safeguarding Coordinator, Jane Turner. Jane, who is a member of Congleton URC, is appointed and commissioned by Congleton United Reformed Church to respond to any safeguarding concerns, and co-ordinates the church’s safeguarding policy and procedure.

Jane is the first point of contact for safeguarding issues and is an advocate for good safeguarding practice. Jane is supported by the Mersey Synod safeguarding officer Julie Rafferty.

A copy of our safeguarding form can be downloaded below. Please fill in and attach to an email to our safeguarding officer.

Download our safeguarding form

Our Beliefs About Safeguarding

We believe that all children and adults at risk should know that they are valued within the church and safely enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of our church.
We respect the personal dignity and rights of children and adults at risk (for example, as set out in the Human Rights Act 1989 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) and will ensure that our policies and procedures reflect this.
We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children under 18 years of age.
We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults at risk.
We recognise that domestic abuse affects both adults and children and believe that domestic abuse in all its forms is unacceptable and inconsistent with a Christian way of living.
We will report any abuse of children or adults at risk that we discover or suspect.
Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed, the police will be contacted as a matter of urgency.
We recognise that Children’s Services has responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child, and that Adult Services do so for adults at risk.
We acknowledge that Local Authority Designated Officers (LADOs) have responsibility for dealing with all allegations and concerns about people working with children, whether paid or voluntary workers, lay or ordained.
We recognise that safeguarding is a whole church responsibility.

We Are Committed To:

The establishment of a loving environment, which is safe and caring, and where there is an informed vigilance about the dangers of abuse.
Following the relevant legislation, statutory, denominational and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults at risk.
Ensuring that we keep up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
Building constructive links with the relevant Voluntary and Statutory Authorities.
Taking all responsible steps to ensure that as a church, everyone works within the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policies.
Supporting the Safeguarding Co-Ordinator in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children and adults at risk.
Follow safer recruitment principles in the appointment and selection of all those who work with children and adults at risk, be they volunteer or paid staff, lay or ordained.
Supporting, supervising, resourcing and training all those who undertake work with children and adults at risk.
Ensuring that the children and adults we have contact with know that they are valued and feel empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
Reporting any abuse of children or adults at risk that we discover or suspect.
Supporting all those in our church community who are affected by abuse.
Encouraging those who might pose a risk to children or adults at risk in seeking appropriate support and guidance, whilst bearing in mind the overarching principle that the welfare of the child or adult is paramount.

Formal Safeguarding Policy - Good Practice:

The Safeguarding Policy Statement above is part of a formal safeguarding policy, 'Good Practice', the most recent version of which is available to read here. Paper copies of Good Practice 6 are also available to borrow from the church office. All those who work with children and adults at risk at Congleton United Reformed Church have been DBS checked.