We take the responsibility for safeguarding children, youth and vulnerable adults very seriously and have a clear safeguarding policy and practice in place, reviewed regularly by our Safeguarding Committee.
We are also members of ThirtyOne:Eight, an independent Christian safeguarding organisation.
If you would like to see a copy of our policy, or if you have a concern in relation to safeguarding at Lifespring, you can contact Dan Young, our Safeguarding Officer here: safeguarding@wearelifespring.church
Lifespring Safeguarding Policy Statement
This Policy Statement has been agreed by the Trustees of Lifespring.
We recognise the importance of our work with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and our responsibility to protect and ensure the wellbeing of everyone entrusted to our care.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and ensuring their well-being.
Specifically:
- We recognise that we 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 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 statutory and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
- Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with disabilities, ensuring that the premises meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation.
- Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
- Supporting the safeguarding coordinator/s in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children/vulnerable adults.
- Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation.
- Supporting parents and families.
- Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding of children and young people.
- Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake this work.
- Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse.
- Adopting and following the ten safeguarding standards developed by ThirtyOne:Eight (formerly Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service)
We recognise
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
- Children’s Social Services (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care (or equivalent) has 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 agency’s headquarters.
We will review this statement and our policy annually.