Welcome to Boulton Lane Baptist Church

At Boulton Lane we take the safeguarding of all, but especially children, young people and vulnerable adults very seriously. All our volunteers are checked extensively for suitability for any role involving these people and includes an enhanced CRB check. All church members are given training on how to spot and act upon safeguarding issues. The following statement is our formal safeguarding policy.

Safeguarding – The Child, Young Person and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy of Boulton Lane Baptist Church. This policy was agreed at the church meeting of 16/11/14 and will be reviewed annually.

The vision/purpose of the church:
Boulton Lane Baptist Church is committed to the development and safekeeping of all who are involved with it. As such, we aim to prevent the abuse, in any form, of all the young people and vulnerable adults involved in the life and work of the church. We also aim to develop and train all those involved in the church’s work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Furthermore, as a church, we accept that the responsibility for fulfilling this commitment and its subsequent aims rests with each and every member of the church.

In fulfilling this vision/purpose the church

• Has a programme of activities with children, young people and vulnerable adults
• Welcomes children, young people and vulnerable adults into the life of our community
• Makes our premises available to organisations working with children, young people and vulnerable adults

The church recognises its responsibilities for the safeguarding of all children and young people under the age of 18 (regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability) as set out in The Children Act 1989 and 2004, Safe from Harm (HM Government 1994) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government 2010). The Church also recognises its responsibilities for the safeguarding vulnerable adults. Vulnerable Adults are defined broadly as elderly people, those who have disabilities – learning, physical or sensory – or who are mentally ill or who are in prison.

As members of this church we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safeguarding of all children, young people and vulnerable adults associated with the church and will pray for them regularly. In pursuit of this we commit ourselves to following the policies and to the development of procedures to ensure their implementation.

Prevention and reporting of abuse
It is the duty of each church member and each member of the wider church family to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults and the duty of all to respond to concerns about the well-being of children and young people and to report any child abuse disclosed, discovered and suspected. The church will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the church.

Safe recruitment, support and supervision of workers
The church will exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, whether paid or voluntary. The church will seek to ensure that appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safeguarding of children will be provided.

Respecting children and young people
The church will adopt a code of behaviour for all who are appointed to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults so that all children, young people and vulnerable adults are shown the respect that is due to them.

Safe working practices
The church is committed to providing a safe environment for activities with children, young people and vulnerable adults and will adopt ways of working with children, young people and vulnerable adults that promote their safety and well-being.

A safe community
The church is committed to the prevention of bullying of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The church will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any who may pose a risk to children, young people and vulnerable adults in the community of the church is managed appropriately.

Responsible people
The church has appointed Mike Lowe as the Safeguarding Trustee to:

• Oversee and monitor implementation of the policy and procedures on behalf of the church’s charity trustees

The church has appointed Diane Green as the Designated Person for Safeguarding to:

• Advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and young people
• Take appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.

• Her address and phone number are: 5 Babbacombe Close, Alvaston, DE24 0GQ, 01332 752464

The church has appointed Lisa Lowe as the Young Person Advocate for Safeguarding to:

• Be a person any young person can talk to in confidence.
• Take appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.

• Her role will be regularly explained to children.
• Her address and phone number are: 118
  Church Hill Street, Burton on Trent, DE15 0HT01283 741567

Policy Statement on Equal Opportunities

This statement was agreed at the Church Meeting held on 16/11/14

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, this church undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information received. We welcome people to serve the church on the basis of the right mix of talent, skills, character, potential and call of God, including those with criminal records.

A disclosure is requested only after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned.

A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to a person serving with children, young people and vulnerable adults. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offences. In order to protect the confidentiality of those with criminal records we will access Disclosures through the Churches’ Agency for Safeguarding.

We invite the Baptist Union’s Child Protection Advisory Panel to advise us in the appointment process when necessary, and we agree to act on their advice for the protection of children and young people.

Policy and procedures
Each worker with children, young people and vulnerable adults whether paid or voluntary will be given a full copy of the policy and procedures and will be required to follow them. A full copy of the policy and procedures will be made available on request to any member of the church, the parents or carers or young person from the church or any person associated with the church.