Safeguarding Policy

The Elders of Mowbray Community Church, hereinafter referred to as the Leadership, recognise the importance of the church’s work with children, young people and adults in need of protection, and its responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to MCC’s care.

The following statement was agreed by the Leadership on 14th May 2021.

This church is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and ensuring their wellbeing.

Specifically

We recognise that we have a responsibility to help prevent abuse especially the physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children, young people (those under 18 years of age) and vulnerable adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.

We believe every child should be valued and kept safe. We want to ensure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.

All children and young people should be treated with respect, listened to and protected from all forms of abuse.

We recognise that we have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse 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 Church unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve.

We undertake to take proper care in the appointment and selection of those who wish to work with children and vulnerable adults.

We are committed to:

Following the requirements in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in UK legislation.

Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with disabilities.

Ensuring that workers adhere to the procedures of our safeguarding policy.

Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.

Supporting the Safeguarding Officer in his or her work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children or vulnerable adults.

Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by the MCC’s recommendations and guidelines.

Supporting parents and families.

Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake work with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Supporting all in the Church affected by abuse.

Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (31:8).

We Recognise:

Children’s Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care 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.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy and procedures every 2 years but will be predicated on any changes to current legislation.

Anyone with a concern for a child or vulnerable adult linked with MCC or wishing a copy of the Safeguarding Policy should speak to one of the following:

Safeguarding officer – Nick Brennan

Deputy safeguarding officer – Helen Leslie

Safeguarding elder – Stuart Jamieson