Our safeguarding policy and procedures are written in conjunction with our safeguarding advisory body, Thirtyone:eight. (0303 003 1111) We follow their guidelines to ensure we recruit volunteers and paid workers safely. Those working /volunteering with under 18s will be required to supply references and to permit us to obtain a DBS check on their behalf. We also arrange annual safeguarding training for those involved both with under 18s, for those who give pastoral care within the church, and for the leadership team.
Leadership Safeguarding Statement
The Leadership Team, (by which we mean our Trustees, Pastor and Elders), understands the importance of its ministry/work with children and young people and adults in need of protection, and its responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to our care.
We are committed to creating and enabling a healthy culture in order to minimise any coercion and control within our church.
The following statement was agreed by the Leadership of Cornerstone Church on 11 November 2020 and last updated in Feb 2024.
Cornerstone Church is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well-being.
Specifically:
- We recognise that we all 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 all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults who have care and support needs and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
- We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults who find themselves victims of forced marriage or modern slavery and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this. If we had any concerns in this area we would contact Thirtyone:eight for advice.
- We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the Cornerstone family, unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve. Our long term plans involve looking into how we can make our building more accessible to all. (see Church Team Handbook and Safeguarding Essentials Handbook handbook for ways of being more inclusive)
- We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.
- We believe in the necessity of creating a healthy culture in our church where the value of all people is recognised and challenges are responded to appropriately.
We are committed to:
- Following the requirements for UK legislation in relation to safeguarding children and adults and good practice recommendations.
- Respecting the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with disabilities.
- Ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
- Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
- Following any denominational or organisational guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults in need of protection.
- Supporting the safeguarding co-ordinator/s in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children/adults with care and support needs.
- 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 those in Cornerstone who have been affected by abuse.
- Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.
We recognise:
- 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 an adult with care and support needs.
- 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 annually.
If you have any concerns for a child or adult with care and support needs then speak to one of the following who have been approved as Safeguarding coordinators for Cornerstone Church.
RACHEL LADDS Child and adult Safeguarding Coordinator
TIM WOODFORD Deputy Child Safeguarding Coordinator/Lead Safeguarding Trustee
PAMELA LOW Member of Safeguarding team
ELIOT WARR Member of Safeguarding team
ALICJA WARR Member of Safeguarding team
A copy of the full policy and procedures is available from Rachel Ladds, or by sending a request to the Cornerstone email address rae@cornerstonechurchbristol.com
