Safeguarding

As the people of the Southampton District of the Methodist Church, we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God's purposes for everyone. We seek to safeguard all members of the church community of all ages. It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The District discharges its responsibilities within the Methodist Church's overall Safeguarding policy by

Ensuring that all Synod members, officers, representatives and committee members are aware of current regulations regarding office-holding;
Ensuring that all circuits and churches create and implement their own Safeguarding policies;
Supporting ministers and lay people in discharging Safeguarding responsibilities locally by providing appropriate resources and training opportunities;
Including Safeguarding as a regular item on its agendas;
Maintaining a District Advisory (Safeguarding) Group to provide appropriate professional advice, support and expertise to circuits, churches and individuals;
Ensuring that good practice procedures are established for use at District events and that those responsible for organising and leading such events receive adequate briefing and training;
Ensuring that the District website complies with the Connexional Safeguarding guidelines for websites;
Monitoring and engaging in regular evaluations of the above strategies.

Safeguarding Adults Policy
The Southampton Methodist District recognises -

its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of vulnerable adults;
the need to provide safe and caring environments for vulnerable adults;
that vulnerable adults can be the victims of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial or material, and discriminatory abuse and neglect.

Vulnerable adults are those ‘whose independence and well-being would be at risk if they did not receive appropriate health and social care support. They include adults with physical, sensory and mental impairments and learning disabilities, howsoever those impairments have arisen eg whether present from birth or due to advancing age, chronic illness or injury. They also include carers: family and friends who provide personal assistance and care to adults on an unpaid basis.’
[Safeguarding Adults 2005 - Association of Directors of Social Services]

The District is committed

to safeguarding vulnerable adults and ensuring their well-being;
to helping prevent the physical, sexual, emotional or psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults and to reporting any such abuse that is discovered or suspected;
to the safe recruitment, supervision and training of all those working with vulnerable adults in churches and circuits;
to supporting those affected by abuse in churches and circuits;
to establishing links with the statutory authorities and other organisations as appropriate;
to upholding the Department of Health / Home Office statutory guidance No Secrets (2000) and the Safeguarding Adults National Framework of good practice and outcomes in adult protection work.

In fulfilment of this policy, the District will

encourage churches and circuits to include vulnerable adults as an identified group within their Safeguarding policies;
encourage churches and circuits to ensure that their premises not only meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and other relevant legislation, but also are welcoming and inclusive;
encourage churches/circuits to identify someone with appropriate skills and expertise to help them to become familiar with current operational and good practice guidelines in respect of the care and support of vulnerable adults.
include vulnerable adults within the remit of the District Safeguarding group and ask that group to assist in the task of promoting good practice and provision for them.

Disclosures
It is a legal requirement for those working with children and young people to obtain disclosures from the Criminal Records Bureau on a regular basis. The requirement also includes a wide range of categories of people working in the Church (eg ministers, deacons, lay workers, caretakers), not just those directly involved in youth work.

Where to find information about Safeguarding
Information about the procedures for appointing workers with children and young people can be found in:

Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church Standing Order 010 (p.273 ) Section 66 (p.567)

General information about Safeguarding can be found in

Safeguarding - A Policy for Good Practice in the Care of Children and Young People (February 2003 - ISBN 1-85852-246-3)

The District has also produced its own Safeguarding resource sheets and sample documents

District Events - Good Practice Guidelines
Caring for Known Sex Offenders
Process for appointing a voluntary worker with Children and Young People

For further information please contact Mrs Marilyn Pack -