Safeguarding Statement

We recognise that:

• We all have a responsibility to help prevent harm to children and adults with care and support needs in all their recognised forms.
• We believe every child and adult should be valued, safe and happy.
• We want to make sure that all those 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 the personal dignity and rights of adults and children and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.
• We believe all people should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of this place of worship 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 adults with care and support needs.

We are committed to:

• Following statutory and specialist guidance in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that as a place of worship all workers will work within the agreed procedure of our safeguarding policy.
• Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation including, but not limited to: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and referring concerns about adults with care and support needs to the local authority under the Care Act 2014
• Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work
• Endeavoring to keep up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding
• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by CCE
• Supporting all at CCE affected by abuse

We recognise:

• Children’s Social Services 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 an adult with care and support needs.
• Where an allegations 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 then speak to one of the following who have been approved as Safeguarding Coordinators for this place of worship:

Debbie Hillman
Safeguarding Co-ordinator

Ann Barnes
Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator

A copy of the full policy and procedures for CCE is available from the Safeguarding Co-ordinators or any of the Leadership Team.