Safeguarding

Protection of Children and Adults Policy Statement

For Cornerstone Church Grays

The following statement was agreed by the Trustees of Cornerstone Church Grays on 4th November 2024.

• This place of worship is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs and ensuring their well being.
• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent harm or Abuse to children and adults with care and support needs in all their recognised forms.
• We recognise that the personal dignity and rights of adults and children and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.
• We believe all people should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the life of the place of worship/organisation.
• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.
• 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 experiencing significant harm.

We are committed to:

• Following statutory denominational and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that as a place of worship all workers will work within the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
• Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation including, but not limited to, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and referring concerns to the local authority under the Care Act 2014.
• Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work.
• Ensuring that we are keeping 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 this place of worship.
• Supporting all in the place of worship 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 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 annually.

If you have any concerns for a child or adult, then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this place of worship:

• Laurie Eve : Safeguarding Co-ordinator
• Mike Walton : Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator

A copy of our Safeguarding Policy is available at the Welcome Desk at a church service or can be requested via the Contact Details on this website.