Safeguarding

Safeguarding at SWLV

Annual review: March 2023

The Senior Pastors and the Trustees recognise the importance of South West London Vineyard’s ministry/work with Children*  Youth* and Adults at Risk ** in need of protection and the church’s responsibility to protect everyone entrusted to its care.

The following statement, and the Safeguarding Policy were agreed by the Safeguarding Coordinator, Senior Pastors, Designated Safeguarding Trustee, and Trustees on 13th March 2023. We review this statement, and the Safeguarding Policy, and procedures annually.

South West London Vineyard is committed to the safeguarding of Children, Youth and Adults at Risk and ensuring their well-being:

  • This church is committed to the safeguarding of Children, Youth and Adults at Risk and working to ensure their wellbeing
  • We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of Children, Youth and Adults at Risk and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect
  • We recognise the personal dignity and rights of Children, Youth and Adults at Risk and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this
  • We believe all Children, Youth and Adults at Risk 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 exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with Children, Youth and Adults at Risk
  • We believe every Child, Youth and Adult at Risk should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that Children, Youth and Adults at Risk we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing harm

We are committed to:

  • Following the statutory, denominational and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk and will ensure that as a church all workers with Children, Youth and Adults at Risk will work within the agreed procedure of our safeguarding policy
  • Implementing the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation
  • Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work. Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this church
  • Supporting all in the church affected by abuse with survivors being prioritised, protected and enabled to participate in the life of the church as far as possible

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 or Youth. Adult Social Care (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an Adult at Risk
  • Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency unless that is against the advice of Thirtyone:eight or a statutory agency
  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

Definitions

Safeguarding: Safeguarding means protecting people’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about individuals and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure the individual’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard for their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.

Children:* The legal definition of a Child is someone under the age of 18 according to The Children Act 1989.

Youth:** For the purposes of this policy, we will use the term Youth for an individual between the ages of 11-18 years old.

Adults at Risk:*** For the purpose of this policy, the term Adults at Risk is used for ‘adults with care and support needs’ as defined by the Care Act 2014; adults to which local authority safeguarding duties apply in the Care Act 2014; persons who are 18 years old and over and:

  • Are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
  • have care and support needs (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and
  • as a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect

To report a crime:

  • in an emergency, contact the police, call 999
  • if the person is not in immediate danger, contact the police, call 101

If you have any concerns for a Child, Youth or Adult at Risk then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for this church.

  • Manny Garcia: Safeguarding Coordinator
  • Ella Read: Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator
  • If you’re concerned about a person or situation – recent or non-recent, if it relates to safeguarding or even if you’re not sure, call the thirtyone:eight Helpline

Safeguarding Policy

Further details of the Safeguarding Policy and procedures are available here:

Safeguarding at SWLV

You can read the full South West London Vineyard Safeguarding Policy here:

South West London Vineyard Safeguarding Policy

The Safeguarding Policy document was updated, revised & reviewed in March 2023 as part of our commitment to an annual review.

The Safeguarding Policy has been independently reviewed and approved by thirtyone:eight

If you would like to contact the Trustees, you can do so here: trustees@swlv.org.uk