Safeguarding at Father’s House

Father’s House Shaftesbury: Protection of Children and Adults Policy Statement

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 the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults at risk of harm and abuse and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.

• We recognise that the personal dignity and rights of adults and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.

• We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of Father’s House, Shaftesbury.

• 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 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 experiencing significant harm.

We are committed to:

• Following statutory guidelines 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 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 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 Father’s House, Shaftesbury.

• Supporting all those at Father’s House, Shaftesbury 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.

Father’s House Safeguarding team

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 Father’s House, Shaftesbury.

Caroline Watkins: Designated Safeguarding Lead

Andrew Baddeley: Deputy Safeguarding Lead for children/E-Safety

Carolyn Powell: Deputy Safeguarding lead for adults

Clare Williams: Designated Safeguarding Lead for Little Acorns Pre-school at Father’s House, Shaftesbury

Paul Beveridge: Independent Safeguarding Support. His role is to provide everyone at Father’s House - children, families, volunteers and leaders - with access to an independent person who is able to listen, advise and act on safeguarding issues.

A copy of Father’s House, Shaftesbury’s policy can be viewed here Father’s House Safeguarding Policy

A copy of Safeguarding - Expressing Concerns and ‘Whistleblowing’: Policy and Guidance can be viewed here

A copy of the Father’s House children’s workers handbook can be viewed here