Safeguarding

We recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and protected adults – but acknowledge that anyone, sadly, can become the victim of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. 

Portobello Baptist Church has a safeguarding policy and a dedicated safeguarding team. If you have any concerns for a child or protected adult, please speak to Karin or XXXX, or email safeguarding@pbc.scot

Background

We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which state that everyone is entitled to ‘all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status’. 

We also stand by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. They have a right to be protected from ‘all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has care of the child’.

Our safeguarding policy

Our church has adopted the procedures set out in our safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding. The policy and any attached practice guidelines are based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by Thirtyone:eight, the UK’s only independent Christian safeguarding charity.

• Governance – good governance helps an organisation prevent abuse and means it can respond quickly and with integrity when concerns arise

• Culture – having a safe and open culture creates good attitudes towards safeguarding and ensures it is taken seriously by all

• Safeguarding policy – a working policy document sets the standards and expectations an organisation has around safeguarding

• Safer recruitment – recruiting workers safely creates a barrier to those who may pose a risk from getting access to vulnerable groups

• Training and awareness – raising awareness of safeguarding equips workers and service users to identify, prevent and respond to abuse

• Working safely – agreeing ways to work and communicate safely helps people keep themselves and others safe

• Managing workers – all workers, paid and voluntary, should be appropriately managed, supervised and supported

• Partnership working – it's important to make sure all partners hold the same safeguarding standards as the organisation

• Responding to concerns – responding well to concerns means people can be protected from harm and action taken to stop abuse

• Working with those who may pose a risk – organisations that are open to all can support and work safely with those who may pose a risk

Our commitment

Our leadership team undertakes to: 

• endorse and follow all national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures, in addition to the international conventions outlined above, 

• provide on-going safeguarding training for all its workers and regularly review the operational guidelines attached,

• ensure that the premises meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation, and that it is welcoming and inclusive, and 

• support the safeguarding team in their work and in any action they may need to take to protect children and adults with care and support needs.