Safeguarding
Resources and Links
1. Connexional Safeguarding Information, Policy and Resources
The safeguarding pages of the Methodist Church website provides a wide range of information and on line resources that can help local churches develop and review their policy and practice, to ensure that they provide safe spaces and communities for children and vulnerable adults.
You will find the latest Safe Recruitment Policy that was first published in June 2013, together with the associated 2015 DBS guidance. Here you will also find details of the revised Connexional policy published in April 2017 that will help you with the development and review of local church or circuit policies It includes templates for your use.
Full details of all Creating Safer Space training is also included here. This includes access to Foundation Module, Refresher and current Leadership Module material.
2. National Resources – on line abuse
As they become available we will post links to areas of specialist information and guidance. Here is a link to the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) which is particularly concerned with preventing online abise of children.
3. District and other local resources
The local authority in which you live or where your church is located is required to publicise advice and guidance to the wider community informing members of how they can respond to concerns about a child or adult at risk. Each local authority has an Adult Safeguarding Board (ASB) or Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) and you can find details of these by ‘googling’ the name of your authority and the abbreviations above. There you will usually find a section about what to do and whom to contact if you have a concern as well as details of basic training courses that are free to community groups. However unless in an emergency please do not make referrals about safeguarding concerns in churches without contacting Grahame Snelling as DSO in the first instance.
4. Vulnerable adult guide
We have included here a link to a guide that was produced in Sheffield District in 2014 when Grahame worked there. It’s a best practice safeguarding guide that you may find useful. It is copyright so please do not print and distribute – it’s simply here for reference and inspiration. In due course we will draft a London guide as this is something that many people have asked for.