King’s Church is committed to:
• Promoting a safer environment and culture.
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
King’s Church will
• Create a safe and caring place for all.
• Have a named Safeguarding Officer to work with the church to implement policy and procedures.
• Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse. Disclosure and Barring Service checks are included in this process.
• Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name King’s Church.
• Display on King’s Church website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
• Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
• Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises.
• Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
• Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
• Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
• Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.
Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by King’s Church.
Mrs Jo Jardine has been appointed as the Safeguarding Officer.
King’s Church leader
Angus Wightman
If you have any concerns about Safeguarding please contact King’s Church Safeguarding Officer Mrs Jo Jardine on 07741483026
If you believe a child to be at immediate risk you must contact Cumbria Children’s Services 0333 240 1727 or the Police.
If you are concerned that an adult is being abused, or at risk, you should report it by contacting Adult Social Care, Cumberland Council or, out of normal office hours, the Emergency Duty Team 01228 526690.
Please see below for the Policy on Domestic Abuse
Policy on Domestic Abuse for King’s Church Keswick
All forms of domestic abuse are wrong and must stop. We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:
• ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse;
• protect those vulnerable to domestic abuse from actual or potential harm;
• recognise equality amongst people and within relationships;
• enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to appropriately and consistently.
We recognise that:
• all forms of domestic abuse cause damage to the survivor and express an imbalance of power in the relationship;
• all survivors (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
• domestic abuse can occur in all communities;
• domestic abuse may be a single incident, but is usually a systematic, repeated pattern which escalates in severity and frequency;
• domestic abuse, if witnessed or overheard by a child, is a form of abuse by the perpetrator of the abusive behaviour;
• working in partnership with children, adults and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of any child or adult suffering abuse.
We will endeavour to respond to domestic abuse by:
• valuing, listening to and respecting both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.
When concerns are raised –
• ensuring that those who have experienced abuse can find safety and informed help;
• working with the appropriate statutory bodies during an investigation into domestic abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community.
• ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse;
If you have any concerns or need to talk to anyone please contact Mrs Jo Jardine on 07741483026