Safeguarding

Lifespring Safeguarding Policy Statement

This Policy Statement has been agreed by the Trustees of Lifespring.

Lifespring regards safeguarding as a priority and recognises our responsibility to protect and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Specifically:

• We recognise that we have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional and all other forms of abuse and neglect of children and young people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We believe every child and young person should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that children and young people we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
• All children, young people and adults at risk have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to, and to be protected from all forms of abuse.
• We recognise that we have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial, discriminatory abuse and all other forms of abuse and neglect of adults at risk, including domestic abuse and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults at risk and will ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.
• We believe all adults 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 are committed to:

• Following statutory and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults at risk and ensuring that all workers at Lifespring abide by these recommendations and adhere to the agreed procedures of Lifespring’s safeguarding policy.
• Implementing the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation.
• Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
• Exercising proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work with children, young people and adults at risk and others who will be in positions of trust.
• Promoting safer practice and supporting, resourcing, regularly training and regularly reviewing those who undertake this work.
• Supporting the Designated Safeguarding Lead/s in their work and in any action that they may need to take in order to protect children, young people and adults at risk.
• Supporting parents and families.
• Supporting everyone at Lifespring who may be affected by abuse.
• Adopting and following the ten safeguarding standards developed by ThirtyOne:Eight, an independent safeguarding charity.

We recognise

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
• Children’s Social Care (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. 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.

We will review this statement and our policy annually.