Soul Survivor Watford is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk to worship and grow in Christ safely. This is done in a coordinated and supported manner and involves the Trustees and Pastors of Soul Survivor Watford. Concerns about children, young people and adults at risk will be diligently and promptly responded to according to our procedures, recognising the sensitivity it may hold for those involved.
As Soul Survivor Watford has a growing children’s and young people’s ministry, and supports vulnerable adults, this means we will come into contact with children and vulnerable adults from many different backgrounds and therefore will encounter very different familial and social patterns. It is the intention of our church to offer support, encouragement and spiritual teaching to anyone who wishes to receive it. Soul Survivor Watford takes this responsibility very seriously and, through teaching and our safeguarding handbook, endeavours to protect and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk entrusted to our care.
Safeguarding Officers
Our Safeguarding Officers are the first people to speak to if you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or adult at risk.
Staff at Soul Survivor Watford with responsibility for Safeguarding:
Here at Soul Survivor Watford, we have a Designated Lead responsible for our safeguarding and ensuring we discharge our statutory responsibilities. They work with the Trustees to ensure safe and effective systems and processes are in place so that our safeguarding policy is effective and
robust. They also support and work with local safeguarding officials to ensure safeguarding concerns are addressed and appropriate actions are taken when necessary. They also lead and work alongside other staff team to obtain DBS Certificates for volunteers as part of the safer recruitment process.
The designated Deputy for Safeguarding is also responsible for our safeguarding and ensuring we discharge our statutory responsibilities in the absence of the Designated Lead. Further information on the Safeguarding Leads’ responsibilities can be found within the Soul Survivor Watford Safeguarding Policy.
Soul Survivor Watford also has an appointed Trustee with responsibility for Safeguarding. They delegate the day-to-day responsibility for safeguarding to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy. They also ensure that all Trustees are aware of the statutory safeguarding responsibility and its implementation. Trustees have overall accountability for ensuring that the organisation has the necessary systems in place to enable the effective implementation of our Safeguarding Policy.
Contact Details:
Everyone’s Responsibility
Though particular people bear formal responsibility for Safeguarding, ‘the care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Church activities is the responsibility of the whole Church (Promoting a Safer Church, 2017)’. We expect each member within Soul Survivor Watford to contribute to keeping one another safe and protecting others from harm and accidents, through our actions and behaviour, and to take action if we see or hear something that causes a safeguarding concern.
Nisha Manoharan | Safeguarding Lead
Nisha is responsible for the administration of our safer recruitment process, including processing DBS checking, alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead. She also works with the ministry leads to assist with safer recruitment guidelines and training requirements for our volunteers.
Jon Stevens | Lead Pastor
Jon leads the church and is responsible for the day-to-day liaison with the Designated Safeguarding Lead on safeguarding matters.
Trustees
The church Trustees have a duty of care for the protection of the vulnerable by ensuring that safeguarding processes and actions are in accordance with the published policies. Safeguarding is an agenda item at every Trustee meeting.
Ministry Leads
The leaders of each ministry area are responsible – with advice and input from the Designated Safeguarding Lead – to ensure that all activities they are leading are undertaken safely and in accordance with the church’s safeguarding policies. Safeguarding concerns and incidents are to be raised with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Lead Pastor as appropriate.
Volunteers
Volunteers in the life of the church are responsible for completing our safer recruitment process prior to taking up their role in line with the church’s Safer Recruitment Policy including current DBS guidelines and safeguarding training. They are to report any safeguarding concerns or incidents to the ministry lead and/or to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and maintain a safe setting for their work under the leadership and direction of the ministry leader.
FAQs
If you have an urgent concern about a child, young person, or adult, and an immediate response is needed:
Refer directly to the emergency services on 999, and inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Lead Pastor (unless they are the subject of concern) via email or telephone.
If you have a concern about someone in need or at risk of harm (non-emergency):
Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Ministry Lead/Pastor, unless they are the subject of concern and therefore please contact either the Lead Pastor or Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (Jez Hirst).
If you have a concern about a staff member or volunteer at Soul Survivor Watford:
Report to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
Helplines and Further Support
Here are some helplines to contact if needed:
Family Lives: 0808 800 2222
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Mens Advice Line: 0808 8010 327
National Careline: 0800 0699 784
Safe Spaces: 0300 303 1056
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111
Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900
NAPAC: 0808 801 0331
Samaritans: 116 123
Soul Survivor Watford has worked collaboratively with Churchflow Consultancy to complete a comprehensive review of our safer recruitment processes. To contact them visit Churchflow Consultancy
