Safeguarding

The following statement was agreed by the leadership in August 2025

At Westcliffe Church we are committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and ensuring their well-being.

We recognise:

• that we all have a responsibility to help prevent harm or abuse to children and adults in all their recognised forms.
• the personal dignity and rights of adults and children and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.
• that all people should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life in our church community.
• the need to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and adults at risk.
• that every child and adult should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that all those we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing significant harm.

We are committed to:

• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
• Promoting a safer environment for children, young people and adults at risk.
• Following statutory guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that all volunteers will work within the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.
• Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation including but not limited to; Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005, Equality Act 2010 and referring concerns about adults with care and support needs to the local authority under the Care Act 2014.
• Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work.
• Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.
• Ensuring that everyone within our church community agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines.
• Supporting all in our church community affected by abuse.

We are aware that:

• Children’s Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child.
• Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult with care and support needs.
• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

If you have any concerns for a child or adult, please speak to one of the following who have been approved as our safeguarding leads for Westcliffe Church.

We will review this statement and our policy annually.