1. Our Safeguarding Responsibilities

Trinity Baptist Church recognises its responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and adults, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.

As members of Trinity Baptist Church, we are committed to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all associated with the church and will pray for them regularly. In pursuit of this, we commit ourselves to this policy and to the development of sound procedures to ensure we implement our policy well.

• Prevention and reporting of abuse

It is the duty of each church member of Trinity Baptist Church, to help prevent the abuse of children and adults , and the duty of each church member to respond to concerns about the well-being of children and adults. Any abuse disclosed discovered or suspected will be reported in accordance with our procedures. Trinity Baptist Church will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the church.

• Safer recruitment, support and supervision of workers

Trinity Baptist Church will exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and adults, whether paid or voluntary. All workers will be provided with appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safekeeping of children and adults.

• Respecting children and adults

Trinity Baptist Church will adopt a code of behaviour for all who are appointed to work with children and adults at risk so that all children and adults are shown the respect that is due to them.

• Safer working practices

Trinity Baptist Church is committed to providing an environment that is as safe as possible for children and adults and will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being.

• A safer community

Trinity Baptist Church is committed to the prevention of bullying and creating safer environment and culture. Trinity Baptist Church will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any individuals who may pose a risk to children, young people and adults in the community of the church is managed appropriately.

2. Promoting a Safer Environment and Culture

Trinity Baptist Church is committed to safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility for children and adults within the Church. The Church will select and scrutinise all those with any responsibility for children and adults within the Church, in accordance with the Church’s safeguarding policy and practice guidance. It will train and equip church officers to have the confidence and skills they need to care for and support children, young people and adults and to recognise and respond to abuse. This will be done by providing consistent and accessible safeguarding training. All Trinity Baptist Church Campuses in UK need to ensure that these commitments are integrated into a local safeguarding policy.

3. Definitions of Abuse

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child or adult. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child or adult by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children and adults may be abused in a family, or in an institutional or community setting; by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults or a child or children. There are many different ways in which people suffer abuse. The list below is, sadly, not exhaustive.

• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• emotional or psychological abuse (e.g. humiliation, isolation either in person or online)
• bullying
• financial abuse (e.g. theft of money/assets, extortion, predatory marriage)
• domestic abuse
• spiritual abuse

Whilst it is not possible to be prescriptive about the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, the following list sets out some of the indicators which might be suggestive of abuse:

• unexplained injuries on areas of the body not usually prone to such injuries
• an injury that has not been treated/received medical attention
• an injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent
• a child or adult at risk discloses behaviour that is harmful to them
• unexplained changes in behaviour or mood (e.g. becoming very quiet, withdrawn or displaying sudden bursts of temper)
• inappropriate sexual awareness in children
• signs of neglect, such as under-nourished, untreated illnesses, inadequate care.

4. Promoting Safer Practices

Pastoral Relationship and Responsibilities

All those involved in pastoral ministry should work in a way that follows clearly defined procedures, which set out the boundaries to protect those carrying out the pastoral ministry as well as those receiving it:

• Workers should be aware of the innate power imbalance within pastoral relationships and the potential for abuse of trust.
• Behaviour that suggests favouritism or gives the impression of a special relationship, should be avoided.
• Workers should be aware of the dangers of dependency developing within a pastoral relationship.
• Workers should be mindful of any physical contact or greeting they use within a pastoral relationship, seeking consent if physical contact is offered, for example as a means to offer comfort.
• Workers should never take advantage of their role and engage in sexual activity with someone with whom they have a pastoral relationship.
• All people receiving pastoral ministry should be treated with respect and should be encouraged to make their own decisions about any actions or outcomes.
• Workers should not pastorally minister to anyone whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Workers need to recognise the limits of their own abilities and competencies and get further help when working with situations outside of their expertise or role.
• Workers should seek advice from the DPS if they believe that someone they are pastorally supporting is becoming dependent on them or developing an inappropriate emotional attachment.