Safeguarding Policy Documents. Sleaford Methodist Circuit.

Lincolnshire District - Serving locally, connecting the county

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Responding Well - District Safeguarding Policy Summary – September 2024

The full District Safeguarding Policy and other safeguarding policies are on the District and Circuit websites and from local Church and Circuit Safeguarding Officers.

All safeguarding policies should be read alongside Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidance for the Methodist Church (2024);

The Methodist Church is committed to the safety and protection of all, especially those who are vulnerable. Districts, Circuits and local churches are committed to ensuring policies and procedures are in place;

The District continues to adopt the term “Responding Well” in relation to its policies and procedures for safeguarding; This policy and all related policies are now mandatory;

The District Safeguarding Group (DSG) oversees the work within the District:

The District must have a District Safeguarding Officer (DSO) – role outlined in the full Policy;

Each Circuit must have at least one Circuit Safeguarding Officer;

Each Church must have a Church Safeguarding Officer;

If local churches do not have a contact, the Church Council decides who takes that role until one is found – However, Ministers cannot be in a safeguarding role;

All the above roles must be safer recruited as per the Safer Recruitment Policy 2024;

All concerns should be reported as per the Responding Well District Flowchart 2024 - the District Safeguarding procedure;

Each church should have displayed in a public place within the church the Connexional Safeguarding Poster, this summary, the Responding Well flowchart and other relevant safeguarding material;

Safeguarding training at Foundation and Advanced level must be undertaken by those in appropriate roles;

External use of church premises should be seen as a letting arrangements and letting forms completed and policies and DBS clearances checked for the group using the premises;

All events within church, Circuit and District life should be risk assessed;

All those who are required to have a criminal record check (DBS) will do so and ensure it is renewed every 5 years as required by the Methodist Church. On line applications only;

Lincolnshire District - Serving locally, connecting the county

1st September 2024

Responding Well

Welcome to our church

Are you a regular worshipper or visitor to our church?

Do you have a concern or worry about someone – a family member, a child, another family, an adult who is vulnerable or a situation in the church and/or your local community?

Do you have a gut feeling about something that’s troubling you?

Are you concerned for yourself?

We have people who you can talk to who will know what to do or where to go for help:

The preacher at the service you may have been in; The Minister of this church; A Steward in this church;

Someone in a role within this church – there is a church safeguarding officer in the church; The leader of a group/activity you may be attending

(There may be photographs up in the church of key people to talk to) If you have internet, look at www.lincolnshiremethodist.org.uk.

If you would prefer to phone somebody outside of the church, please email Sheila Lymer: sheilalymer@yahoo.co.uk (Circuit Safeguarding Officer) and/or Howard Smedley: 07758 239286 (the District Safeguarding Officer) PLEASE talk to someone.