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Church Policy

Safeguarding

Enfield Circuit has devised a Road Show of services designed to cover all relevant aspects of the basic foundation training mentioned below.  Everyone is asked and advised to find a suitable date from the list and attend any one of these services.  An attendance certificate will be issued, to cover the requirement of the Methodist Church.

Creating Safer Space

As part of the Circuit Churches’ commitment to making our gatherings a safe place for all, a series of services is being held during April and May. Attendance will count as basic training as required by the Methodist Church. For many, the training is mandatory, but it is helpful for all, as Safeguarding is about caring as a whole church community.

22 April 10.00 Bush Hill Park - Emily Young
29 April 10.30 Southgate  - Geoff Cornell
29 April 11.00 Grange Park - Louise Morrissey
6 May 10.30 Trinity, Enfield - Louise Morrissey
13 May 10.30 St John - Emily Young
13 May 11.00 Ponders End - Louise Morrissey
13 May 6.30 Goffs Oak - Geoff Cornell
20 May 10.30 Winchmore Hill - Louise Morrissey
20 May 6.30 Oakwood - Geoff Cornell
27 May 11.00 Ordnance Road - Emily Young

Full and clear explanation given by the Methodist Church authorities.

"Safeguarding is about preventing the abuse of children and young people and promoting their welfare. The aim of the Methodist Church Safeguarding policy is to create Christian communities of love and care, where good practice in this area becomes a way of life."

TRAINING
There are now two Modules – the Foundation Module and a Leadership Module, making up the Creating Safer Space training.

Everyone on the core list for training (see below) must complete The Foundation module (previously Module A) which provides basic safeguarding training for those working with vulnerable adults as well as children and young people. The deadline is September 2012 – otherwise they should be stepped down from their responsibilities until this requirement has been met.

Who is now on the Core List, since Conference approved Foundation Module?
Core List - Required Attendance
Presbyters with an active preaching or pastoral ministry
Deacons with an active preaching or pastoral ministry
Pre-ordination students and probationers
Lay employees & Volunteer Workers with pastoral responsibility
Pastoral Visitors
Anyone working with 0 – 18 year olds in the name of the church
Anyone working in activities targeted at adults who are vulnerable (e.g. luncheon club for the housebound)
Church stewards
Circuit stewards
Local preachers
Worship leaders
Those training for local preaching or worship leading
Church and circuit safeguarding representatives
0-18 year olds or vulnerable adults in the group.
District staff especially policy committee members, complaints and discipline, mediators
Core teaching staff at Methodist Church Training Institutions
Connexional staff with direct safeguarding links e.g. children and youth workers

Warmly invited but not mandatory
Evangelism/mission enablers
Leaders of other organisations, working with 0-18yr olds or vulnerable adults, who use church premises
Remaining Choir/music group/drama leaders
Any other group leaders within the church, who may have adults within their particular group who are vulnerable.
Property stewards and other keyholders
Caretakers
Church/circuit meeting secretaries
Church/circuit/district administrators
Remaining District and Connexional staff
Remaining teaching staff at Methodist Church Training Institution

NOTES:
1. People in the above roles who have received safeguarding training in other roles (eg as a teacher or police officer) still need to attend. The training is specific to the church context. In the same way, such a person would NOT be exempt from education/police training, because they have done the church training. Their attendance is also valuable because of the expertise they can share with other trainees.

2. Property stewards/keyholders/caretakers. This covers a multitude of activities. Where these people have direct contact with vulnerable groups, it may be decided locally by the Church Council that they should attend. They are listed here in the second group to avoid unduly including people who have no apparent link at all with safeguarding.

3. Church and circuit stewards are included on the core list because of their important role in church life, and particularly their responsibilities in responding to adults who may be vulnerable, who might attend any church service on an ad hoc basis to access support. Where age or infirmity suggests that an exemption is needed, this should be the decision of the Church Council or Circuit Meeting.

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