The West Midlands Synod takes safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults at risk of harm seriously. We are committed to safeguard in accordance with the URC Safeguarding policy Good Practice 6 (GP6):
We believe that all people have the right to live in a way that does not cause them harm or obstruct their human rights and are welcomed to be part of our community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We will operate in line with the Human Rights Act 1988, the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Equality Act 2010.
The summary of the URC Statement of Policy below outlines Synod’s commitment to good safeguarding practice. It details the measures that we put in place to protect children and adults at risk in our Synod.
The full version of the Safeguarding Statement of Policy available on page 12 of Good Practice 6
Good Practice 6 (GP6) is the URC safeguarding policy and guidance document. It informs our practice across all synods.
You will find a link to GP6 here:
https://urc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GP6-2023.pdf
Additional resources and templates to accompany GP 6 will help with all aspects of safeguarding work within our churches including DBS, safer recruitment and reporting concerns.
Here is a link to the additional resources:
https://urc.org.uk/safeguarding/safeguarding-good-practice/
Statement of policy
The United Reformed Church (URC) including the West Midlands Synod, is committed to safeguarding in every area of its life and ministry and confirms that safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone.
Safeguarding is the action taken to promote and protect the wellbeing and human rights of individuals. This means we will:
- Do all we can to create and maintain a safe and caring environment for all people
- Respond promptly and effectively to any form of abuse and neglect, including reporting abuse to statutory agencies as necessary
- Seek to prevent abuse in any form from occurring.
We will seek to identify individuals who may pose a risk to others and take necessary actions to minimise risk while supporting individuals in our communities when safe to do so.
The URC will adhere to the policy statement above by committing to:
- Promote safe and healthy cultures in which good practice standards in safeguarding are updated and disseminated
- Ensure everyone in a position of trust is carefully recruited / selected / appointed / elected and trained in safeguarding children and adults at risk
- Respond promptly and appropriately to any safeguarding allegation or concern (including reporting any allegations to statutory agencies), including those who may pose a risk to children, young people or adults at risk
- Care pastorally for all children and adults at risk, and all those who have experienced abuse in the past
- Ensure that all those who pose a risk to children, young people or adults at risk, and those who are the subject of allegations, receive appropriate pastoral care and supervision
- Exercise informed vigilance about risks in all forms of abuse and neglect
- Work together with other denominations, statutory agencies and voluntary organisations.
- Appoint a Safeguarding Officer and support local churches in appointing Church Safeguarding Co-ordinators.
The full statement (paper T4) and further details can be found at: www.bit.ly/papert4
All concerns or allegations concerning West Midlands Synod activities, staff or volunteers should be addressed to the West Midlands Synod Safeguarding Officer:
Name: Donna Gordon
Contact phone number: 07458 304275
Email address: safeguarding@urcwestmidlands.org.uk