Threshold Leadership Safeguarding Statement

The Threshold Leadership recognises the importance of its ministry/work with
children and young people and adults in need of protection and its responsibility
to protect everyone entrusted to our care.

The following statement was agreed by the Leadership on: Nov 8th 2009.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and
ensuring their well-being.

Specifically:

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical,
sexual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people (those
under 18 years of age) and to report any such abuse that we discover or
suspect.

• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy. We want to
make sure that children we have contact with know this and are
empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.

• All children and young people have the right to be treated with respect, to
be listened to and to be protected from all forms of abuse.

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical,
sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of
vulnerable adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or
suspect.

• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of vulnerable adults and will
ensure all our policies and procedures reflect this.

• We believe all adults should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the
life of Threshold unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve.

• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of
all those who will work with children and vulnerable adults.
We are committed to:

• Following the requirements for UK legislation in relation to safeguarding
children and vulnerable adults and good practice recommendations.

• Respecting the rights of children as described in the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child.

• Implementing the requirements of legislation in regard to people with
disabilities.

• Ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our
safeguarding policy.

• Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to
safeguarding.

• Following any Ground Level guidelines in relation to safeguarding children
and adults in need of protection.

• Supporting the Safeguarding Co-ordinator/s in their work and in any action
they may need to take in order to protect children/vulnerable adults.

• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and
the guidelines established by Threshold.

• Supporting parents and families.

• Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding of children and young people.

• Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to
all those who undertake this work.

• Supporting all in Threshold affected by abuse.

• Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards
developed by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.

We recognise:

• Children’s Social Services (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for
investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are
concerns about a child. Adult Social Care (or equivalent) has lead
responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where
there are concerns about a vulnerable adult.

• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been
committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.

• Where working outside of the UK, concerns will be reported to the
appropriate agencies in the country in which we operate, and their
procedures followed, and in addition we will report concerns to our
agency’s headquarters.

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy and procedures annually.

If you have any concerns for a child or vulnerable adult then speak to one of the
following who have been approved as Safeguarding Co-ordinators for Threshold:
Kath Atkins ......... Safeguarding Co-ordinator (Children and Adults)
Joy Liddle and Carl Belcher ......... Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinators
(Children and Adults)

A copy of the full policy and procedures is available from Threshold’s office:
Unit 2A, 22 The Green, Nettleham, LN2 2NR
...or from any of the Congregation or overall Leaders.

A copy of our safeguarding policy has been lodged with CCPAS and Ground Level.