Safeguarding

SUPPORT FOR YOU IN THE NBA

Please see below for the links to the 2018 sessions

Lynn Fletcher, Safeguarding Officer for the NBA, is available to respond to your safeguarding inquiries and to advise on your safeguarding concerns: lynnfletcher@thenba.org.uk

SAFEGUARDING TRAINING IN THE NBA - 2018

Training sessions using the BUGB materials (see below) will be held for Level 3 on 9th and 16th June. There will be a Level 2 and 3 combined session for ministers on 18th September and a further opportunity for anyone to access Level 2 and Level 3 on 13th October. Church secretaries will receive booking forms in advance of each course and they are also available on this website (see below). Remember, BUGB recommend that you renew your training at the appropriate level after three years. Level 2 and Level 3 training materials were both extensively revised in 2016 and both cover children, young people and adults at risk of abuse.

“EXCELLENCE IN SAFEGUARDING” BUGB training sessions for all who work in the church (paid workers and volunteers)

In order to support you in your work with children, young people and adults at risk of abuse (vulnerable adults), BUGB has developed a three-level training scheme:

Level 1 is a DVD that helps you to raise awareness of the safeguarding of children and young people in the whole church and a copy has already been sent to each church. The video is available to download from the BUGB website on https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/220884/Safe_to_Grow.aspx

Level 2 is a three hour training session for those working regularly in the church with children, young people and adults at risk as well as for Designated Persons and those in a leadership capacity, including trustees, deacons, elders and ministers. As well as providing participants with a sound basic grasp of safeguarding, realistic practical applications are considered.

Level 3 is a three hour training session going into greater depth for Designated Persons and leaders as above (who have already completed Level 2). Level 3 uses powerful scenarios to help you test out your understanding and your church’s procedures.

BUGB GUIDANCE AND WEBSITE

BUGB guidance on safeguarding children and young people can be found in the publication “Safe to Grow” (Sixth Edition, 2011). This is still available to purchase from BUGB and still contains much that is useful, but for the most up to date advice, do access the website.

BUGB guidance on safeguarding adults is found in the online and downloadable publication “Safe to Belong” (2015).

The BUGB website safeguarding section has lots of good advice and resources:

http://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/220183/Safeguarding.aspx

As well as model procedures and policies and guidance on safe recruitment of staff and safe working practices in your church, you can download detailed guidance on:

• DBS checks
• Cyber Safety
• Understanding Domestic Abuse
• Understanding Self Harm

BUGB Statement on the removal of Ministers / Church Secretaries

from the list of DBS verifiers sent to DDC

From the 1^st June 2018 the Baptist Union has removed all ministers and church secretaries from the list of DBS verifiers sent to DDC, unless they have been confirmed by the church as continuing in the verifier role.

Notification of this change was given in a letter sent out with the annual returns request in January 2018. The letter asked that churches let us know if their minister and/or church secretary is acting as a verifier.

In previous years we have automatically enrolled the minister and church secretary as DBS Verifiers. However, we recognise that this is a role that is often fulfilled by others in the church. From now on when we are notified of a change to the minister or church secretary at a church, a verifier change form will be sent out to be completed and returned if the church would like that person to be a DBS Verifier.

If you would like to add names to the list of DBS verifiers for your church then please complete the Verifier changes form available from the Baptist Union website or via this link. This should be returned to Denise Moore dmoore@baptist.org.uk or by post to Denise Moore, Baptist Union of Great Britain, Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8RT.