Webnet Safeguarding Policy Statement and Policy

The trustees of Webnet care about the safeguarding of everyone who comes into contact with churches in membership with the network, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The trustees recognise that they have no power to enforce good practice in safeguarding upon member churches and nor can they accept any responsibility for safeguarding in churches as this is the responsibility of the leaders of each local church.

However, the trustees of Webnet actively encourage each Baptist church in membership to take safeguarding seriously, ensuring that the children, young people and vulnerable adults it is in contact with are kept safe from harm. The trustees expect each church to have a robust safeguarding policy in place and to act in line with that policy. To this end, the trustees publish model policies on their website and signpost churches to organisations from which they can receive support.

The trustees themselves are following the Baptist Together safe guarding policies and guidelines. The Baptist Together website provides up to date safeguarding policies and guidelines which Webnet would commend to all churches within the association. The trustees has enabled a network of safeguarding trainers who are able to provide training for level 2 and level 3 training for churches within the association. The delivery of safeguarding training at appropriate levels around the Association is over seen by the Regional Minister for oversight of Safeguarding, reporting directly to the trustees.

Trustees and staff are subject to the DBS checks appropriate for their role and are expected to undertake safeguarding training to at least level 2.

The trustees of Webnet undertake to exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of any paid or volunteer staff working with children, young people or vulnerable adults, for example at Association events. This includes ensuring that DBS checks are undertaken at an appropriate level.

Webnet’s designated trustee for Safeguarding is Revd. Stephen Finamore.

Leaders in local churches are responsible for:

• Putting a safeguarding policy in place and ensuring that it is disseminated appropriately and adhered to in all aspects.
• The activities undertaken by the church on its own premises and elsewhere and for ensuring that outside groups using their premises have appropriate policies to which they adhere.

Adopted by the Trustees 30th June 2023.

Webnet Safeguarding Policy

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