Parish of Kilbride
SAFEGUARDING TRUST STATEMENT
“IT IS THE POLICY OF THE CHURCH OF IRELAND TO SAFEGUARD
ALL CHILDREN SHARING IN ITS MINISTRY AND
TO PROTECT THEM FROM ALL FORMS OF HARM AND ABUSE.”
The incumbent, select vestry, staff and volunteers in Kilbride Parish Church are committed to uphold good practice in the parish's ministry with children.
Safeguarding Trust
The Church of Ireland's child protection policy, the Safeguarding Trust, has been in place since 1997 and was included in the Constitution of the Church of Ireland in 2006.
Adherence to the policy by parishes means that children using Church of Ireland premises for worship and other activities such as Sunday schools, youth organisations and clubs have their general safety and welfare promoted while being protected from all kinds of abuse.
The current edition of the policy was published in 2018. A format of parts and sections makes it more accessible and it may be viewed online or downloaded from this website.
Complementary information resources, including the Safeguarding Trust newsletters, are available either online or from the Child Protection Offices in Northern Ireland.
Find out more at:
Church of Ireland Safeguarding Trust
Church of Ireland Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Trust at St Bride's
In order to further promote the policy at St Bride's a statement follows, together with a code of good practice.
SAFEGUARDING TRUST - A Statement
The Parish of Kilbride accepts and recognises its responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which cause children harm, and to establish and maintain a safe environment for them. As a community or organisation we are committed to review- ing our policy, procedures and practice at regular intervals.
We will endeavour to safeguard children by:
►Following carefully the procedures laid down for recruitment and selection of workers.
►Providing effective management for workers through supervision, support and training.
►Reporting concerns to the appropriate statutory authority.
►Adopting child protection guidelines through a code of behaviour for workers.
►Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents and workers.
►Ensuring adherence to safety procedures.
We will also fulfil our responsibilities to workers by:
►The provision of effective training.
►The provision of appropriate resources.
►The safeguarding of those who work with children from the consequences of unfounded allegations.
Kilbride Parish Church Safeguarding Trust Panel
In order to manage good operation of the Safeguarding Trust, a Parish Panel exists, to which leaders can come if they have any questions — and indeed to which parents can also come if there is anything in the policy they wish to have explained. Should you have a concern, suspicion or allegation regarding child welfare in the parish please contact a member of the parish panel.
Panel Members
1. Rev. John McClure - Mob. Tel. 07841 866414
2. Valerie Bryans - Mob. Tel. 07740 500130
3. Joan Lutton - Mob. Tel. 07870 266586
4. David Holmes - Mob. Tel. 07899 666222
Other support and assistance is available through the Northern Health and Social Care Trust in a section known as Gateway (contact details below).
Gateway
Gateway is a social work service for children and families. It is the first point of contact for a child or young person in need of assistance or support.
It provides social work services, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
What the Gateway Team does:
Members of the Gateway team visit children, young people and their families in their own homes to assess what they need. They link with children and families to see what support is needed and and ensure everyone involved with a child can contribute to the assessment of the child and his or her family.
The Gateway team is onhand to ensure there is an immediate response to safeguard children in need of protection. The social workers will speak to other professionals involved with the family to ensure their views are included in the assessment. They also refer families to locally based services where support is needed.
The Gateway team aims to complete all assessments within 10 working days and will keep professionals and families informed throughout the process. Gateway social services is also there to ensure children and families who continue to need a social work service are transferred to their local Family Support and Intervention team for on-going involvement.
Referral Gateway Team
If you are concerned about a child or a young person who is not already known to Social Services, the first point of contact should be made to the Referral Gateway Team.
Referral Gateway will respond promptly by gathering information and will pass the referral to the local Gateway Team, should it be determined that a social work assessment is required.
The duty social worker or local area manager may be contacted at the local Gateway Team.
Northern Health and Social Care Trust (covering local council areas of Antrim & Newtownabbey and Mid & East Antrim)
South Eastern Gateway Team
The Beeches
76 Avondale Drive
Ballyclare
BT39 9DB
Tel: 028 9442 4377 (9am-5pm) or 028 9446 8833 at all other times.
For more information follow this link - Northern Health and Social Care Trust
In emergency contact the local PSNI station by dialling 999