Welcome
Thank you for offering your gifts, talents and time to serve. We are so happy that you are planning to be part of our team. So that everyone has a positive and safe experience please could you take some time to watch and read through the following information. Once you are happy that you have understood our duty of care guidelines and what serving looks like in your team, please could you complete the confirmation form which will be sent to our Safeguarding Co-ordinator.
If you have problems accessing any of this information or you need additional support - Tim Rouse is contactable at operations@westwiltsvineyard.com and Grace Padfield or George Rabczac at safeguarding@westwiltsvineyard.com. They will do all they can to help.
As a caring Church community and charitable organisation we have a moral and legal duty of care towards all our staff, volunteers and all those that encounter us. By reading and following the guidelines below, and by completing the confirmation, you are agreeing to serve in a way that is safe for all.
Many Thanks
Mark and Meg Searle, The Trustees and Team at WWV
Safeguarding & Our Duty of Care
West Wilts Vineyard Church regards the protection and safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults as a priority. In the interests of the safety and well being of all, we therefore operate a formal safeguarding policy, which is registered with thirtyone:eight previously known as the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.
The church recognises that safeguarding is a whole community responsibility and is additionally committed to ensuring that everyone working with children or young people has been safely recruited, is adequately trained and supervised, and understands and follows the church’s safeguarding policy.
It is a requirement that anyone working on a team which involves children, youth or vulnerable adults to completed all relevant training.
We recognise that many of our volunteers already work in professional setting that require them to have completed said training. If this is the case please forward your certificate to our safeguarding co-ordinator. You will still be required to understand safeguarding in our context and therefore will need to engage the following information.
For those who have not completed any formal in-depth safeguarding training, you will be required to do this during you appointment to a team. Our Safeguarding co-ordinator will contact you with the relevant information.
Safeguarding - An Introduction
Please watch the following short media clips. These have been produced by Haringey Council and although apply to their local community, they offer a clear explanation of Safeguarding, different forms of abuse, and how we should respond if we find ourselves in contact with someone who may need our help.
Safeguarding At WWV
Who is our Safeguarding Co-ordinator & what do they do?
The role of the safeguarding coordinator is to work alongside the senior pastor, trustees and safeguarding team to ensure the safety of all children, youth and vulnerable adults in the care of West Wilts Vineyard. They work across the church with various ministry areas to achieve this aim. The safeguarding coordinator is responsible for
The Safeguarding Policy & Procedures. They ensure that we have an up to date, effective safeguarding policy in the church and work with various ministry areas and external agencies to make sure that we are working to the best of our ability to achieve this.
Is a point of contact for safeguarding issues. Grace Padfield or George Rabczac is the named point of contact for children and adults at risk. Church members and outside agencies can approach our safeguarding coordinator with any issue relating to safeguarding. Grace and George are also here to advise, take action and liaise with various agencies where necessary.
Advocate for Good Safeguarding Procedures It is the role of the safeguarding coordinator to work with individuals and teams to ensure that our policy is put into practice. This means everyone is recruited with a (DBS), trained in safeguarding, and supported well. S/he also ensure that the church understands Safeguarding as a community responsibility.
Please contact the safeguarding co-ordinator at safeguarding@westwiltsvineyard.com
Important Headlines
All children/ vulnerable adults at West Wilts Vineyard need to be kept safe from being hurt or abused within the church setting. We, like many Church communities, have an open door policy. We are a ‘come as you are church’ because we aim to experience and share God’s love and compassion. We recognise forgiveness, restoration and transformation. In light of this it is necessary that we manage risk well. Whilst we understand that no one can totally ‘eliminate’ the potential for harm we will endeavor to ensure a safe environment for all - children, vulnerable adults and our volunteer teams.
Please Read Our Safeguarding Policy:
Working with Children & Youth?
Please familiarise yourself with our handbook. You will find information on what’s important to us - our vision and values for this ministry, how we appoint team members, team roles & tasks and how to work together well. There is an overview on what happens during a session and how we can support children with specific needs.