Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding policy statement
5th Gospel Christians works with vulnerable adults and children in the Middle East. The charity is supported by individual donors and former pilgrims to the Holy Land, together with UK parishes. Currently the main work of the charity is to assist a largely unknown and forgotten community of refugee families in Madaba, Jordan. They are Iraqis who were forced to leave in 2014 when ISIS (so called) arrived in their town. They sought sanctuary in Jordan and some have now been waiting for visas for seven years. They hope to settle in countries where it is safe to be Christian and see no possibility of returning to Iraq. They are legally “asylum seekers in transit” and not allowed to work in Jordan. They are thus reliant on charities and the UNHCR for support. 5th Gospel Christians engages personally at grass-roots level with families and with the Jordanian Church to help with trauma counselling, assistance in health emergencies and basic medication for common medical conditions. The charity prepares them for a future outside the Middle East by providing “English for Life” courses, enabling them to obtain certificates in language skills. The courses also include training to help adapt to a Western culture and are unique among the refugees. They are much appreciated.
We aim to move from the area of working with refugees solely in Jordan to support vulnerable Christians in other countries of the Middle East. For example, persons who are neither classified as refugees nor internally displaced persons, but who are marginalised for their Christian faith and their political situation. The charity provides assistance to parishes, orphanages, the Cheshire Home and Hospital, and other organisations via pilgrimages organised by 5th Gospel Retreats, and responds to medical and other emergencies by means of crisis appeals.
All the above activities indicate close personal contact with vulnerable adults and children. Trustees operate the UK Registered Charity under UK law and accept the legal responsibilities that apply to such work. New trustees, volunteers and visitors on pilgrimages or study tours are given adequate briefing and training according to their role. All Trustees and Volunteers working with 5th Gospel Christians are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and are adequately prepared and fully briefed to work within the sensitivities of a different culture.
5th Gospel Christians abides by the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and is committed to safeguarding practice that reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and adheres with best practice requirements.
• We recognise the welfare of vulnerable adults and children is paramount in all the work we do and the decisions we make.
• All people we interact with regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, or cultural background have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse and to have their rights upheld.
• We recognise that all people we interact with have the right to be treated with respect, dignity and their privacy respected.
• Working collaboratively with vulnerable people we recognise that all should be able to use their chosen language or method of communication; and to be heard.
DOCUMENT SIGNPOSTS
Purpose
Definitions
Safeguarding children and young adults
Safeguarding vulnerable adults
Training
Risk assessments
Confidentiality and sharing information
Recording and Keeping Records
Use of mobile phones and other digital technology
Whistleblowing
Crisis protocol for working with vulnerable children and adults
Important Contacts
PURPOSE
5th Gospel Christians will:
• Protect from harm all children and adults who receive services from 5th Gospel Christians.
• Provide volunteers, children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child and adult protection.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of 5th Gospel Christians including the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers and students. Failure to comply with the policy and related procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.
DEFINITIONS
The Children Act 1989 definition of a child: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or are in hospital.
Vulnerable Adult:
• An adult who is unable to meet his/her own needs and seeks care and support from others.
• Is experiencing (or is at risk of) abuse or neglect, and as result is unable to protect themselves.
Child and Adult Abuse: Children and adults may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their daily lives. There are four main categories of abuse. Below are some commonly accepted definitions of abuse and signs of this:
Physical abuse: An intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person by way of bodily contact.
• Injuries not consistent with explanation e.g. bruises, fractures, bite marks, burns or scars
• Neglected injuries
• Failure to thrive
• Reluctance to change clothing or participate in activities such as swimming
• Non-accidental injury
Emotional abuse: Persistent emotional maltreatment of a child which can cause severe and persistent adverse effects on a child’s emotional and behavioural development.
• Withdrawn or seen as a ‘loner’
• Aggressive behaviour towards others
• Nervousness, anxiety
• Low self-esteem and lack of confidence
• Inappropriate relationships or indiscriminate attachment
• Attention-seeking behaviour
• Running away, stealing, lying
Sexual abuse: Sexual behaviour or act forced upon a woman, man or child without their consent.
• Allegations of abuse
• Excessive preoccupation with sexual matters, age-inappropriate sexual play
• Sexual activity through words, play or drawing
• Sexual knowledge inappropriate for the child's age
• Sleep disorders (nightmares etc)
• Inappropriate bed-sharing arrangements at home
• Involvement in prostitution or indiscriminate choice of sexual partners
Neglect: persistent neglect or failure to protect a child or vulnerable adult from exposure to any kind of danger. Includes cold or starvation, failure to carry out important aspects of care sufficiently resulting in impairment to the child or vulnerable adult’s health, withholding the necessities of life.
Physical signs -
• Frequent infections
• Dirty unkempt condition
• Inadequately clothed
• Abnormal appetite during activities within Kids’ Club
Developmental signs -
• Inadequate social skills and poor socialization
• General delay, especially speech and language delay
Behavioural and emotional presentations-
• Absence of normal social responsivity
• Emotionally needy
• Aggressive behaviour
• Deliberate self-harm
• Disturbed peer relationships
It is important to be aware of more specific types of abuse that fall within these categories, such as:
• Bullying
• Child sexual exploitation
• Child Criminal exploitation
• Child trafficking
• Domestic abuse
• Grooming
• Historical abuse
• Institutional or organised abuse may occur where there is poor professional practice, for example it could occur in the context of EFL classes, or in poor professional and trustee performance by anyone responsible for assisting the vulnerable adult.
• Financial (especially where money is a particular issue, as for almost all of our clients) with arguments over how it should be spent and who should have control of it. In Middle Eastern society, the male householder will normally have control; and in the absence of discussion this can open the possibility for misuse of money or possessions.
• Discriminatory abuse may include racist or sexist abuse, abuse based on a person’s disability, and other forms of harassment
• Spiritual abuse: inappropriate expectations imposed through harassment, threats, bullying, exploitation of emotions, manipulation of a vulnerable person’s mind. Ignoring or belittling another person’s religious belief - and making benefits dependent upon attendance at services contrary to a person’s belief. Any corruption of the Gospel message.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
This guidance reflects the principles contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) ratified by the UK in 1991 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The Children’s Act 1989 sets out the legislative framework for promoting the welfare of children and the Children’s Act 2004 underpins the “Every Child Matters, Change for Children Programme”.
Safeguarding children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 as:
• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• In dealings with children, the welfare of the child is paramount
• No child should be treated less favourably than the others in being able to access services which meet their particular needs
All Trustees and Volunteers working with 5th Gospel Christians have a duty to promote the welfare and safety of children. In the course of their work visiting refugees and others in their homes and elsewhere, children will often be present and sometimes they will work directly with the children. No Trustee or Volunteer working with 5th Gospel Christians will have unsupervised access to children unless they have had an Enhanced DBS check. In conjunction, all persons affiliated with the charity will receive adequate training in regards to safeguarding adults and children.
When working with young people (such as Kids’ Club) there will always be at least two other assistants, to protect the safety of all concerned.
Guidelines for Interacting with Children and Young People
(Protecting both Trustees/Volunteers and Children):
• Treat all children and young people equally and with respect
• Avoid being alone in an unobserved position with a child or young person
• Avoid close physical contact; maintain a safe and appropriate distance
• Only provide physical support/assistance if it is necessary and the child or young person is unable to cope without physical assistance
• Do not use physical or verbal chastisement, including shouting, swearing or humiliating behaviour
• To carry out appropriate risk assessments for any activities considered
• Do not use any images of young people or children in any displays or publications without permission from the parent/guardian
General response:
• Show acceptance of what the child says. Keep calm. Reassure child.
• Be aware child may have been bribed or threatened not to tell.
• Report to the appropriate person who in the first instance will be the 5GC Senior Liaison Partner and the priest in close contact with the child.
• Record in writing the exact statement from the child, which must be held securely on the secure database in 5GC office.
• Strict confidentiality applied, according to local and UK law.
SAFEGUARDING VULNERABLE ADULTS
5th Gospel Christians has a moral and legal duty to ensure that it functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults.
The majority of 5GC clients are refugees, which in itself means that they are vulnerable, arriving in a strange country, usually without finance, without accommodation, and without adequate food. They are legally unable to work to support themselves and have a very uncertain future. There are high levels of post-traumatic stress among refugees due to their past experiences followed by having to put their lives “on hold”. Others are marginalized in their own country because of their faith and for political reasons beyond their control. They may have great difficulty finding employment or other means of support for themselves and their families; additionally, some are elderly, sick or disabled.
Mistreatment is defined as “a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons”. It covers abuse, bullying and harassment, and may take the form of physical, sexual, verbal or emotional harm.
Who might harm adults?
Adults may be abused by a wide range of people including relatives and family members, friends, neighbours, and those who deliberately exploit vulnerable people; officials and others in positions of power or authority, including those assigned to care for them.
How can abuse of adults be recognized?
It may not always be obvious and they may not wish to speak – even if it is appropriate to the situation. There may be a marked change in behaviour which may indicate abuse.
• Covering up or rationalizing injuries or demeaning behaviour towards them
• Confusion or denial that anything is amiss
• Withdrawal from normal activities
• Not daring to speak for themselves
Behaviour by a possible abuser can include:
• Taking advantage of naivety or trust
• Getting the vulnerable person to pay for (the abuser’s) shopping etc.
• Attitude of indifference or anger towards the vulnerable person
• Blaming them for things; restriction of activity
• Obvious absence of assistance; inappropriate display of affection or care
What to do next
We value the close relationship between 5th Gospel Christians and the Jesuit Refugee Centre in Amman, with the local teachers in the schools and priests engaged with the Christian community . These are the first and best people to whom we should report.
1. Report to an appropriate person
2. Record the event, exactly what was said or observed by each party (including yourself), ASAP. Do not assume or make anything up.
3. A copy of the report should be placed in a confidential file in the 5th Gospel Christians secure location/secure database.
4. Decide on further appropriate action in discussion with local responsible person/s, in accordance with the individual’s wellbeing.
5. Ensure the person is aware of the next steps if needed, numbers of whom they can contact if they are immediate danger.
6. All 5th Gospel Christians’ personnel must sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
TRAINING:
In accordance with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, all employees, trustees and volunteers will be subjected to a vetting process to check for any previous criminal convictions.
5th Gospel Christians will ensure an appropriate level of safeguarding training is given to its trustees, volunteers, employees, and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who require it. All who work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults, are required at the minimum to have awareness training that enables them to:
• Understand what safeguarding is and their role in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Recognise a child or vulnerable adult potentially in need of safeguarding and how to take appropriate action
• Understand how to report and record a safeguarding issue
• Understand dignity and respect when working with children
• Have knowledge of the Safeguarding Policy
RISK ASSESSMENTS
5th Gospel Christians will ensure that an appropriate risk assessment is done prior to an activity taking place. This includes assessing the building, technology, the activities and each person involved to reduce the amount of risk involved. The consideration and measures to help reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 must be included in the risk assessment. There should be at least one first aid trained person in case of an emergency. Additionally, when working within an individual this should occur with a minimum of two people i.e. Kids Club to provide safety for the workers and the individuals. The notes from the risk assessment will be stored in a secure location in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SHARING
5th Gospel Christians expects all employees, volunteers and trustees to maintain confidentiality. Information will only be shared in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection which can been seen here https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/principles/ . See 5GC Privacy policy
If information needs to be shared about an individual, this should be done in a lawful and transparent manner. If consent is needed this should be done by asking the person. If the person is under 18 then consent must be given by the parent or guardian. Any information shared should specific and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is shared.
In the United Kingdom, information should be shared with the Local Authority if a child or vulnerable adult is deemed to be at risk of harm or the police contacted if they are in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed.
RECORDING AND RECORD KEEPING
Should an incident occur in regard to safeguarding an adult or child, a written record must be kept. This must include accurate details of the people or services involved, the nature of the concern and the actions taken. Additionally, any decisions that were made and the explanation for the decision made must be noted down.
All records must be signed and dated. They must be kept in a secure location in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
USE OF MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
5th Gospel Christians uses photographs and videos in order to raise awareness, give feedback to donors, support parishes and sponsors and for fundraising. Also, to record events for the refugees or other groups.
Where a photo/video is used in publicity, either in leaflet form, online or on a website, permission must be sought from the person in the photograph. Consent should be sought from all those being photographed. If a child, parental permission must be sought. Real names with photos must never be used with any publicly displayed photograph, in order to protect those who may still be sought by their persecutors. This is particularly important for the vulnerable people we work with who are refugees or otherwise marginalized for their Christian faith.
Sponsors - photos of the person they are sponsoring, e.g. on an English For Life course, must be sent with an appropriate message that the information and photos are not supplied for public display and must be treated confidentially.
WHISTLEBLOWING
It is important that people within 5th Gospel Christians have the confidence to come forward to speak or act if they are unhappy with anything. Whistle blowing occurs when a person raises a concern about a dangerous or illegal activity, or any wrong-doing within their organisation. This includes concerns about another employee or volunteer. There is also a requirement by 5th Gospel Christians to protect whistle blowers, in keeping their confidentiality.
CRISIS PROTOCOL FOR WORKING WITH VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS
In its work supporting vulnerable adults and children, situations may occasionally arise where a vulnerable person experiences a crisis – becomes unwell emotionally or physically - and may need additional support. 5th Gospel Christians’ personnel have a duty of care to their clients, fellow trustees and volunteers, as well as to the Iraqi and Jordanian (or other nationality with whom they may work) partners and colleagues, and must be seen to act responsibly, appropriately and with integrity.
What action may or should be taken depends on the nature of the crisis.
Priority should always be given to ensuring the personal safety of all present – especially where there is a risk of a client harming themselves or others or is acting irrationally.
If there is an immediate risk of a client harming themselves or others – help should immediately be sought – initially from nearest colleagues (if possible, not another vulnerable person), and the appropriate services summoned quickly by telephone. If possible, the client or their family should seek appropriate medical or other attention themselves.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS:
Lead for Safeguarding in Jordan
Name: Mrs Iptisam AlHirsh
Email address: ialhirsh@yahoo.com
Telephone number: +962 (0)7778 15483
Trustee for Safeguarding
Name: Mrs Jane Kenyon
Email address: janeekenyon@btinternet.com
Telephone number: 07854 500845
5th Gospel Christians, January 2022
