The Way of the Beloved takes seriously its safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults.

• The Way of the Beloved is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults with care and support needs, and ensuring their well-being.
  

• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent harm or abuse to children and adults with care and support needs in all their recognised forms.
  

• We recognise the personal dignity and rights of adults and children and will ensure all our policies and procedures will reflect this.
  

• We believe all people should enjoy and have access to every aspect of the life of the place of worship/organisation.
  

• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and adults with care and support needs.
  

• We believe every child and adult should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that all those we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are experiencing significant harm.
  

We are committed to:

• Following statutory denominational and specialist guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults and will ensure that, as a place of worship/organisation, all workers will work within the agreed procedure of our safeguarding policy;
  

• Implementing the requirements of all relevant legislation including, but not limited to, The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, The Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Adult Support & Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, The Care Act 2014 and UNCRC Bill March 2021;
  

• Supporting, resourcing and training those who undertake this work;
  

• Ensuring that we are keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding;
  

• Ensuring that everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this place of worship/organisation;
  

• Supporting all in the place of worship/organisation affected by abuse.

We recognise:

• Children’s Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about an adult with care and support needs;
  

• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency;
  

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
We review our safeguarding statement and our policy annually. A full copy of our safeguarding policy is available on request.

• If you have any concerns for a child or adult, then speak to Charlotte Espie or Jane Gallagher, our approved safeguarding co-ordinators for The Way of the Beloved. charlotte@thewayofthebeloved.org

• For immediate risk situations, call the Police Protection Team: 999

• Or for non-emergency situations, call Police on 101 or the local council Child Protection Teams

• For independent advice, call thirtyone:eight 24hour advice line on 0303 003 11 11