Safeguarding Policy

1. POLICY STATEMENT

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (referred to as UCKG from this point forwards) believes safeguarding is everyone’s business. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and adults, and require all UCKG trustees, ministerial and administrative staff, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment; all have shared responsibility for ensuring the implementation of this policy and linked documents.

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES AND DEFINITIONS

UCKG and its Board of Trustees ensure they meet their responsibilities as defined by the England and Wales Charity Commission – identifying and managing risk; having suitable policies and practice in place; carrying out necessary checks; protecting our staff and volunteers; handling and reporting incidents appropriately, also the requirement to report serious incidents. Trustees are aware of and will comply with the Charity Commission guidance on safeguarding and protecting people and also the 10 actions trustee boards need to take to ensure good safeguarding governance.

While the core principles of good safeguarding practice apply across different settings, there are some differences in legislation, regulatory frameworks, definitions and terminology between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. To keep this document as succinct as possible, this policy will focus primarily on England (unless otherwise stated) with the same principles being generally applicable across the UK nations.

Definitions: Safeguarding is the actions taken to protect and promote the welfare of children and adults at risk.

A child is defined as someone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Jersey and anyone who has not yet reached their 16th birthday in Scotland.

Safeguarding adults at risk: As stated in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.

UCKG supports ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ – an approach which emphasises a person centred, outcome focused and strengths-based approach to safeguarding activity. Making safeguarding personal (MSP) is about professionals working with adults at risk or potential risk, to ensure that they are making a positive difference to their lives. The adult concerned where possible must lead on decisions about their own safety and wellbeing throughout the safeguarding process; ‘no decision about me, without me’. The adult’s views and wishes should be used as guidance for all staff involved and must be respected.

3. SCOPE OF THE POLICY

For the purpose of this policy, all those listed above will be referred to as ‘staff’ throughout this document (except those who visit our churches for services, spiritual guidance, one to one support or any other purpose).

This policy and related procedures apply to work delivered on site, off site, online, at residential activities, during transport, at events, and during any informal or pastoral interaction connected to the organisation.

The UCKG Safeguarding Policy and where relevant, procedure documents, may be distributed to relevant third parties. In some cases, third parties such as premises hire or those performing on-site work for UCKG will be expected to be familiar with and adhere to our policies and procedures, which will be made available where applicable.

These policies and procedures are in place to protect all children and adults at risk that enter or seek the support or advice of the church as members and as visitors or those contacting UCKG and engaging with outreach services with or without any prior connection with us (to be referred to as ‘beneficiaries’ from this point forwards).

4. SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

5. SAFEGUARDING GOVERNANCE

UCKG ensures it has the arrangements in place to fulfil its commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of both children and adults. The clear structure of safeguarding accountability supports everyone within the organisation to understand their individual responsibilities for safeguarding.

The Board of Trustees and Senior Management has overall responsibility for ensuring that individuals are aware of and understand the principles of this policy and there is a nominated Trustee Lead for safeguarding.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is the overall lead for safeguarding within UCKG. The DSL is supported by a number of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) who undertake the same operational safeguarding functions under the oversight of the DSL.

This policy (and safeguarding procedures document) and related procedures are owned and maintained by the Safeguarding Department Manager – they are responsible for the contents of this policy, and auditing how consistently it is used.

These constitute what may be referred to as the ‘Safeguarding Department’.

UCKG also appoints a Safeguarding Officer and a Deputy Safeguarding Officer in each of the full-time church branches on a voluntary basis. Part-time branches will either have a dedicated Safeguarding Officer, or the responsibility will fall to the Pastor-in-charge of that branch or a Safeguarding Officer from an appointed nearby branch.

All policies and procedures are reviewed annually, or when there are significant changes for example in safeguarding legislation. Policies and procedures are ratified by the Board of Trustees and the Senior Management before being shared with all staff who are required to confirm their understanding and commitment to these documents after each review. Any queries or concerns regarding any areas of this policy or procedures should be directed to the Safeguarding Department Manager on safeguarding.mgt@uckg.org.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead, or an appointed Deputy, reviews safeguarding trends and statistics regularly and reports these to the senior management team so that they can consider any strategic or operational responses needed. The Board of Trustees includes safeguarding as a standing agenda item for board meetings when necessary, and will be in receipt of a summary report beforehand.

Senior management team meetings will also be held regularly where safeguarding concerns are raised for the purposes of awareness, learning, and review.

Under the oversight of the Safeguarding Department Manager, the DSL and DDSLs are required to stay up to date with relevant national and local safeguarding updates, and share anything relevant with all appropriate staff. They are also responsible for making all reasonable steps to ensure that throughout their church and all its activities, everyone is aware of and works within the agreed safeguarding policy and procedures documents.

The Safeguarding Department conducts regular inspections and annual audits to ensure safeguarding practices are in line with the requirements of the Safeguarding Policy throughout the organisation.

6. CONSENT AND CAPACITY

Regarding children, consent to act does not have to be sought, though it should be sought from the child or the parents/carers of the child whenever possible.

All those involved in a safeguarding concern should be kept informed of all actions taken, unless it is unsafe or not practicable to do so. UCKG staff will ensure they communicate this in a way that is understood by the child/adult at risk.

7. KNOWN OFFENDERS

We are committed to the use of thorough and careful supervision to protect people from the potential risks associated with known offenders within the congregation, including implementing contracts with known offenders and those who have been assessed as posing a risk.

UCKG intends to meet the pastoral needs of all, and staff will support and supervise those who pose a risk to children or adults at risk and implement contracts of behaviour, while bearing in mind the overarching principle that the welfare of the child or adult at risk is paramount.

8. SHARING INFORMATION

UCKG seeks to maintain confidentiality at all times except in circumstances where doing so would place the individual or another individual at possible risk of harm.

Where there is reason to believe that a child or adult at risk may be at risk of significant harm, UCKG’s Safeguarding Department recognises the importance of the information being shared as fast as possible with the agencies responsible for conducting enquiries into such matters, for example, social services, mental health teams and the police. In such situations, consent is not needed from children, parents/carers or adults at risk, though this should be sought wherever possible. If UCKG staff are going ahead without consent to share information with external agencies they will always seek to inform the individual concerned unless it is deemed unsafe to do so.

It is never acceptable to avoid or delay sharing information about child protection concerns or concerns in regards to adults at risk on the grounds that a relationship with a child or adult will be compromised.

Whilst the data protection legislation places duties on organisations and individuals to process information fairly and lawfully, this can never be a barrier to sharing information where doing so may safeguard a child or adult at risk.

All suspicions and investigations must be kept confidential and information on safeguarding cases may be shared with other relevant departments or staff members, but on a strict ‘need to know’ basis and where it is in the children or adults at risk’s best interests or to protect those around them.

Reports and records of discussions should be processed, shared, archived and destroyed in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UCKG’s Data Protection Policy. Any further advice can be sought from the Safeguarding and Data Protection Departments.

Staff with concerns about the welfare of a child or adult, must not discuss these with other staff, beneficiaries, parents, carers, or other people involved with the person, until they have passed on the concerns and received advice and instructions from a Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for making sure records of concerns about the protection of children and adults at risk are kept confidentially, and will review procedures regularly and in response to updates to legislation such as the Data Protection Act or government guidance or due to internal changes.

If UCKG is given information about a person that may impact the safety of staff or anyone else, the DSL/DDSLs or Safeguarding Officers may share this information with other staff only as is relevant to their role and with the consent of the person or with the individual responsible for that person. Decisions to share information without the person’s consent will only be taken where the risks to others outweigh an individual’s right to confidentiality.

UCKG will assist referral and partner agencies such as Social Services and the police, as far as possible, during any investigation. This will include disclosing written and oral information wherever this is necessary.

9. LOW-LEVEL CONCERNS

Low-level concerns are those concerns regarding children or adults that do not meet the harm threshold, as defined by local safeguarding arrangements. UCKG recognises the importance of having policy and procedures to manage such concerns.

Low-level concerns may arise in several ways and from a number of sources. For example: suspicion; complaint; or disclosure made by a child, adult beneficiary, parent or other adult within or outside of the organisation; or as a result of vetting checks undertaken.

UCKG recognises that it is crucial that all low-level concerns are shared responsibly with the right person and recorded and dealt with appropriately, protecting the children/adults at risk, staff members from becoming the subject of potential false low-level concerns or misunderstandings and UCKG as an organisation.

10. RECRUITMENT, SELECTION AND TRAINING

UCKG will ensure that as far as is possible, all staff are safe and trustworthy to work with children and adults at risk by enforcing robust recruitment procedures and complying with all relevant guidance and legislation.

A valid DBS certificate (or PVG Check, Scotland and Access NI in Northern Ireland) is essential for all staff in positions of trust within the UCKG. Any of the above without a valid DBS certificate (or equivalent for Scotland and Northern Ireland) or whose relevant application has been deemed unsatisfactory (as decided by the relevant DSL or senior management team) cannot work or volunteer to work with children who are under the age of 18 years or adults at risk in any UCKG setting. Staff members will not be able to start until the relevant check is in place. Staff members must have the relevant check for the country/countries they are working within.

Individuals who have lived or worked outside the UK will undergo the same checks. This includes obtaining a DBS certification even if the individual has never been to the UK. Where appropriate, the Church may consider additional safeguarding information for individuals who have lived or worked outside the UK, depending on the role or circumstances.

All administration staff members are subject to a 6 month probation period and will have a time of induction when they are new in post. During this time, they are required to read and record their understanding and commitment to this policy and all related procedures.

Our commitment to safeguarding will also be shown by ensuring our Safeguarding Policy is easily accessible to all staff, beneficiaries, visitors and external parties, such as featuring it on our website and ensuring physical copies are available in all UCKG branches.

Training: UCKG is committed to ensuring all those working with children or adults at risk are supported, supervised, resourced and trained. The UCKG recognises that dealing with safeguarding issues is demanding and can cause significant additional pressure on people with safeguarding responsibilities. Therefore, in addition to full safeguarding training before anyone with safeguarding responsibilities starts on their roles, our Safeguarding Department provides refresher training sessions at least once a year, or when something significant has changed or whenever there is a significant safeguarding incident.

The Safeguarding Department manager, the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, are required to attend DSL training or refresher training every 2 years. As part of the role they are also to develop their knowledge through regularly accessing further training, articles, forums, conferences, newsletters, mentoring, etc. Responsible for overseeing UCKG’s safeguarding frameworks as part of the Board of Trustees, we will consider our Trustee Safeguarding Lead also being included in the above.

The Board of Trustees will consider attending their own safeguarding training, and ensuring this is regularly refreshed.

All staff will receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role. This should be refreshed every 2 years at a minimum.

Safeguarding training and development is an ongoing process and not a one-off event.

If UCKG introduces a new policy or way of working about protection or safeguarding, it will induct all staff to make sure they understand the new information.

11. SUPPORT FOR STAFF

UCKG ensures it provides appropriate and effective support for its staff.

Any staff member reporting or involved in a safeguarding concern will be offered support by an appropriate person in a timely manner, and it will be discussed whether they are happy to continue with the role and if they would request any adjustments.

The DSL and DDSLs and anyone dealing safeguarding concerns, disclosures or investigations will be offered appropriate supervision with time given to reflect on decisions, learning, and discuss how it feels from a personal perspective. It should include space for anyone to raise concerns within UCKG that will be responded to by the appropriate person. Those providing this safeguarding supervision should be identified as competent to do so. It may be provided in a one-to-one or group setting, and all formal supervision sessions should have a written record.

12. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF

UCKG takes any concern regarding any member of staff seriously, and will respond in a timely, appropriate and proportionate way.

If an allegation is made against any staff member, it will be decided by the Safeguarding Department Manager or if appropriate by a more senior member of staff if the matter constitutes a safeguarding allegation and if an internal investigation or referral to an external agency such as the police or social care is required. If the Safeguarding Department Manager is unsure of how to proceed they will seek advice from these external agencies.

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in England and Wales, the local Social Services Gateway Team (NI), the local Child Protection Committee in Scotland and the Children and Families Hub in Jersey is to be contacted regarding any allegation concerning a member of staff and a child if it meets the relevant threshold.

UCKG acknowledges that staff who are the subject of allegations will also need support and further information, and will always strive to provide this.

13. TERRORISM (PROTECTION OF PREMISES) ACT 2025 - MARTYN'S LAW

UCKG is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all beneficiaries, visitors and staff, and therefore recognises it needs to have arrangements in place to prepare for and respond to potential terrorist incidents in accordance with the principles of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law). UCKG recognises that the threat from terrorism may arise from a range of ideologies and that preparedness, vigilance and effective emergency procedures can reduce the risk of harm.

14. COMPLAINTS

Complaints that are received about the conduct or behaviour of UCKG staff will be dealt with according to our Complaints Policy (please refer to our Complaints Policy for more details) with some exceptions as detailed in section 6 of the Complaints Policy.

For complaints or concerns relating to safeguarding children and adults at risk (or who are considered at risk of harm), email safeguardingcomplaints@uckg.org or call 020 7686 6000 and will be dealt with according to our safeguarding complaints procedure.

15. WHISTLEBLOWING

UCKG recognises the importance that the role ‘Whistleblowing’ can play in deterring and detecting malpractice and abuse of children and adults at risk. (See Whistleblowing policy for more details).

16. QUALITY AND REVIEW

We recognise that quality assurance mechanisms are an integral part of our safeguarding governance.

UCKG staff have a responsibility to report to the Safeguarding Department any concerns, gaps, inconsistencies, or issues they identify in the implementation of this Safeguarding Policy or its associated procedures. Staff should also notify the Safeguarding Department if they become aware of, emerging risks, or safeguarding matters that may indicate the need for the policy or procedures to be reviewed.

Through reviewing and reporting, the Safeguarding Department will identify any common themes or issues that arise from concerns or disclosures and identify future actions with timescales. The Safeguarding Department Manager will ensure our Board of Trustees are well informed about UCKG’s safeguarding practice and frameworks, and encourage critical discussion. The Board of Trustees will reflect on safeguarding risks, as well as ensure it is confident in the governance structures, management of risk, training, support and resource and the management of any serious incidents, and is up to date with any trends or themes within safeguarding.

UCKG’s Board of Trustees will regularly review its safeguarding practice through internal auditing and will consider future external audits.

17. LOCAL SAFEGUARDING PARTNERSHIPS OR BOARDS (CHILDREN AND ADULTS)

UCKG will work in partnership and adhere to the procedures of all local Safeguarding Adults Boards or Partnerships/Multi-agency Adult Protection Committees and Safeguarding Children Partnerships or Boards.

UCKG recognises all staff have a duty to co-operate in information sharing, such as in the case of Child Safety Practice Reviews and Safeguarding Adults Reviews.

The DSL/DDSLs are expected to be familiar with local safeguarding arrangements, thresholds and referring procedures.

18. COMPLIANCE

Failing to abide by this policy, the safeguarding procedures document and all other related policy and procedure documents at all times is likely to result in disciplinary procedures for staff.