Introduction

If you have come to this page it is because you have questions or queries about how we operate our safeguarding, and we’d be happy to help. Hopefully, the documents listed below will help you find the answers that you need but if not then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you need to report a safeguarding concern or find support, click here.

Our documentation

We are very happy to speak to you to answer questions and queries about safeguarding in our organisation, but first, make sure that you have checked in the following places for the answers you require as all of how we operate is laid down in writing in these places:

1. Check out our Safeguarding Policy. This has detailed information about how we manage safeguarding as an organization.
2. You can find lots of information on the Methodist Church Website about how we manage safeguarding as well as the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures document of the Methodist Church. Our policy is created in line with this Methodist Church policy.
3. We have created a set of role descriptions for churches to use, please click here.
4. Finally, if you are looking for documentation about social media there is lots of great stuff. Please follow this link to find out more information for children, young people, parents and workers.

Who to talk to if you still have questions

If you are still looking for information and have not found it or require clarification, then there is a dedicated and well trained team of people with whom you can talk.

• If you’re part of a local church then each church has a Safeguarding Officer who is appointed each year. If you talk to your Minister or a member of your Church Council then they should be able to tell you who currently fills that role. They are a great person to talk to if you have queries about local church safeguarding. We train those people on a regular basis and keep them up-to-date with information to ensure that they are capable of advising on all matters with regard to Safeguarding. We also train all staff and ministers in Safeguarding so they are another port of call for queries.
• Secondly, we have a Circuit Safeguarding Team which manages safeguarding in our circuit.  The Circuit Safeguarding Team and Circuit Safeguarding Officer, Sue Ford,  can help and support you with a variety of matters. They also organise CSS Foundation training.  If you would like to get in touch with Sue Ford you can email her at safeguarding@birminghammethodistcircuit.org.uk or you can contact the Central Circuit Office on 0121 616 1800 and they will get in touch with her for you. 
• Thirdly, if it is a more detailed question or a complicated matter, the best person to speak to and foremost port of call for anything more serious is our District Safeguarding Officer, Sue Holder. She is a paid member of staff who has much experience with Safeguarding and would be happy to help. She can be contacted on 07508 232 773 or if less urgent, birminghamsafeguarding@birminghammethodist.org.uk. The phone number is a dedicated safeguarding phone. If she is unavailable please leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as she can.
• Finally, if all else fails you can find contact details for the Methodist Church Safeguarding Team on this web-page.

If you are not a member of one of our churches and have questions or concerns, a great place to start would be with your local Minister or church safeguarding officer. They would be interested to talk to anyone who might have concerns about any matter within our churches and circuit. If you do have a matter for concern but don’t know who to contact, our District Safeguarding Officer is also a good port of call.

Training

Training is arranged in the Circuit for church leaders, local preachers and other leaders from within the Birmingham Methodist Circuit. Further information on this training for those eligible can be found below or obtained from the Circuit Office. You can read more about the training the Methodist Church offers on the national Methodist Church website here.

CSS Foundation Training

Please be informed that there will be a CSS Foundation Training at Selly Oak Methodist Church on Saturday 24^th February 2024.

Please register any attendees with: ssaunderson@birminghammethodistcircuit.org.uk

Face to Face advanced Training dates for 2024

Face to Face advanced training dates have now been agreed and are being hosted at the following venues. 

9^th March Kidderminster/Stourport

16^th March Ledbury/Hereford (fully booked)

23^rd March Cannock Chase

13^th May Wolverhampton

21^st May Droitwich South Worcestershire

1^st June Birmingham/Solihull

8^th June Black Country

11^th June Sutton

22^nd June Telford

5^th October Vale of Stour

Our Assistant District Safeguarding Officer , Stephanie Bradley co-ordinates this training.

Please book directly with Stephanie – StephanieBradley@birminghammethodist.org.uk

Any persons wishing to register for any of these events, need to contact Stephanie Bradley via email or telephone (see details below).  If people cannot make the event in their own circuit, please consider attending a neighbouring circuit. 

Further online dates will be published as soon as they have been arranged. 

Local Preachers and Worship Leaders need to have completed advanced safeguarding training before 31^st August 2022.  If there are any other people with different roles that wish to book onto the training they are very welcome. 

Tel : 07494 734473

Email : StephanieBradley@birminghammethodist.org.uk

Other Resources available

Methodist Practice Guidance on carrying out disclosure and barring (DBS) check as part of Safer Recruitment 2018

Care Act 2014

Positive Working Together 2018

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023

Methodist Church Safer Recruitment Policy

Whistleblowing Policy

Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Checklist Tool for Churches

Useful contacts

Modern Slavery & Exploitation Hotline: 0800 0121 700

Child Line: 0800 1111

NSPCC: nspcc.org.uk

Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid for Domestic Violence (BSWA): 0808 800 0028

National Domestic Abuse 24 hour hotline: 0808 2000 247 

West Midlands Police: Emergency: 999, Non-Emergency: 101

Birmingham Local Designated Officer (LADO): Is appointed to deal with allegations made against those in positions of authority who are suspected to have abused a child - 0121 303 1888

Birmingham Safeguarding M.A.S.H: A Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub that provides a single point of contact for professionals or members of the public who want to seem or raise concerns about a child and make a referral: 0121 303 1888 or Out of Hours 0121 675 4806

Solihull MASH Team on 0121 788 4300 or their Emergency Duty Team (EDT - out of hours) 0121 605 6060.

Birmingham Adults and Communities provides social care services for adults and will receive referrals of suspected abuse - 0121 303 1234

Out of Hours contact for Emergency Duty Team: 0121 675 4806

Solihull Adult Social Care: 0121 704 8007 or outside office hours in an emergency: 0121 605 6060

Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership has a statutory duty to co-ordinate how agencies work together to safeguard and promote wellbeing of children and young people in Birmingham and to ensure the effectiveness of the safeguarding arrangements. Interagency procedures are available on their website: 0121 464 2612  BSCP.ContactUs@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk

Birmingham Local Safeguarding Adults Board has a shared responsibility to ensure adults at risk of harm are safeguarded against all forms of abuse. www.bsab.org.uk

Counter Terrorism Policing has launched a new safeguarding website www.actearly.uk  aimed at family and friends to encourage them to share concerns that a friend or loved one might be vulnerable to radicalisation.

Solihull Adult Social Care: 0121 704 8007 or outside office hours in an emergency: 0121 605 6060

Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership has a statutory duty to co-ordinate how agencies work together to safeguard and promote wellbeing of children and young people in Birmingham and to ensure the effectiveness of the safeguarding arrangements. Interagency procedures are available on their website: 0121 464 2612

Birmingham Local Safeguarding Adults Board has a shared responsibility to ensure adults at risk of harm are safeguarded against all forms of abuse. www.bsab.org.uk

Counter Terrorism Policing has launched a new safeguarding website www.actearly.uk  aimed at family and friends to encourage them to share concerns that a friend or loved one might be vulnerable to radicalisation.