Safeguarding
Policy
Policy
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community
Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Statement of safeguarding principles
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Wessex Liberal Jewish Community, including visitors from Liberal Judaism and other organisations.
The purpose of the guidance and procedures within this document is to protect all children, young people and vulnerable persons who receive Wessex Liberal Jewish Community’s services.
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community believes that no person should ever experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable persons to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
the welfare of the child/young person/vulnerable person is paramount;
all persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
Working in partnership with ch ldren, young people, their parents, carers, vulnerable persons and other agencies is essential in promoting everybody’s welfare.
Contacts:
Tammy Sleet: tammy.sleet@gmail.com
Rabbi Miri Lawrence: via Liberal Judaism Head office +44 (0) 20 7580 1663
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community is not currently able to offer either an emergency or 24-hour response. If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.
We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and distressing to you and it may add to your hurt by our not being able to immediately assist you. Here are the contact details of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services.
NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours) Phone if you are worried about a child.
Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours)
Phone if you are child or young person and are worried about anything.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours) Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours)
Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Mon-Fri 9-5pm)
Information and support for LGBT communities Stonewall Information Service FREEPHONE 0800 0502020 or https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-and-advice
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community take all reports of abuse within their services, whether current or historic, seriously and will immediately enact our safeguarding policy and contact the relevant authorities as appropriate.
I am worried that a child or adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect by someone in a family, household or community. What should I do?
Report the matter to the Local Authority Social Services department or Police (the telephone numbers for these will be in your local telephone directory or websites)
I am worried that a child or vulnerable adult may be being abused by a Rabbi, or volunteer in Wessex Liberal Jewish Community. What should I do?
If your concern is regarding a volunteer within a Wessex Liberal Jewish Community setting you should contact the community’s safeguarding officer directly. If you do not feel able to do so, please contact Liberal Judaism and they will support you as appropriate.
If your concern is regarding a rabbi or member of staff who works directly or indirectly for Liberal Judaism immediately inform the Liberal Judaism Safeguarding Officer/s.
I am being abused by someone in Wessex Liberal Jewish Community. What should I do?
Tell someone as soon as possible. What you say will be taken seriously. You can choose to whom you talk. You can either contact the local Police or the local authority Local Authority Social Services child or adult protection team in your area (the telephone numbers for these will be in your local telephone directory or websites) and/or the Wessex Liberal Jewish Community Safeguarding Officers.
It is the policy of Wessex Liberal Jewish Community to inform statutory authorities (Police and Local Authority Social Services) that abuse has been alleged, if there is a risk that others may continue to be at risk of abuse or to make sure that past abuse is properly dealt with.
I have suffered abuse by someone in Wessex Liberal Jewish Community in the past. What should I do? Understandably, many people find it difficult to tell anyone about the abuse they have suffered. It may be many years after the event before a disclosure is made. Even if the abuse occurred many years ago, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will still act. Tell someone about the abuse. You will be listened to and what you have to say will be taken seriously.
You can choose to whom you talk. You can contact the local Police or the Local Authority Social Services child or adult protection team (the telephone numbers for these will be in your local telephone directory or websites) and/or the Wessex Liberal Jewish Community Safeguarding Officers.
It is the policy of Wessex Liberal Jewish Community to inform statutory authorities (Police and Local Authority Social Services) that abuse has been alleged, if there is a risk that others may continue to be at risk of abuse or to make sure that past abuse is properly dealt with.
Where can I get support?
The Liberal Judaism rabbinic team are always available to provide pastoral support.
However, the organisations below are experts in offering support to victims of abuse:
Details of independent support groups will also be offered. Please see below for some resources (this is not an exhaustive list):
They provide support to adults who have been abused in any way as children
Website: www.napac.org.uk/
Telephone support: 0808 801 0331
Email support: support@napac.org.uk
They provide support to women and girls who have experienced sexual trauma.
Website: http://rapecrisis.org.uk/
Telephone support: 0808 802 9999 (12am–2:30pm & 7-9:30pm)
Rape Crisis have branches all over the UK. Please check their website for your nearest branch.
They provide support to men who have experienced sexual abuse, adult sexual assault or rape.
Website: www.thesurvivorstrust.org
Telephone support: 01788 550554
Email support: info@thesurvivorstrust.org
Twitter: @survivorstrust
They provide help and support for survivors of sexual abuse.
Website: http://www.lanternproject.org.uk/
Email support: lanternproject@yahoo.co.uk
They provide support for all non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused.
Website: www.mosac.org.uk ● Helpline: 0800 980 1958
Stop it Now!
It campaigns to stop child sexual abuse by encouraging abusers and potential abusers to seek help and by giving adults the information they need to protect children effectively.
Website: www.stopitnow.org.uk ● Helpline: 0808 1000 900
It provides support services for adult victims of trafficking and modern slavery.
Website: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/human-trafficking
Helpline: 0300 303 8151 (24 hours)
It provides counselling and support for domestic or sexual violence, FGM and trafficking
Website: www.wgn.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 801 0660 (Mon-Fri 10am-12pm, 2:30-4:30 pm, Tues-Thurs 6:30-9pm, Sat 10am-1pm)
They work towards eradicating the sexual abuse of children; part of UK policing helping to track and find offenders.
Website: www.ceop.police.uk
Ann Craft Trust
They offer advice to professional, parents, carers and family members on issues relating to the protection of disabled children and vulnerable adults
Contact Number: 0115 9515 400 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
What will happen when I inform someone that a child or adult at risk of abuse or neglect may be being abused by someone working for Wessex Liberal Jewish Community?
It is the policy of Wessex Liberal Jewish Community to ensure that all allegations of abuse are referred immediately to the Police and Local Authority Social Services departments (statutory authorities). We do this in the interests of the vulnerable. To make sure that all information available is shared with those with the legal and professional responsibilities to investigate. In cases where the statutory authorities decide that they will not, or cannot investigate, but concerns remain about the safety of children or adults at risk of abuse or neglect, enquiries will be made by those with responsibility for safeguarding within Wessex Liberal Jewish Community.
In all cases, the safety and welfare of the child/ren or adult/s at risk of abuse or neglect is the first consideration. Where allegations of abuse are made, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community, where possible, will suspend the person accused from the role that brings them into contact with children, young people and adults at risk of abuse or neglect, while investigations or enquiries are going on. These are neutral actions to ensure that cases can be investigated dispassionately and to protect all parties involved.
What about confidentiality?
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will treat all information connected with a safeguarding matter as confidential between the agencies working together to protect children, young people and adults at risk of abuse or neglect. In very broad terms, information will be shared with the relevant authorities where there is a concern that a person may be suffering harm or in order to prevent another person suffering harm.
If the person who has suffered abuse does not want to tell, or cannot tell the Police or Local Authority Social Services him/herself, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will do so if there is a risk that others may continue to be at risk of abuse.
An alleged abuser does not have an automatic right to access information that is held about him or her.
What happens to people working in Wessex Liberal Jewish Community who are accused of abuse? All concerns and allegations are taken seriously by Wessex Liberal Jewish Community, regardless to whom they relate to. The precise circumstances differ from case to case, but the following information gives an indication of what happens when an allegation is made:
Information about the alleged abuse is shared with the Police and Local Authority Social Services as they have a statutory responsibility to investigate.
After consultation with the Police and Local Authority Social Services, if the person accused of abuse is a rabbi, or is a volunteer, that person will, where possible, be suspended from the role that brings them into contact with children, young people and adults at risk of abuse or neglect. It is important to acknowledge that these are neutral actions. They are precautionary to ensure that cases can be investigated dispassionately and to protect all parties involved. The final decisions are made following the completion of enquiries. It is possible that someone accused of abuse may be reinstated, depending on the circumstances of the case, once the matter is concluded.
Enquiries will be made to find out if there is evidence to support the allegation.
Sometimes people accused of abuse are arrested and after full investigations, some may be prosecuted.
Wessex Liberal Jewish Community supports all its members and considers what support a person accused of abuse may need.
In seeking to meet the support needs of people accused of abuse, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will strive to minimise risks to others. Wessex Liberal Jewish Community may use a written agreement to make clear what conditions and restrictions apply to the accused person (e.g. he/she may have to worship in a particular synagogue, avoidance of specific activities), as well as what support will be made
What if the person accused of abuse is dead?
Even if information about abuse within Wessex Liberal Jewish Community’s services relates to an accused person who is dead, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will take this seriously and follow it up. It is still important for such information to be shared with the Police and Local Authority Social Services as it could be relevant to other enquiries.
How can people who have abused within Wessex Liberal Jewish Community be prevented from carrying out further abuse?
When Liberal Judaism receives information that someone has abused a child or adult, it will stop that person from working within Wessex Liberal Jewish Community. Furthermore, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will inform the leadership of Liberal Judaism to prevent the person from working within the wider Liberal Judaism community.
When someone applies for a job or volunteer position working unsupervised with vulnerable groups, Wessex Liberal Jewish Community will conduct appropriate criminal record checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before a person can be appointed.
Dorset 12.08.21 Updated June 2023