- c/o St John's Mill
- Mill Road
- St John's
- Isle of Man
- IM4 3AF
01624 802900
Email Us
CHURCHES ALIVE IN MANN SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
Our Churches play a vital role in the lives of many children, young people and adults living on the Isle of Man. We believe that every human being, created and valued by God, should be given respect, dignity and neighbourly love. Consequently, all those who attend our Churches have a role to play in maintaining the nurturing and secure environment in which they worship and where everyone is free from the risk of harm or abuse.
THE SPRITUAL CONTEXT OF SAFEGUARDING
Jesus had a very clear message about the most vulnerable people. It is a theme which is replicated throughout the Bible, with God portrayed in the 121st psalm, as the ‘keeper’ of Israel. This Hebrew word can be translated as ‘safeguarder’, which is Gods wish for the Church to be safe as well as the requirement for us all to contribute to the wellbeing of others. Safeguarding is at the heart of Christ’s will for everyone; his teachings require us to place those in need at the heart of what we do and to encourage everyone to live fully in his love and safekeeping.
SAFEGUARDING POLICY COMMITTMENTS
Churches Alive in Mann is committed to safeguarding as an integral part of its life and ministry.
Safeguarding is about the action Churches Alive in Mann takes to promote a safe culture. This means we will:
· promote the welfare of children, young people and adults
· work to prevent abuse from occurring
· seek to protect and respond well to those that have been abused.
We will take care to identify where a person may pose a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks.
Churches Alive in Mann affirms that safeguarding is a shared responsibility. Everyone associated with our Churches who come into contact with children, young people and adults has a role to play. This is supported with promoting good practice across all our Churches.
Based on the foundations above, Churches Alive in Mann commits to:
· Promote a safe environment and culture
· Safely recruit and support all those with any responsibility related to children and adults within the church
· Respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
· Care pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and others who have been affected
· Respond to those that may pose a present risk to children, young people or vulnerable adults
USEFUL NUMBERS
Elderly - Age Isle of Man 631740
Accommodation - Graih 324767
Ecumenical Safeguarding Advisor for Churches Alive in Mann - 235970
Citizens Advice Service: Douglas 626863 Southern 833976 Ramsey 813466
Adults and children’s services (office hours) - 686179
Adults out of hours duty social worker - 650000
Drug and alcohol team - 617889
Children out of hours duty social worker - 631212 (Police HQ)
Mental health (24 hr line) - 650000
Samaritans (24hr line) - 116123
Police - 999 / 631212
Relationships - Relate 623902
Family issues - Care for the family 615712
Ecumenical Safeguarding Adviser
and Co-ordinator
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Connell as Ecumenical Safeguarding Adviser and Co-ordinator for Churches Alive in Man (CAIM).
Tony will be responsible for Safeguarding across the four main denominations of the Methodist Church, Living Hope Community Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England.
We welcome Tony and his wife Andrea to live in our community here with us and look forward to meeting up with them after the 1 September.
Introduction
Dear friends
I welcome this opportunity to introduce myself as your Ecumenical Safeguarding Advisor and Coordinator.
My career began in residential social work working with vulnerable young people. I subsequently qualified as a social worker and probation officer, mainly working in Lincolnshire. Having progressed into management posts I was responsible for the Ministry of Justice national pilot of the ‘Offender Assessment System’ – an offender profiling tool used for the identification and subsequent management of individuals who pose a risk to others.
This tool has been adopted internationally and is considered a cutting edge instrument for risk management. I would bring this knowledge and insight into the role of safeguarding coordinator to inform appropriate responses to safeguarding issues.
My last post with the probation service was managing a department who worked exclusively with vulnerable adults. This service consisted of clinical staff drawn from the NHS, a local authority and the probation service and engages with ill health, social exclusion, long term unemployment and the high mortality rate which many vulnerable adults face. The multi disciplinary nature of the department enabled us to draw upon a range of experiences and perspectives in relation to our service users who are either victims of abuse or perpetrators or occasionally both. Safeguarding activity in relation to children and adults was central to our work.
I am educated to post graduate level and have undertaken research and associated academic papers in relation to the mental and physical health needs of vulnerable adults. I have received national awards for my work, including being one of five nominees for an international innovation award relating to the meeting the needs of homeless and marginalised individuals.
I recently left a management position the Lincolnshire Probation Service in order to undertake independent consultancy in relation to policy development and training in adult safeguarding and associated organisational risk management processes. I am currently working in a range of sectors including the NHS, criminal justice agencies, local authorities and a number of charitable organisations. I then saw this post advertised! After careful consideration I decided to apply, as it affords a unique opportunity to combine my professional experience, my faith, and the pastoral priorities of the church’s mission.
I'd like to finish by saying following my appointment I have undertaken further visits to the island and have been so impressed by the universal warmth of those we have met. By way of an example, my wife Andrea and I got lost just outside Ramsey and having asked for directions the lady said ‘turn round and I’ll wait for you and tell you where you need to be’. A minute later we were with her again and she presented us with a detailed map she had just drawn! I am so looking forward to being with you and contributing to keeping your Christian communities safe from harm, in addition to enjoying the splendours of your beautiful island.