Methodist Circuit
Safeguarding
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 please contact safeguarding@birminghammethodistcircuit.org.uk.
If you have questions regarding our safeguarding policies we are very happy to speak to you, 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:
Check out our Safeguarding Policy. This has detailed information about how we manage safeguarding as an organization.
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.
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 regularly 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.
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.
For further information:
The Circuit has a set of standardised role descriptors for every role in the church and these are now available on the Circuit Website. We very much hope that these will clarify queries about DBS applications, training requirements and general recruitment as well as helping to define pastoral responsibilities and the basic practical expectations of our volunteers. For any queries please contact your Circuit Mission and Ministry Safeguarding Officer for your team.
Find below a list of Circuit Safeguarding Role Descriptions.