SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT
Date: February 2026
Next Review: February 2027
Approved by: Board of Trustees
COMMITMENT STATEMENT
CRC London is committed to creating environments across all campuses where children, young people and adults at risk are safe, valued and protected.
Safeguarding is both a pastoral responsibility and a governance priority. It is embedded in the culture, leadership and operational practice of our church. The welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount.
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors and ministry teams across every CRC London campus and activity, including events held in schools and external venues.
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
This policy is written in accordance with current UK safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance including:
Children Act 1989 and 2004
Care Act 2014
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Charity Commission Safeguarding Guidance
CRC London will cooperate fully with statutory agencies and safeguarding partners.
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Trustee Oversight
The Board of Trustees holds ultimate responsibility for safeguarding.
Trustees will:
Approve and review this policy annually
Appoint a Trustee with safeguarding oversight
Receive safeguarding reports at least annually
Ensure adequate resourcing and training
Ensure learning is embedded following incidents or audits
Safeguarding is a standing governance responsibility.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Designated Safeguarding Lead oversees safeguarding across all campuses and ministries.
The DSL is responsible for:
Receiving and managing safeguarding concerns
Making referrals to statutory agencies
Liaising with Local Authority Designated Officers
Overseeing safeguarding records
Providing reports to trustees
Overseeing Campus Safeguarding Officers
Campus Safeguarding Officers
Each campus has a named safeguarding contact operating under the oversight of the DSL.
Campus Safeguarding Officers:
Act as the first point of contact locally
Ensure safeguarding visibility
Support safer recruitment compliance
Escalate concerns promptly
Responsibilities of Staff and Volunteers
All staff and volunteers are safeguarding responsible persons.
They must:
Adhere to this policy
Complete required training
Maintain appropriate boundaries
Report concerns immediately
Cooperate with safeguarding processes
PREVENTION AND SAFER RECRUITMENT
CRC London operates robust safer recruitment procedures for all roles involving work with children or adults at risk.
These include:
Application process
Suitability discussion or interview
References where appropriate
Enhanced DBS with barred list where eligible
Risk assessment for any disclosures
Signed Code of Conduct
Safeguarding training prior to serving
Supervision and probation
No individual may begin serving in regulated activity until safer recruitment checks are complete and clearance is confirmed.
CRC London will make referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service where legal thresholds are met.
TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
CRC London operates a tiered safeguarding training framework.
All volunteers complete safeguarding training prior to serving.
Department Heads and ministry leaders complete enhanced safeguarding training.
The DSL and Deputies undertake advanced safeguarding training refreshed at appropriate intervals.
Training records are centrally maintained and reviewed.
Regular safeguarding briefings are delivered across campuses to reinforce reporting culture and awareness.
RECOGNISING ABUSE
Abuse may occur in family, community, organisational or faith contexts.
Categories of abuse include:
Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Neglect
Financial
Domestic abuse
Discriminatory abuse
Organisational abuse
Spiritual abuse
Radicalisation and extremist exploitation
Possible indicators may include unexplained injuries, behavioural change, fear of certain individuals, withdrawal, aggression, inappropriate sexualised behaviour, financial irregularities, or disclosures of harm.
Concerns must always be reported and not investigated internally.
SPIRITUAL ABUSE
CRC London recognises that abuse can occur within faith contexts.
Spiritual abuse may involve misuse of scripture, spiritual authority or leadership influence to control, coerce or silence individuals.
Concerns relating to spiritual abuse will be treated as safeguarding matters and escalated appropriately.
RADICALISATION AND PREVENT
CRC London recognises its duty under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
Where concerns arise that an individual may be vulnerable to radicalisation, these will be referred to appropriate statutory channels, including Prevent, where thresholds are met.
RESPONDING TO SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS
Any safeguarding concern must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Campus Safeguarding Officer.
If there is immediate danger, emergency services must be contacted on 999.
When receiving a disclosure:
Listen carefully
Remain calm
Avoid leading questions
Do not investigate
Do not promise confidentiality
Explain that information will be shared appropriately
Record the information factually
All concerns must be recorded promptly using CRC London’s safeguarding recording system.
ESCALATION TO STATUTORY AGENCIES
CRC London will refer concerns to:
Children’s Social Care via MASH
Adult Social Care
Police
Local Authority Designated Officer where allegations involve staff or volunteers
Internal investigations will not take place where statutory thresholds are met.
Allegations involving pastors, senior leaders or trustees will be escalated immediately to the LADO and Trustee Safeguarding Lead.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF OR VOLUNTEERS
Where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer:
Immediate safeguarding action will be taken
The individual may be withdrawn from duties pending investigation
The LADO will be contacted where required
Trustees will be informed
CRC London will cooperate fully with any statutory investigation.
Support will be offered to those affected while ensuring safeguarding priority.
ADULT SAFEGUARDING AND MENTAL CAPACITY
CRC London recognises the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Capacity will be presumed unless assessed otherwise.
Adults will be supported to make their own decisions wherever possible.
Consent will be sought for referrals unless risk to others or significant harm requires override.
Best interest principles will guide decisions where capacity is lacking.
MANAGING RISK AND HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS
Where individuals present known safeguarding risks, CRC London will:
Conduct appropriate risk assessments
Put safeguarding agreements in place
Limit access to vulnerable groups
Review arrangements regularly
The safety of children and adults at risk will always take precedence.
RECORDING AND INFORMATION SHARING
Safeguarding records are confidential and securely stored.
Records must include:
Date and time
Who was involved
What was said or observed
Immediate action taken
Referral decision
Information will be shared lawfully in accordance with safeguarding legislation and data protection law.
Only confirmation of DBS clearance is recorded. Disclosure certificates are not retained unlawfully.
WHISTLEBLOWING
CRC London operates a Whistleblowing Policy enabling staff and volunteers to raise safeguarding concerns about leadership, systems or culture without fear of retaliation.
Concerns may be raised directly with the DSL, a Trustee, or external safeguarding advisory services.
MULTI-CAMPUS ASSURANCE
CRC London maintains:
A Master Safeguarding Register
Training compliance records
Campus safeguarding dashboards
Case oversight monitoring
Annual safeguarding audit review
This ensures consistency and accountability across campuses.
WORKING WITH PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
Where CRC London operates within schools, hired venues or partner settings, CRC London will comply with relevant safeguarding guidance and cooperate with host organisation safeguarding procedures.
Clear responsibility lines will be agreed in advance.
MONITORING AND REVIEW
This policy is reviewed annually or earlier if required following legislative change, safeguarding incidents or audit findings.
Trustees receive annual safeguarding assurance confirming that safeguarding arrangements remain effective and embedded across CRC London.
Signed: Hettie Gava
Designated Safeguarding Lead