Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy

March 2026

1. Introduction and Core Commitment

This is our most critical policy. It underpins our foundational commitment to the protection of all children and adults at risk who engage with the interconnected ministry of Carrick Community Church (CCC) and the community outreach of the Open Door Centre (ODC). Our vision to see our town transformed through the love of Jesus must be founded on an unwavering commitment to safety, care, and integrity. We recognise our Christian and legal duty of care, aligning with our responsibilities as registered charities (NI103301 / NI102488).

2. Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and Roles

2.1 The DSO Role

The Church and ODC will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) who has specific training and responsibility for this policy. The DSO acts as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns and allegations. The DSO will be clearly communicated to all staff, volunteers, parents, and carers.

2.2 Duty of All Personnel

Every staff member, volunteer, and Trustee has a personal, mandatory duty to:

• Adhere to Boundaries: Maintain clear, appropriate personal and professional boundaries with all children and vulnerable adults (e.g., following the Two-Adult Rule).
• Report: Report any concerns, suspicions, or disclosures immediately to the DSO.

3. Procedures for Reporting and Response

A consistent, transparent system for reporting concerns is non-negotiable for protecting our community.

3.1 Reporting a Concern or Allegation

1. Contact the DSO: Immediately inform the DSO about any concern, suspicion, or disclosure, regardless of how minor it seems. If the concern is about the DSO, report it to the Chair of the Trustees.
2. Record Facts: The person receiving the information must listen carefully and record only the facts of what was said, seen, or disclosed, using the individual’s own words where possible. Do not investigate the concern yourself.
3. Confidentiality: Treat all information relating to the concern as confidential, sharing it only with the DSO or statutory services.

3.2 Action by the DSO

Upon receiving a concern, the DSO must:

• Assess Risk: Evaluate the seriousness and urgency of the concern.
• Statutory Referral: If there is reasonable cause to suspect a child or vulnerable adult is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, the DSO must contact the Police (999 if immediate danger) or the relevant Health Trust Gateway Services immediately.
• Document and Inform: Keep accurate records of the referral and inform the Trustees that a referral has been made, without compromising confidentiality.

4. Safer Working Practices

To minimise risk across all our activities (e.g., Kids programs, Playtime, Chess Club,  Carrickfergus Babybank):

• Supervision Ratios: Appropriate supervision ratios must be maintained, as defined in our program-specific risk assessments.
• Online Safety: All digital interaction with children or vulnerable adults must take place in approved, public, or group forums, strictly avoiding personal, unsupervised private messaging.

Recruitment: Compliance with the DBS/Access NI Check Policy is mandatory for all roles involving regulated activity.

Our Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is Catherine Frazer