Safeguarding

The Recovery Course Trustee Safeguarding Statement

The Recovery Course is based on the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, incorporating Christian principles, and designed solely for anyone seeking to break a dependence on an addiction. We welcome all onto our courses, regardless of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, which we do not seek to change. Likewise, people of all faiths and spiritual beliefs or none are welcome; we do not seek to proselytise. Some do the course to intentionally invest in their recovery, others are looking to address more specific challenges. Either way, the course offers essential tools and practical ideas and support to help understand addiction and help people find lasting recovery.

The Trustees recognise their safeguarding responsibilities whether during face-to-face courses, or those run remotely. The charity will support courses run by churches and organisations, using The Recovery Course Resources, but is not directly responsible for safeguarding within these courses. Instead, it will support and advise where necessary, but encourages these courses to seek assistance from a host church, utilising their safeguarding framework.

The Trustees of The Recovery Course pursue relentlessly, and welcome the success of the Charity’s work with adults seeking help for an addiction, and the families of those adults. The Trustees recognise their responsibility to protect everyone who is directly or indirectly in contact with the Charity, and are committed to creating and enabling a healthy culture in order to minimise any coercion and control within its work and the Churches who work in partnership.

The Recovery Course is committed to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children, and ensuring their well-being. Specifically:

  • We recognise that we have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect of adults who are seeking relief from the effects of addiction, and adults and children in their families, through courses and support structures offered by the Charity and by Churches who partner with the Charity, and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.

  • We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of all those who will work as group leaders or in a support capacity with adults attending courses and their families.

  • We believe in the necessity of creating a healthy culture in our courses where the value of all

people is recognised and challenges are responded to appropriately.

We are committed to:

  • Following the requirements for UK legislation in relation to safeguarding children and adults and good practice recommendations.

  • Adopting and following the ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards developed by Thirtyone:eight (formerly the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service), with whom we pay an annual subscription and will take advice from them when necessary.

  • Keeping up to date with national and local developments relating to safeguarding.

  • Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who work with

  • the Charity.

  • Ensuring that workers adhere to the agreed procedures of our safeguarding policy.

  • The Recovery Course Safeguarding Policy Version 13.01.23

  • Supporting the safeguarding co-ordinator/s in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect vulnerable adults and children who are in their care.

  • Advising Churches to whom we provide resources of their responsibilities in regard to safeguarding.

We recognise:

  • Adult Social Care (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a vulnerable adult, and Children’s Social Services (or equivalent) has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child.

  • Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.

  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy and procedures annually.

If you have any concerns for a vulnerable adult, or children within their care, then speak to one of the following who have been approved as safeguarding co-ordinators for The Recovery Course.

Justyn Larcombe Safeguarding Coordinator

The above statement was agreed by the Trustees on: 12th January 2023.