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1.2 The Golden Rule
'Keep all relationships with children and young people
open, observable, readily understood and shared with more than one
responsible adult. All work with children and young people must be well
supervised and the people doing it carefully selected, well trained and
advised of their child protection duties.’
A copy of this rule will be permanently displayed in a
prominent place in the Community Centre.
2 Policy
2.1 St Giles Church is committed to
complying with the provisions of the Children Act 1989, the 1993 Home Office
Code of Practice ‘Safe from Harm’ and the Diocese of Peterborough Child
Protection Policy. (For insurance reasons, the Church Council chooses
to follow Anglican rather than Methodist procedures at the present time.)
N.B. The Law defines a ‘child’ as “anyone under the age of 18 years old.”
2.2 The St Giles Church Council seeks to safeguard all members of the church
community, regardless of age, but is especially concerned to protect
children and young people from harm and to provide a safe environment for
their nurture.
2.3 It is the responsibility of each church member (and not just those who
work with children) to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful
abuse of children and young people and it is the duty of those working with
such persons to make a report as detailed in Paragraph 9 whenever any abuse
is discovered or suspected. Types and signs of abuse are outlined in
Appendix 1.
2.4 The church is committed to vetting and then supporting, resourcing and
training those who work with children and young people. Each person who
works with children shall be given a copy of this Policy and Procedures
document and must give a written undertaking to observe and practice the
procedures outlined herein. At least one representative will attend Child
Protection training and support courses provided by the Diocese of
Peterborough. The church agrees that C.R.B. disclosures supplied from other
organisations are no longer portable and cannot be accepted.
3 Procedures
3.1 Appointed Officials
3.1.1 The St Giles Church Child Protection and
Co-ordinating Officer appointed at the present time is:
Mrs Pauline Clarke of 53 Breakleys Road, Desborough, NN14 2PT
Telephone: (01536) 760667.
3.1.2 The Diocesan Children’s Officer appointed at the present time is:
Mr Richard Pestell
The Diocesan Office, The Palace, Peterborough, PE1 1YA
Telephone: (01604) 887045.
3.1.3 The administration of vetting leaders and helpers for St Giles Church
and the keeping of confidential documents at the present time is carried out
by:
Mrs Pat Watkin, 69 Roman Way, Desborough, NN14 2QL.
3.1.4 The church will appoint a person, who may be different from the
co-ordinator, to be a children’s advocate; this will be someone whom
children know they can talk to about any problems, if they so wish.
4 Good practice principles
4.1.1 Confidentiality -
Confidentiality must be strictly observed. No cases of alleged, suspected,
disclosed or discovered abuse of any kind shall be discussed other than with
the designated people given authority in this document.
4.1.2 Appointing volunteer children and young people workers -
All leaders and helpers must complete the necessary Diocesan Declaration
form, supply references, submit themselves to Registration and to an
enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. At the present time CRB checks
are repeated every five years.
4.1.3 More than one adult -
At all times there must be more than one adult per group. If the group
comprises members of both sexes it is desirable that there should be adults
of both sexes present too.
It is recommended that:
(a) At least two adults (18+) to be present with a child or group of
children.
(b) Children must be adequately supervised.
(c) The following ratio of children to leaders provides a useful guide.
0-2yrs 1 adult for every 3 children
2-3yrs 1 adult for every 4 children
3-8yrs 1 adult for every 8 children
8-18yrs 1 adult for every 10children
4.1.4 Visibility -
Work with children will only be carried out alone and out of sight in very
exceptional circumstances. If confidentiality requires a one-to-one
situation then other leaders must be informed of what is to take place
before it happens.
4.1.5 Administration -
(a) Parental consent for a child or young person to attend a particular
activity is needed.
(b) A contact number is required in case of emergency
(c) Further parental consent is needed if children are taken off the
premises.
(d) The telephone number of Childline will be displayed in the Community
Centre.
An up-to-date Register shall be maintained of each child’s personal details
and contact information along with specific information (allergies, special
needs etc) and this shall be easily accessible in case of emergency. Also an
attendance Register shall be maintained. It is most important (because the
Law requires) that records, rotas and programmes are kept safely and
indefinitely (40 years minimum). They could be useful should any case be
investigated. The Church Secretary will keep all these records in a secure
place.
4.1.6 Young volunteers -
Volunteers under the age of 18 (e.g. Holiday Club helpers) should never work
unsupervised and should be given clear guidance and support.
4.1.7 Casual Visitors -
Casual visitors, who have not been vetted and authorised by the church to
work with children, should not have access to children without the presence
of an authorised adult at all times. A notice to this effect will be
permanently displayed in a prominent place.
5 Activity Standards
All Leaders and helpers will conform to the following
practices:
5.1.1 Treat all children with respect and dignity befitting their age.
5.1.2 Learn to control and discipline children without using physical
punishment.
5.1.3 Take care with language, tone of voice and where they put their body.
5.1.4 Never make sexually suggestive comments to or about a young person,
even in fun.
5.1.5 Never ridicule or reject a child or make them a scapegoat.
5.1.6 Will not take part in any sexually provocative games.
5.1.7 Will not let children involve them in excessive attention seeking that
is overtly sexual or physical in nature.
5.1.8 Will not invite a child to their home alone.
5.1.9 Will not give lifts to children alone in their car, other than for the
shortest of journeys, and then must ensure that they sit in the back of the
car.
5.1.10 Will not invade the privacy of children.
5.1.11 Touch: While touch is an important part of human relationships and
can be a natural way of responding to someone in distress, those who work
with children must be conscious that their actions, however well intended,
could be misconstrued by others.
6 Colleagues
6.1.1 Anyone who is worried about the behaviour of
another member of the congregation or the demeanour of a child has a duty to
voice those concerns to the person designated to co-ordinate child
protection in the parish or organisation or directly to the diocesan child
protection adviser. If the concerns are about a prominent member of the
congregation or someone in a position of leadership, this can lead to
considerable anxiety, however doing nothing could result in the continuing
harm of a child. It is important that anyone expressing concerns should be
respected and his or her anxieties taken seriously. Anyone formally hearing
a complaint should keep a careful record of all conversations and all
decisions and actions taken. These records should be kept in a secure place
and in accordance with data protection requirements.
7 Health and Safety
7.1.1 The Church Council seeks to maintain the
building where children’s work takes place so it is warm, safe and
accessible with an adequate first aid kit, fire extinguishers and insurance
cover. An accident report book will be kept immediately available on the
premises.
7.1.2 Smoking will not permitted in the areas where children’s work takes
place.
7.1.3 A responsible adult must ensure that any child who may be susceptible
to danger is collected by a responsible adult at the conclusion of meetings.
8 If a child tells you about abuse
Only a proportion of abused children talk about their
experience while it is happening. It is therefore of vital importance that
disclosures from children are:
8.1.1 Listened to carefully, avoiding the use of leading questions;
8.1.2 Taken seriously;
8.1.3 Acted upon;
8.1.4 Carefully recorded as soon as possible and kept in a secure place.
Confidentiality should not be promised, as others will need to be involved
if the abuse is to stop.
If a child or young person speaks about being harmed physically, emotionally
or sexually by another person, whether an adult or another child, or if
signs of abuse are observed you must;
8.1.5 never speak directly to the person against whom allegations have been
made;
8.1.6 never attempt to investigation the situation yourself;
8.1.7 inform the person in the parish or diocese who is responsible for
child protection;
8.1.8 make a referral to the social services department seeking advice about
who else should be told, for example the parents;
8.1.9 continue to support the child and seek support for yourself;
8.1.10 make a record of what actions you have taken and keep it in a secure
place.
If a child needs immediate medical help this should be the first
consideration and the hospital staff informed of the child protection
concerns. If it would be dangerous or the child is unwilling to return home
the emergency social services should be contacted through the police.
If you are not certain that abuse has occurred you must still discuss the
concern with the appropriate person. It is always possible to discuss
concerns with the diocesan child protection adviser or social services
without disclosing the names of the people involved. If in doubt it is
always better to make a referral to social services rather than do nothing.
Any issue of possible child abuse concerning the church community must be
reported to the diocesan child protection adviser as soon as it becomes
known.
A child may make allegations about an adult who is not part of the church
community, for example a member of the family, a teacher, and a scout
leader. These matters must be referred to the social services and any
appropriate organisation – school, scout association, etc – must be
informed. The diocesan child protection adviser should be informed so that
advice and support can be offered.
(For details of Kinds of Abuse, see Appendix 1.
9 What to do (If any abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected)
9.1
(a) The well being of the child is paramount at all times
(b) If there is a concern of abuse by another child within the group it must
be reported immediately to one of the following> Leader>Co-ordinator>Vicar
or Minister, who will take advice from the relevant agency.
(c) If there is a complaint of abuse by a leader within the church community
to one of the following>Vicar or Minister>Diocesan Child Protection
Officer>Lead Agency
(d) If there is a complaint of abuse by the Vicar or Minister or a member of
the clergy team >Church Wardens>Diocesan Child Protection Officer>Lead
agency.
(e) If there is obvious concern about a child's well being, or of a child
complains of abuse outside the church organisation.>Vicar or
Minister>Diocesan Child Protection Officer>Lead agencies.
9.2 The Church Council has appointed a Child Protection Officer to act on
its behalf and who will seek advice regarding all allegations or suspicions
of abuse to the Diocesan Child Protection Officer and then will possibly
contact the statutory authorities (namely, the Police, Social Services and
the NSPCC – called ‘The Lead Agencies’). (See
Appendix 2 for subsequent procedures.)
10 If an allegation is made against a church worker
Once a concern has been identified that a child may have been harmed by a
member of the church community, and a referral has been made to the
statutory authorities, it is important to liaise closely with them during
any investigation. This is always a difficult time and needs to be carefully
managed. It is the responsibility of the diocesan child protection adviser
to co-ordinate the diocesan response, attend strategy meetings with the
other agencies and interested parties and work with them during the
investigation. The Vicar or Minister will be responsible in consultation
with the diocesan child protection adviser to co-ordinate support in the
parish.
The highest degree of confidentiality should be maintained and only the
people who need to know should be informed of the circumstances. The
diocesan communications officer should manage all media relationships.
11 Bellringers
In addition to this document there is the further ‘St
Giles Bellringers Child Protection Policy’. The two documents together
comprise the official policy and procedures of St Giles Anglican and
Methodist Church, Desborough.
12 Choir
(a) Any young people who are members of the church
choir must have permission to attend practice and activities involving
visits to events or festivals.
(b) There must always be at least two adults in attendance at practice when
children are present.
(c) All other issues concerning choir activities, when children are in
attendance must follow policy guidance.
13 Organisations using the Church Building/Hall
(a) Clear notices will be displayed in church and on
the notice board to state the church has a child protection policy in place.
(b) The golden rule will be displayed and a warning that only authorised
leaders and helpers will be allowed access to children's groups meeting on
the church premises.
(c) Visiting groups will be made aware of the policy and expected to have
the correct ratio of adults to children.
(d) They should be aware of health and safety issues in the building and
their responsibilities where children are present.
(e) Groups meeting under the name of another organisation (i.e.) Uniformed,
Pre school, Ti Chi etc must operate within their own Child Protection/Safe
from Harm Guidelines.
14 The church undertakes to operate in
accordance with the Diocese’s Policy Statement regarding the recruitment of
ex-offenders.
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