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PCC Policies -
Child Protection
January 2000
(revised June 2003, currently being revised 2008)
[Policy]
[Responsibilities] [Applications]
[Guidelines] [What to do if...]
1. Introduction
This
policy is to enable the parish of Ordsall to be a safe place for all.
·
to protect
children
·
to respond
appropriately to any risk
·
to respond
appropriately to any indication of possible harm to children.
The
policy comprises:
·
A
statement of commitment
·
A
statement of responsibilities
·
A programme of
training
·
A
procedure for appointments
·
Guidelines
for action ~’What to d
o if ..’
·
A procedure for
review
The
policy applies to every member of Ordsall Parochial Church Council, and to all
its officers and work undertaken on its behalf.
2.
Policy
Ordsall
Parochial Church Council commits itself to ensure the physical, emotional and
sexual safety of everyone who has contact with the church, and especially of
children and young people.
Ordsall
Parochial Church Council commits itself to ensure that all its volunteers and
staff are able to respond appropriately to allegations of harm, or perceptions
of risk.
Ordsall
Parochial Church Council commits itself to make the welfare of children in its
care paramount.
2.
Responsibilities
The
PCC will appoint a Child Protection co-ordinator (or one for each church). The
coordinator will be the key person in the parish in respect of allegations or
suspicion of abuse or 4rm.
The
churchwardens will be responsible (with the clergy, PCC, and volunteers) for
physical safety in the church’s buildings, including First Aid provision.
All
members of the PCC share a responsibility to maintain and review this policy and
its implementation; and to maintain appropriate insurance.
A child is anyone
under the age of 18.
3.
A programme of
training
An
annual programme of training and review of child protection procedures will be
established. A meeting will be held between January and Easter each year.
All
members of the PCC, and all volunteers working on behalf of the PCC, will be
required to participate in this programme; and the programme will be put on in a
manner which makes it possible for everyone to attend.
The
initial session (2000) will seek to ensure that everyone concerned is fully
aware of the parish’s policy, and will seek to address questions of “what to do if...”
4.
Procedure for appointments
Appointments
of people working with young people on behalf of the PCC will be made in
accordance with good practice set out in the Diocesan policy Children & Young People First.
5.
Guidelines for action ‘What
to do if..’
Guidelines
will be prepared to help church members and volunteers think through appropriate
responses to situations of risk, and indications of abuse.
A
booklet containing the guidelines will be put in each church, and will be
brought to the attention of the stewards in particular, and to the whole
congregation in general.
6.
Procedure for review
Each
year the policy will be reviewed and amended in the light of experience.
Revisions of the Diocesan Children &
Young People First policy will also be incorporated as appropriate in the
parish’s policy.
Those concerned with children in the church have a responsibility to keep
the policy under constant review, and to suggest any amendments to the Child
Protection co-ordinator.
The
annual training session will include amendments, and seek improvements, which
will be put to the PCC for approval at its meeting following the Annual General
Meeting.
2.
Statement of responsibilities
The Child Protection
co-ordinator
•
to be the key person in responding to any indication of child abuse
•
to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of reporting procedures in case of
allegation of abuse
•
to maintain awareness of, and contact with, Diocesan child protection
staff.
•
to support those who have reported allegations of abuse
•
to keep the parish policy under review, co-ordinating proposed
amendments, and commending them to the PCC as appropriate
to
play a central role in the annual training of PCC members and volunteers
PCC
•
to set out, maintain, and review this policy and its implementation
•
to ensure that everyone concerned is fully informed of this policy and of
their responsibilities under it.
•
to provide all volunteers and staff with clear job descriptions and
appropriate support.
•
to assess risk, and to respond appropriately to any identified potential
physical, emotional or sexual harm; and to allegations of such harm.
•
to maintain appropriate insurance.
Churchwardens
•
to take all necessary steps to ensure the physical, emotional and sexual
safety of everyone who has contact with the church.
•
to ensure (with the clergy, PCC, and volunteers) that this policy is put
into practice and kept under review.
Screening Committee
•
to obtain references for potential volunteers
•
to decide whether an individual may work with children on behalf of the
PCC
•
to maintain records in confidence
•
to maintain a list of approved persons and submit them annually to the
PCC.
Sunday School Leaders
and Assistants, and all
those working directly with children on behalf of the PCC
•
to understand and implement the PCC policy on child protection
•
to keep an eye out for possible revisions of the policy, and to suggest
them to the Child Care co-ordinator
Other people who may work with children
These
include:
clergy
organists choirmaster
bell ringers handbell ringers
•
to understand and implement the PCC policy on child protection
•
to participate in annual training and review
3. Application
procedure
For everyone who works
with children on behalf of the PCC the following procedure shall apply:
1.
Applicants will be asked to complete an application form (in accordance
with the ‘Volunteer Helper’s Form of the Diocesan policy).
2.
References will be taken up.
3
Page one of the application form will be confidential to the
screening group, and kept at the rectory.
4.
A decision will be made by the Screening Group as to the applicant’s
suitability to work with children on behalf of the PCC.
5.
The applicant will be informed in writing, of the decision. The letter
will include:
• Relevant
parts of the PCC’s policy,
• Job description and
statement of support where appropriate
• Encouragement
to speak to the child protection co-ordinator and
/ or clergy whenever appropriate (for example, when there is any
anxiety about a child, or about church practice).
6.
The child protection co-ordinator will seek to meet with each person
approved for work with children to discuss the policy.
7.
The Sunday School leaders (or others as appropriate) will be informed of
approval, and will be given page two of the application form.
8.
The information will be confirmed annually. The list of those authorised
will also be revised annually.
9.
A list of all those approved for work with children will be presented to
the PCC each year at its meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The PCC
may withdraw authorisation at any time.
Guidelines
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Listen carefully and take the child seriously
·
Take time.
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Reassure the child - it’s OK to tell.
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Make it clear you cannot keep this to yourself
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·
Don’t show shock
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Don’t ask them leading or probing questions
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Don’t
jump to conclusions or pass judgements
·
Don’t make promises you can’t keep
·
Don’t approach the alleged perpetrator
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Tell someone ......... even if you’re not sure if
there’s anything to worry about
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Tell Olwen Kerswill (Tel: 01777 862533) if you have
any concerns about a child.
·
Tell John Plumtree (Tel: 01302 530141) if you have any
concerns about physical safety or other aspects of safety in the church.
But whatever you do, don’t keep it to yourself.
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Record
·
Precisely what you have been told
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When and where you were told, and who else was
present
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Agree the record with the person telling you
(if appropriate)
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Sign it and date it
BUT: if you are not happy about
writing things down, then don’t hesitate, tell someone first.
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Write down as much as you know
of
·
date and frequency of abuse
·
the child’s name, date of birth, age,
gender, ethnicity
·
the child’s address/ whereabouts
·
any disability / special needs
·
parents’ names and addresses
·
other members of the family
·
other information: e.g. Nursery, GP
·
who you told and what you did
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Whoever
you tell will talk to you again within two weeks of you speaking to them
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What to do if …
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·
What you know about the child
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When you were told
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When you reported what you were told
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Who you told
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