St. Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath & St. Mary Magdalene's Church, Appleton
Policy on the safeguarding of children and adults in the Church
St. Thomas' Church, Stockton Heath and St. Mary Magdalene's Church, Appleton are committed to promoting good, safe practice in work with children. Both churches adopt the guidelines of the Church of England and the Diocese of Chester and both work within a Child Protection Policy that has been agreed by the Parochial Church Council. All Church groups which include children (i.e. anyone under the age of 18) follow this policy.
The Parochial Church Council wishes to encourage the use of our facilities by non-church groups and is concerned to ensure that all activities involving children are organised by adults who have appropriate experience and, where necessary, relevant qualifications.
In line with this aim, it is a condition of letting any of our facilities to other groups that they operate within a Child Protection Policy. Such groups may be part of an "umbrella" organisation which already has its own Child Protection Policy and, in such cases, the Parochial Church Council will need to be satisfied that their policy is in line with that of the Church. When groups, which are not part of such a wider organisation, use our facilities, the Parochial Church Council wishes to be satisfied that they are operating within the following framework of good policy and practice. This applies to both children's groups and "all-age" groups. It is important to recognise that such a policy serves to protect adults, as well as children.
Principles
Ø All children will be treated fairly, taken seriously and respected as individuals.
Ø The safety and well-being of children is of paramount importance.
Ø The highest standards of care will be maintained in all recreational, educational, counselling and pastoral situations.
Ø Adults who work with children must foster relationships of the utmost integrity, truthfulness and trustworthiness.
Ø It is the responsibility of everyone to prevent the physical, emotional, sexual, financial and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that is discovered or suspected.
Ø Any allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and appropriate steps taken.
Safeguarding Coordinators
The parish has two coordinators
· For St Thomas’, Mrs Sheila Barton
· For St Mary Magdalene’s, Mrs Melanie Wilson
· The Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators can be contacted on Tel 01925 214709. They both work with the incumbent and the parochial church council (PCC) to implement policy and procedures. The co-ordinators ensure that any concerns about a child, or the behaviour of an adult are appropriately reported both to the statutory agencies and to the Diocesan Vulnerability and Safeguarding Office. The Parish safeguarding coordinator(s) will take a lead role in processing if needed the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures for all employees of the parish and volunteers.
Children’s Advocates
The PCC has appointed Children’s Advocates to whom children can be directed if they wish to talk about any concerns;
· For St Thomas’, Mrs Brenda Speed
· For St Mary Magdalene’s, Mrs Jenny Corroboy
Leaders/Group organisers
Ø The significant leader/organiser of the group will be asked to complete a form giving relevant personal details, a summary of related experience, and a declaration of criminal convictions. Please note: the declaration of criminal convictions is confidential and will only be seen by the vicar. The Parochial Church Council will also require the names and addresses of 2 referees who will support a request to operate such a group in our premises.
Ø It is the responsibility of the leader to check that other adults involved in the group have the appropriate background and experience.
Ø The PCC will require written confirmation from hirers that they have public liability cover for their activities whilst the church premises are being hired. Individuals hiring the premises for a private function should check with their household insurers to ensure the public liability cover would extend to the planned event
Creating a safe environment
Staffing of groups
Ø There must be a minimum of 2 adults present at meetings.
Ø Guidance accompanying the Children Act 1989 recommends the following
adult:child ratios
· For 0-2 year olds-1 leader to every 3 children
· For 2-3 year olds-1 leader to every 4 children
· For 3-8 year olds-1 leader to every 8 children
· For over 8s-1 leader for the first 8 children, and then 1 additional leader for
· every 12 additional children
·
Ø It is advisable that in mixed sex groups there should be leaders of both sexes.
During a session
Ø In planning the activities of the group leaders must give the highest priority to issues of safety. Particular care must be taken if using the kitchen.
Ø Leaders must plan their work to minimise the opportunities when an adult is alone with a child or small group of children. This is for the protection of adults, as well as
children.
Ø Leaders must plan the beginning and end of meetings to avoid groups of children
waiting outside the building unattended. Children must not be left in the building
unattended.
Ø Children should not be out of sight (e.g. at the toilet) without a leader's knowledge.
Leaders must be aware of how long children are out of the room, and check if they
have been away for an unreasonably long time.
Ø Leaders must take responsibility for ensuring that the main entrance is safe throughout the meeting, i.e. no child could get out, or a stranger gets in, without the leaders' knowledge.
Ø Leaders must be aware of what is appropriate and inappropriate physical contact with children, and be alert to situations in which their actions, however well-intentioned, could be harmful or be misconstrued by others. Corporal punishment of any kind must never be used.
Emergencies
Ø Leaders should be aware of fire procedure, and have agreed a drill for evacuating the
Building. There is a strict No Smoking Policy in both our churches and church hall.
Ø An accident book is available. All accidents should be recorded in this book, with a
note of the action taken.
Ø A basic first aid kit is available and leaders should check its location.
Ø A telephone should be available for emergency use.
Ø Groups which hire church premises are responsible for arranging their own liability
insurance.
Action for Dealing with Reports of Abuse
The following procedures are designed to support dealing with disclosures of abuse that may arise in the course of work with children, young people and vulnerable adults
Ø Make it clear that you cannot be asked to keep a secret
Ø Listen to the child or young person, let them express their views and feelings without
Ø interruption, accept what they are saying
Ø Reassure the child or young person that they have done the right thing in telling
Ø someone
Ø Explain that you will need to pass this information on
Ø Write down the exact words which are used by the child or young person. Make notes of what was said using the child or young person’s words whenever
Possible.
Ø Speak to the Parish Priest or parish safeguarding officers
Ø Refer to the Inter - Diocesan Child Protection Adviser ( Pauline Butterfield on 07703 800 031)
Ø If the subject of the allegation is the Parish Priest contact the Archdeacon or Diocesan Child Protection Adviser (The Bishop cannot be involved as per Clergy Discipline Measure)
Ø Be prepared to refer to the Local Safeguarding Children Services.
All of the following places will have experienced people who will listen to what you have to say and advise you on what you need to do:
Warrington Children’s Duty and Assessment Team 01925 443400
Warrington Out of Hours Service 01925 444400
Warrington Police 01925 652222
If any of the above are contacted inform the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser,
(Pauline Butterfield on 07703 800 031)
DO NOT
Ø Show shock or disbelief
Ø Agree to keep the disclosure a secret
Ø Make a promise or suggestion that you can stop the abuse
Ø Ask questions seeking further detail – you risk contaminating evidence
Ø Investigate any allegation - specially trained professionals undertake this role
Ø Contact the alleged perpetrator
Ø Make any statement or comment to the press
DO NOT INVESTIGATE ANY ALLEGATION
REMEMBER: YOU DO NOT INVESTIGATE
The Parochial Church Council will review its Child Protection Policy every year. All relevant changes will be notified to groups who have hired our premises. A copy of the church's Child Protection Policy is available on request.
If you have any further questions about the policy, contact the Vicar at 12 Melton
Avenue, Walton, Warrington, WA4 6PQ,
Or the Safeguarding Co-ordinator for St Thomas’, Mrs Sheila Barton
the Safeguarding Co-ordinator for St Mary Magdalene’s, Mrs Melanie Wilson
See appendix for further details
ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Safety
Background
In recent years the huge increase in the use of, and accessibility to, different types of information and communication technology (ICT) has created more effective and speedier methods of connecting with each other and introduced new ways in which to transmit information. However, along with the positive implications of these new communication technologies, we also find ourselves aware of how they can be misused, particularly in working with children and young people. Today 41% of children aged 8-11 regularly use the internet, and over 75% of 11 year olds have their own television, games console and mobile phone. These proportions have increased over the years and it has become the norm for our children and young people to own mobiles, be extremely computer literate and to own their own part of cyberspace, whether that is through a social networking
site or having their own webpage. It is unsurprising that they would want to use these new and very accessible methods of ICT in order to contact their peers, family and those who work with them through church activities so, as the Church, we have a responsibility to communicate professionally, accountably and effectively with the children and young people we serve through these methods. In light of the recent tragic events involving cyber bullying and grooming through Facebook in the news, this document is intended to increase awareness and understanding of information and communication technology and thereby creating a greater sense of accountability in our use of it. We seek to place the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults at the very highest level.
General protocols for ICT communication
Ø Consent should be obtained by leaders from the parents or guardians of any young people or children with whom they wish to communicate through ICT.
Ø Clear and unambiguous language should be used. Many abbreviations are currently used which are open to misinterpretation, for example “lol” could mean “laugh out loud” or “lots of love”. Nuance and tone in communication can sometimes be hard to read, so ensure that language is clear and not open to misunderstanding.
Use of emails and Instant Messenger (IM)
Ø When using emails and IM, such as MSN, in communicating with children and young people, ensure that the general protocols for ICT communication should be taken into account.
Ø Another leader should always be copied into all emails which are sent to children and young people to ensure accountability. If no other appropriate adult within the parish is available to be accountable, then a suitable substitute should be found such as the parish priest or churchwarden.
Ø There should be an agreed length of time for a conversation with a child or young person through instant messaging, and an agreed curfew when no communication should take place, for example between 10pm and 7am.
Ø Log all conversations in a text/Word file and ensure that it is saved in a specific area on your computer. At the beginning of each IM conversation, you should inform the child or young person with whom you are communicating that the content of your conversation will be saved.
Mobile Phones
Ø When using mobile phones in communicating with children and young people, you should ensure that the general protocols for ICT communication should be taken into account.
Ø If a child or young person owns a phone, it is possible that parents may not wish leaders to know the number, so it is important to obtain consent to contact their child on that particular number or on any other mobile number given.
Ø Where possible, use group rather than individual texting.
Ø As with emailing and use of IM, ensure that your language is not open to misinterpretation and avoid using emoticons or abbreviations that could be misunderstood.
Ø Any text messages that are received which cause concern should be saved and passed to your Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator(s)
Ø Most mobile phones now come with built in digital cameras. As with all cameras used by leaders you should ensure you have parental consent to take and use photographs taken of children and young people.
Social Networking Sites (SNS)
Ø Sites such as Facebook, Bebo, MySpace and others create further issues which are not covered in previous sections. Again, guidance around consent, accountability, curfew and language should be followed in using social networking sites.
Ø It is recommended that on SNS, leaders should either have two profiles: one for personal use and the other for work use. Leaders should only accept “friend requests” from young people they know on their work profile. When using your work profile on any SNS, you should ensure that use of any IM/chat facility is restricted to emergency use only. Communication should be in the public domain wherever possible by using group mailing and public wall posts.
Ø Where groups are set up on SNS, they should be in a closed status and not open to the general public. Administrative rights to the group should be retained by the leader/s who should undertake regular moderation and evaluation of the group.
Ø Any content in conversations, wall posts or messages that causes concern should be saved, printed and passed onto your Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator(s)