Diocese of Oxford
Parish of Great Missenden with Ballinger and Little Hampden
Child Protection Policy Statement
September 2006
General
1. We are committed to implementing the House of Bishops’ Child Protection Policy ‘Protecting All God’s Children, and the diocesan procedures which are based on the Children Act 1989 and the Home Office Guidance ‘Safe From Harm’.
2. We are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of the children and young people within our church community.
3. We will carefully select and train ordained and lay ministers, volunteers and paid workers with children and young people, using the Criminal Records Bureau to check the background of each person.
4. We will respond without delay to every complaint made that a young person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed.
5. We will fully co-operate with statutory agencies during any investigation they make into allegations concerning a member of the church community.
6. We will seek to offer informed pastoral care to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse.
7. We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.
8. We have appointed a Parish Child Protection Representative; a Children’s Advocate; an Appointing Body to confirm the selection of people to undertake work with children or young people; and an Approved Parish Representative to verify the identity of applicants as part of the CRB process. The current holders of these offices are listed on the cover, and a copy will be placed on the Church Notice Board.
9. We will review this policy annually and, as part of this review, we will check that all our procedures are up to date and are being complied with.
Recruitment
10. This Parish is committed to the recognition of each person’s skills, experience and qualifications. We shall ensure that these are fully considered in the recruitment and appointment of paid staff and volunteers.
11. We shall follow the recruitment procedures recommended in the Diocesan Handbook. We shall formally commission new appointees and ask them to sign a Contract Agreement. The work of staff will be reviewed annually.
12. Information relating to CRB Disclosures will be treated as confidential and will be kept only by the Parish Child Protection Representative and the CRB Administrator. It will be passed only to those entitled to receive it.
13. We shall apply the procedures for recruitment as appropriate to existing staff and volunteers. We shall aim to do this by the end of December 2006.
Working with Children and Young People
14. A record will be kept of any children and young people under the age of 18 involved in church activities including children who work with the Bellringers and regularly attend the church crèche. Parents or guardians will be asked to complete a Registration Record for each child, and to sign a form giving Consent to the child’s attending the group. They will additionally be asked to give written consent to any activities or excursions away from church premises.
15. Group members who wish to remain after they are 18 may become helpers after the normal procedures for interview and CRB disclosure. Group members aged 16 and 17 who wish to act as helpers will follow the normal procedures except that no CRB checks will be undertaken.
16. A copy of the Child Protection Guide and of the Reminder of the Responsibilities of Church Workers will be given to all who work with children and young people. Additional copies will be kept in the Church Office, together with copies of the relevant forms.
17. The policy and procedures set out in the Diocesan Handbook will be followed, including staffing levels, support and training and the transport of children and young people.
18. Health and Safety regulations will be observed and checks on premises used by children and young people will be carried out at least once a year.
Reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse
19. Any suspicion, allegation or disclosure of child abuse will be reported to Social Services, after consultation with the Parish Child Protection Representative. The procedures in the Diocesan Handbook will be followed. The Handbook also sets out good practice for hearing a child abuse disclosure.
Use of church premises by external groups
20. When an external group uses one of our churches or the Oldham Hall, they will be asked to sign a booking form in which they undertake to observe the procedures in the Child Protection Guide and the Reminder of the Responsibilities of Church Workers or their own equivalent procedures.
Signed copy of this Policy
A copy of this Policy Statement, signed by the Rector and Churchwardens, is kept by the Child Protection Representative
1. We are committed to implementing the House of Bishops’ Child Protection Policy ‘Protecting All God’s Children, and the diocesan procedures which are based on the Children Act 1989 and the Home Office Guidance ‘Safe From Harm’.
2. We are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of the children and young people within our church community.
3. We will carefully select and train ordained and lay ministers, volunteers and paid workers with children and young people, using the Criminal Records Bureau to check the background of each person.
4. We will respond without delay to every complaint made that a young person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed.
5. We will fully co-
6. We will seek to offer informed pastoral care to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse.
7. We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.
8. We have appointed a Parish Child Protection Representative; a Children’s Advocate; an Appointing Body to confirm the selection of people to undertake work with children or young people; and an Approved Parish Representative to verify the identity of applicants as part of the CRB process. The current holders of these offices are listed on the cover, and a copy will be placed on the Church Notice Board.
9. We will review this policy annually and, as part of this review, we will check that all our procedures are up to date and are being complied with.
Recruitment
10. This Parish is committed to the recognition of each person’s skills, experience and qualifications. We shall ensure that these are fully considered in the recruitment and appointment of paid staff and volunteers.
11. We shall follow the recruitment procedures recommended in the Diocesan Handbook. We shall formally commission new appointees and ask them to sign a Contract Agreement. The work of staff will be reviewed annually.
12. Information relating to CRB Disclosures will be treated as confidential and will be kept only by the Parish Child Protection Representative and the CRB Administrator. It will be passed only to those entitled to receive it.
13. We shall apply the procedures for recruitment as appropriate to existing staff and volunteers. We shall aim to do this by the end of December 2006.
Working with Children and Young People
14. A record will be kept of any children and young people under the age of 18 involved in church activities including children who work with the Bellringers and regularly attend the church crèche. Parents or guardians will be asked to complete a Registration Record for each child, and to sign a form giving Consent to the child’s attending the group. They will additionally be asked to give written consent to any activities or excursions away from church premises.
15. Group members who wish to remain after they are 18 may become helpers after the normal procedures for interview and CRB disclosure. Group members aged 16 and 17 who wish to act as helpers will follow the normal procedures except that no CRB checks will be undertaken.
16. A copy of the Child Protection Guide and of the Reminder of the Responsibilities of Church Workers will be given to all who work with children and young people. Additional copies will be kept in the Church Office, together with copies of the relevant forms.
17. The policy and procedures set out in the Diocesan Handbook will be followed, including staffing levels, support and training and the transport of children and young people.
18. Health and Safety regulations will be observed and checks on premises used by children and young people will be carried out at least once a year.
Reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse
19. Any suspicion, allegation or disclosure of child abuse will be reported to Social Services, after consultation with the Parish Child Protection Representative. The procedures in the Diocesan Handbook will be followed. The Handbook also sets out good practice for hearing a child abuse disclosure.
Use of church premises by external groups
20. When an external group uses one of our churches or the Oldham Hall, they will be asked to sign a booking form in which they undertake to observe the procedures in the Child Protection Guide and the Reminder of the Responsibilities of Church Workers or their own equivalent procedures.
Signed copy of this Policy
A copy of this Policy Statement, signed by the Rector and Churchwardens, is kept by the Child Protection Representative
For the Parish
Parish Child Protection Representative and Children’s Advocate
Appointing Body
For CRB checks
Appointing Body Nominee
Approved Parish Representative
CRB administrator
Parish Child Protection Representative and Children’s Advocate
Appointing Body
For CRB checks
Appointing Body Nominee
Approved Parish Representative
CRB administrator
Margaret Gordon
Convened when needed; will include at least two people: the incumbent or a churchwarden, and the Child Protection Representative
Margaret Gordon
David Harris
John Martin
Key roles
The PCC of this Church agreed and adopted the following Policy on Child Protection at the meeting held on 19th September 2006
For a version of this document in A4 format, click here