Christ Church Gentleshaw, Diocese of Lichfield
Safeguarding Policies & Procedures: 2019
Safeguarding Policy - Children and Young People
The Parochial Church Council of Christ Church Gentleshaw, will take all reasonable care to ensure the safety of the children, young people and vulnerable adults for whom it bears responsibility.
“Protecting all God’s Children” has been produced by the House of Bishops and sets out the Child Protection Policy for the Church of England. A can be accessed online via www.lichfield.anglican.org
1.Mrs Susan Ball is our approved Safeguarding Co-ordinator for the calendar year 2019 and she is the point of contact through which concerns about child protection will be channelled.
2. She is responsible to the PCC for ensuring that these procedures are implemented.
3. The PCC will work towards adopting the recommendations of the House of Bishops as published in the Policy for Safeguarding Children Protecting All God’s Children (2010) and Promoting a Safe Church (2006)
4. The PCC will ensure full compliance with Health and Safety Guidelines.
5. All those engaged in our ministries with children and young people will work to ensure that children with special needs and from ethnic minorities will be integrated and protected within our church community.
6. The PCC is directly responsible for the following groups working with children and young people:
- Messy Church.
7.Validation
- Leaders working with children and young people must be aged 18 or over, under 18s may assist with leadership roles but must be supervised whenever possible by 2 adult leaders.
- Applicants will be required to complete the ‘Confidential declaration’ form provided by the Diocese of Lichfield.
- Applicants are required to be on the church electoral roll and to be active members of the church community, for at least 6 months before taking up a Youth leadership role.
- Before appointment or the continuation of any appointment, appointees may need to apply for and supply clearance from the Disclosure & Barring Service.
8. Only suitable and responsible people may become key holders in consultation with the PCC. Access and Usage of Church Buildings will be monitored as far as is reasonably possible.
9. Completed application and declaration forms will be confidential to and securely held by the Safeguarding Co-ordinator
10. The PCC will use the Disclosure & Barring Service for checking leaders’ criminal records where appropriate. This will be done via the Safeguarding Office, St Mary’s House, The Close, Lichfield. WS13 7LD
11. The PCC requires groups listed in 6 to provide, in writing, at least the following:
- A list of its current leaders and details of their roles, provision for training and support.
- When and where the group meets, its normal working pattern and the age range it covers.
12. The PCC require groups that are working with children and young people:
- To agree clear roles for leaders.
- Set up structures to train and support leaders in their roles.
- Agree statements of working practice.
- The following staff ratios will be observed;
- 0-2 yrs 1 person to every 3 children
- 2-3 yrs 1 person to every 4 children
- 3-8 yrs 1 person to every 8 children
- 8+ yrs 1 person to the first 8 children then an extra person for every next 12 children. There will be a minimum of 2 staff at any time with each group.
13. The PCC will provide leaders and those working in Safeguarding, access to guidance and training in the understanding of child/vulnerable adult abuse.
14. The PCC will issue clear guidelines for avoiding situations where children or young people could be in danger.
15. The PCC will publish on the notice boards at the back of the church, a copy of the Diocesan Safe Guarding Flow Chart. In addition, all validated leaders and key holders will be given a copy.
16. The PCC will carry public liability insurance and will insure all leaders and staff for personal accident. A registration form will be completed for all children and young people attending church activities and a register of attendance kept. Parent/carer consent forms will be required for all off site activities.
17. The PCC will implement a plan to annually monitor that procedures are being followed.
18. The PCC will make a copy of this policy and its procedures available, if requested, at The Archdeacon’s visitation.
19. This Policy and its procedures will be monitored by the Safeguarding Coordinator who will if necessary report to the PCC annually.
20. The PCC will review the policy and its procedures annually.
WHO TO CONTACT
Priest-in-Charge
Rev’d Lynn McKeon
Tel: 01543 670739
e-mail: lynn.mckeon@btinternet.com
Safeguarding Children Co-ordinator
Mrs Susan Ball
Tel: 01902 790814
e-mail ball331@btinternet.com
Church Wardens
Mrs Marion Tait - 01543 682701
Mr Alan Blank - 01543 671161
Diocese Adviser for Safeguarding
Mrs Kim Hodgkins
Emergency no. 07530 748056
If you have any serious concerns and you need to speak to a senior representative of the Church of England you can contact the
Archdeacon of Lichfield
St. Mary’s House, The Close, Lichfield WS13 7LD
Tel. Office 01543 306145 Home 01543 262492
Childline Tel. 0800 1111
Safeguarding Policy - Adults
1. We recognise that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives.
2. As members of this parish we commit ourselves to respectful pastoral care for all adults to whom we minister.
3. We commit ourselves to the safeguarding of people who may be vulnerable, ensuring their well-being in the life of this church.
4. We commit ourselves to promoting safe practice by those in positions of trust.
5. The parish commits itself to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people who may be vulnerable.
6. It is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical, emotional, sexual, financial and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
7. We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with people who may be vulnerable.
8. The parish is committed to supporting, resourcing, training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst people who may be vulnerable.
9. The parish adopts the guidelines of the Church of England and the Diocese.
10. Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this church.
11. This policy will be reviewed each year.
Guidelines for use of mobile phones, e-mail and social media with Children and Vulnerable Adults
1. Only the group leaders should contact young people/vulnerable adults.
2. Consent should be obtained from parents of children/young people.
3. Contact with group members should only be to pass on information about events, timings etc.
4. Messages should be clear that they are sent from the group leader and relate to the group.
5. Messages should not require a response unless clarification is needed.
6. Contact should not be made to individual members but to the whole group, or via the ‘official group’ on social networking.
7. Group leaders will not interact with young people/vulnerable adults outside the ‘official group’ unless they are related.
8. Messages should be sent between the hours of 9am and 9pm - The Priest-in-Charge should be informed of the need and give approval before the event or in the case of an emergency.
9. A record of all messages should be kept (to include date, time, content and recipients).
10. It is advised that group leaders do not show their personal phone number or address on their personal networking page.
11. It is acceptable to be ‘friends’ with 13+ yr olds on Social media but all interaction should be on a public wall or on shared group forums.
12. If you are in leadership you should be aware of the nature of the content that you post on your wall.