The Parish of Wanstead, St Mary with Christ Church

Registered Charity No: 1127753

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

The Parish of Wanstead recognises the importance of its ministry to children and young people and its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people entrusted to the Church’s care.

This policy is for the various groups: Nursery Church, Sunday School, Young People’s Group, Signpost, Choir, Bellringers, Servers and any other Parish groups with members under the age of 18.

If you have any concerns for a child/young person in relation to any child protection matter then speak to the Child Protection Nominated Person or the incumbent for advice about what to do, see appendix for contact details.  A copy of the Diocesan Child Protection Policy is available in both churches if you would like to refer to it.  It can be found on the diocesan website: www.chelmsford.anglican.org/children/childprotectionpolicy.pdf

Mission Statement

As part of its mission the Church is committed to:

-      Valuing, listening to and respecting children and young people as well as promoting their welfare and protection

-      Safe recruitment, supervision and training for all the children’s/youth workers within the church

-      Adopting a procedure for responding to concerns about possible abuse

-      Encouraging and supporting parents/carers

-      Supporting those affected by abuse

-      Giving pastoral support to those who have abused

-      Making links with statutory childcare authorities and other organisations as required

Church Policy

The Parish of Wanstead recognises the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children and young people.  It also acknowledges that children and young people can be the victims of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect and that some children abuse others.  This PCC has therefore adopted the procedures set out in this Policy with references to the Diocesan Child Protection Policy.  If and when required, the Nominated Person, with support from the PCC, will work with statutory agencies and other organisations.

This Parish will follow the guidelines in the Diocesan Child Protection Policy when recruiting new volunteers and employing people to work with children and young people.  For safe recruiting guidance please refer to Section 9 and CRB checklist section 11 in the Diocesan Child Protection Policy.

All regular adult volunteers will complete an enhanced CRB application form, complete the Confidential Disclosure Form and supply names for references to be taken up.  Clearance from the CRB is required before the individual can begin working with children/young people.  Rechecking the CRB clearance will take place when advised by the Diocesan Child Protection Advisor. 

This Parish is committed to ongoing child protection training for all children’s/youth workers.  Each person working with children/young people must attend child protection training, organised by the Parish, at least once every 2 years.  Evidence of recent training from other suitable agencies may be accepted.

Anyone under the age of 18 cannot be counted in the ratio as a helper and should never be left in charge of a group of children.

In Nursery Church at Christ Church a parent or carer stays in the group and takes full responsibility for the wellbeing of their child or children.  At St. Mary’s a parent or carer stays with a child under 5 years old and takes full responsibility for the wellbeing of their child or children.

All the Sunday groups provide age appropriate worship:

St. Mary’s:  Sunday School to 11 years

Christ Church:  Nursery Church for children under 5 and their parent/carer. 

                            Sunday School for children rising 5 to 7

                            Young People’s Group 7+ to 11+

The adult/child ratios are as follows:               0-2 years require 1 adult to every 3 children

                                                            2-3 years require 1 adult to every 4 children

                                                                                     3-5 years require 1 adult to every 6 children

                                                                                      5 years+  require 1 adult for every 8 children

Signpost:  11+ to 14 years.  For residential and off site activities three adults are required to supervise a group of up to 20 young people with one more adult for every additional 10.  The adults should include men and women.

There must always be at least 2 adults responsible for any group.  If insufficient adults are available the group will not run.

Each group has enrolment forms for parents/carers to complete when children join a group.  The forms include a request for information about any individual additional needs. Parents/carers will be given information about the group timings, drop off and collection procedures relevant to the age of the child.  Helpers will be given information sheets about group procedures and responsibilities and any significant information about individual children.  All groups must keep registers of children attending.  Registers and information about individual needs will be kept securely.

Risk assessments for all the regular children’s activities have been done and appropriate safeguards have been identified and described in agreed procedures.  Risk assessments will be reviewed annually.  All leaders and volunteer helpers will be required to follow the agreed procedures to ensure the safety of the children.  They will supervise the behaviour of the children.  Any behaviour which is harmful to other children will be drawn to the attention of the parent/carer. 

Responding to allegations of abuse

The first concern must be to ensure the immediate safety of the child. 

Under no circumstances should a church worker carry out their own investigation into the allegation or suspicion of abuse, whether the allegation is made about someone attending Church or from elsewhere.

The person in receipt of the information should do the following:

-      Write down what you have been told or seen as quickly as possible after the incident.  Sign and date the notes.  Do not add your thoughts or feelings.  This record must be as factual and accurate as possible.  Use the words expressed by the individual. Keep any relevant picture or writing done by the child.

-      DO NOT question the child/young person to obtain more information

-      Be clear that you cannot keep information secret and may need to share information with others in the interest of the child.

-      Inform the Nominated Person as soon as possible.  If the Nominated Person is not available speak to the incumbent or to a church warden (providing the allegation is not against that person). 

-      If an allegation is made against anyone in the Church (including the incumbent) DO NOT speak to that person about the allegation.

-      Suspicions must not be discussed with anyone other than the Nominated Person, incumbent or church warden.

-      Notify the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser as soon as possible after the incident and whenever a referral is made to Social Services or the Police.

The role of the Nominated Person is to collate and clarify the precise detail of the allegation or suspicion and pass this information to Social Services and the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser.  It is Social Services’ task to investigate the matter under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989.  Guidance on taking action is found in Section 3 of the Diocesan Child Protection Policy.  It is good practice for the Nominated Person to inform the parents unless they are implicated in the allegation.

Children’s Activities

Regular Sunday activities will be conducted as described in the agreed procedures.  Any planned activities must follow the good practice and health & safety guidelines contained in the Diocesan Child Protection Policy (Section 8) for activities on and off church premises.  The adult/child ratio must be observed (Section 8.2).  Parental permission when required must be given in written form.  Risk assessments will be done for all outings and occasional activities.

Working with offenders

Where a known offender is in the Parish, a written agreement must be in place outlining what this person is able to take part in and what is not suitable for them to take part in.  The incumbent, a churchwarden, Child Protection Adviser and the Nominated Person will be required to monitor this situation.  There will be regular meetings with the individual to establish that the agreement is being adhered to.

Support for those who have been abused

Pastoral care and working with statutory agencies as appropriate should be offered to these individuals.  If it is not possible to offer this support the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser must be informed to establish pastoral support from another source.

Hire of Church Hall/s

The incumbent will inform regular hirers of the church hall/s for children’s activities (by letter) of their duty to the children in their care.

This Parish Child Protection Policy was endorsed by the PCC on 3^rd February 2011 and will be reviewed annually.

Every adult working with children on behalf of this parish must have a copy of this policy.

                  The Parish of Wanstead, St Mary with Christ Church

Registered Charity No: 1127753

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Appendix

Contacts