THE SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Policy and Guidelines
1 Policy Statement
1.1 The Policy Statement of the Methodist Church on the Safeguarding of Children and Young People states:
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As the people of the Methodist Church, we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God’s purposes for everyone. We seek to safeguard all members of the church community of all ages. It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent physical, sexual or emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people.
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1.2 The minister, stewards and members of Patcham Methodist Church fully endorse this Policy Statement.
2 The Duty of Patcham Methodist Church
2.1 At Patcham we have significant contact with children and young people and their families through our Sunday and weekday activities. The first duty of our church is to provide a safe environment for these activities and for the children, young people and adults who take part in them. This includes the safety of the premises and equipment used in addition to the suitability of the leaders involved in organising the various activities. As part of this duty, we have appointed a Health and Safety Officer.
2.2 Our church must also be informed about and aware of the issues relating to Child Protection and be able to respond to situations which arise with the appropriate action and/or advice, offered responsibly and with compassion. A Church Safeguarding Officer has been appointed to develop and maintain good practice for all church members and helpers in dealing with children and young people and to liaise with the appropriate external agencies.
2.3 We are aware of the relevant resolutions of the Methodist Conference and their implications. To that effect:
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1 No-one who has been convicted of or has received a formal police caution concerning an offence against children as listed in the First Schedule of the Children & Young Persons Act 1933 shall work with children or young people in the life of our church.
2 No-one who has been convicted of or has received a formal police caution concerning sexual offences against children and young people shall be appointed to certain offices or functions within the life of our church.
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This applies to any office within the following categories:
| | Representational
| | Liturgical or Pastoral
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| | Membership of :- |
| | Church Council | | Worship Leaders |
| | Circuit Meeting | | Organists/choir leaders |
| | District Synod | | Pastoral visitors/class leaders |
| | Methodist Council | | Communion Stewards |
| | Methodist Conference | | Workers with children & young people |
2.4 Also included is any function or responsibility exercised on behalf of Patcham Methodist Church which involves:
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(a) lone access to the premises including keyholders;
(b) face to face contact with children and young people without the presence of another adult;
(c) carrying out duties off the church premises in circumstances in which the person concerned
may be seen as a representative of our church.
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2.5 We are already developing a system of pastoral care through which we can support both the abused and the abuser, without interfering in any judicial process. We are aware of the procedures recommended in the report “The Church and Sex Offenders” adopted by Conference 2000 and the need to draw upon professional expertise in delicate areas such as risk assessment.
2.6 We have a responsibility to educate and train our members to ensure good practice in work
with children and young people. This will enhance the Christian and social education offered to them and reduce the likelihood of abuse occurring.
3 Guidelines and Procedures for Good Practice
3.1 Good practice in working with children and young people includes working safely and following guidelines to reduce the likelihood of abuse. It also includes awareness of signs and suspicions of abuse and the ability to respond appropriately to the disclosure of physical, emotional & sexual abuse or neglect.
3.2 We have prepared our own guidelines and procedures for safe work with children and young people, having referred to the Methodist Church publication, Safeguarding: A policy for good practice in the care of children and young people.
3.3 In the event of abuse being suspected or disclosed, church workers will adhere to the following guidelines.
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(a) All information received will be taken seriously, recorded and reported to the Church Safe-guarding Officer.
(b) That information will then be referred to the appropriate agencies by the Church Safeguarding Officer.
(c) Workers must not themselves investigate or take direct action in cases of suspected abuse.
(d) The duty of a person working with children and young people is to prevent abuse and to report any abuse discovered, disclosed or suspected.
(e) Liaison with the Circuit Taking Care Group which keeps current lists of contacts in the local authority and other agencies will be maintained by our Church Safeguarding Officer.
(f) Children and young people with disability will not be regarded or treated in a different way when abuse is suspected. In the case of anyone with specific special needs, advice must be sought from the relevant agencies.
(g) If it is alleged that abuse has taken place on our church premises, or away from the premises but in connection with church based activities then, in addition to the procedures outlined in (a) to (f) above, the Chairman of the London SW Methodist District must be informed.
(h) When families move to other churches, careful consideration will be given and advice sought on what information relating to Child Protection issues it may be appropriate to pass on. Civil liberties issues must not be ignored.
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3.4 These local guidelines and procedures, including the detailed guidance contained in the Safeguarding.... document will be applied to every church event or activity which is arranged. They are intended to help and protect adults working with children and young people in addition to safeguarding those in our care.
4 Training
4.1 The initial training programme for everyone regularly involved in working with children and young people at Patcham Methodist Church has already been completed and will be continued and/or extended as needed to provide training for new workers and those helping on an infrequent basis.
5 Accountability and Review
5.1 Patcham Methodist Church will be held accountable for the quality and clarity of its policy guidelines and the effective implementation of procedures by the Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit Meeting.
5.2 This policy document will be reviewed and evaluated annually by the minister and church stewards before presentation to the Church Council for approval.
5.3 Contact with the Circuit Taking Care Group will be made through the Church Safeguarding Officer.
September 2003
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