safeguarding policy

1. Introduction

2. Accessibility and Inclusion

We are fully committed to the nurture, protection and safekeeping of every child, young person and vulnerable adult and we recognise that we have people within those categories who will need extra assistance to help them feel included and cared for within the church family.

We make every effort to make our children’s work accessible to children with a variety of needs.  We liaise with parents to provide support for the child’s individual needs which enables them to access our children’s work in a way that ensures both parent and child are happy and confident.  Our building is equipped for disabled access.

Should you wish to discuss your child’s needs, please contact 01962 840800 or email bsk@winfam.org.

We very much value the input of parents and therefore would invite you to come along and get involved in the group your child/young person is part of.

3. Safeguarding Policy

           Co-ordinator - Pauline Athill                     Deputy Co-ordinator - Marianne Foster 

023 8025 2441                                                    01962 627070

4. Working within the Children’s and Youth Activities

There are plenty of opportunities for members to become involved in working alongside us in our children and youth activities.  There are a wide range of areas that we need help with, so there will be a place for you to serve using your gifts, skills and availability.

All people volunteering to serve in this way, whether or not they are parents, are asked to go through an application process prior to working within the children’s/youth work.  This reflects current governmental recommendations, which as a church we have adopted in order to create a safe environment for all.

If you are a parent, you will hopefully be reassured to know that no-one is allowed to work within the children’s/youth activities until they have passed all the application checks. 

We have named “recruiters” for the children’s/youth work and they are here to assist you and make the application process as swift and easy as possible. The recruiters are:

• Jenny Cann
• Marianne Foster
• Pauline Athill

These “recruiters” have all been passed by the Criminal Records Bureau to view and witness documents that confirm a volunteer’s identity.

5. The Application Process

a) All volunteers aged 16 years and over are asked to complete and sign:

“Children and Youth Worker Serving Form”
“Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure Application Form”

These applications can be obtained via the Information Desk at the MBC or the church office in Stanmore Lane.

b) Volunteers under the age of 16 are asked to complete and sign a “Children and Youth Worker Serving Form” only.  Upon reaching the age of 16 years the volunteer will then be asked to complete an “Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure Application Form”.

c) The Serving Form will ask the volunteer which age group they are interested in working in and for any previous experience or training they have of working with children and/or young people.

If a person has no previous experience this does not exclude them, as there are plenty of areas to assist and learn in.  Our desire is to play to each person’s strengths and help us all to develop and learn in whatever area of serving we volunteer for.

In line with current government recommendations references are taken up from the volunteer’s employer, Community Group Leader and/or Community Group Supervisor, and where appropriate, from their previous church.

d) All forms are then passed to one of the Winchester Family Church named recruiters, together with all relevant ID.  The recruiter will view the ID and hand it all back there and then.  Please do not post any ID to a recruiter.  The recruiters are only allowed to accept top copies of ID not photocopies.

e) Once the application process has been completed a group leader will contact the volunteer for a discussion to facilitate his/her becoming part of a specific team.

NB. All children and youth workers will be asked to apply for a renewal of their Criminal Record Bureau certificates every three years.

The recruiters follow a strict code of conduct with regard to the storage and disposal of all confidential information.  Winchester Family Church is a data controller in terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.

6. Starting Work within the Children and Youth Activities

All new volunteers receive an induction and training period whilst they find their feet.  The group leader is there to offer ongoing help and support to each worker within their team.

7. Training

Every volunteer working within the children/youth activities is asked to attend training on the subject of safeguarding/child protection.  If you are a parent this training is also relevant and available to you whether or not you help in your child’s/young person’s activities within Winchester Family Church.  The training covers such areas as: 

• Working in a safe and accountable way with children/young people
• Listening and responding to children and young people who want to talk about abuse
• Understanding different kinds of abuse
• Recognising signs and symptoms of possible abuse
• Following clear procedures where there is possible abuse
• Guidelines on physical contact
• Guidelines on praying and ministering to children/young people

8. Registration Forms

9. Additional Guidance for Children/Youth Workers

Links to downloadable documents and forms are shown below in orange.

An “Additional Guidance” booklet is issued to all Children/Youth Workers.  A copy of this is available upon request to the Information Desk or can be downloaded here and covers the following areas:

    
• Accident and Incident Guidelines
• Adult to Child Ratios
• Anti Bullying Policy
• Communicating Safely Guidelines
• Discipline Guidelines
• Filming and taking Photographs – Guidelines
• Filming and taking Photographs – Parental Consent Form
• Off Site Visits and Activities – Parental Consent Form
• Physical Contact Guidelines
• Praying and Ministering with Children & Young People – Guidelines
• Recognising Possible Signs of Abuse
• Special Needs and Disabilities

Additional Documentation:

• Accident and Incident Report Form

• Registration Form

• Risk Assessment Form

• Swimming Parental Consent Form

We trust that as you have read through this, you have gained a flavour of our intention for the love of God to flow throughout the ministry of Winchester Family Church to our children and young people, to safeguard each child and young person in a way that is both caring but also releasing.  We want to work in partnership with parents and carers, to see each child and young person grow into the person God created them to be and in turn to release their gifts to Christ, His Body and the world around them.

These guidelines together with “Safeguarding – Additional Guidance for Children and Youth Workers” and “Safeguarding – Additional Guidance for Elders, Trustees and Senior Leaders” make up the Winchester Family Church Safeguarding Policy.

These Guidelines are based on a safeguarding policy model supplied by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service.

A copy of each of these guidelines has been filed with CCPAS and Winchester Social Services. These guidelines must not be copied by other churches/organisations without the written agreement of Winchester Family Church and CCPAS. (CCPAS, P O Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ)

CCPAS can be contacted via its website: www.ccpas.co.uk  or by telephoning 0845 120 45 50

Issue: April 2009