Child Protection Policy

For the Parishes of St Mary and St Anne, Moseley

In accordance with God’s Children: Our Diocese (Birmingham Diocese, November 2005) we are committed to:

The safeguarding, care and nurture of the children within our church community.
Careful selection and training of all volunteers and paid workers with children and young people using the Criminal Records Bureau, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.
Responding to complaints made, that a child or young person for whom we are responsible might have been harmed.
Fully co-operating with statutory agencies during any investigation they make into allegations concerning a member of the church community.
Offering informed pastoral care via the named Child Protection Co-ordinator to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse.
Caring for and supervising any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.

A. The Aims of this policy

The parishes of St Mary and St Anne, Moseley seek to demonstrate that in all our activities which include children and young people:

The welfare of children will be given first priority.
The spiritual welfare of children will be seen as particularly important.
Well informed professional standards of care will be demonstrated.
The procedures to protect children will be open and made clear to all.
The welfare of children will have priority over the interests of the establishment.

B. Recruitment Procedure

We therefore require all new and current volunteers or workers who come into contact with children and who may be acting in the name of the parish to:

Meet with the group co-ordinator to discuss the precise nature of the role and responsibilities being undertaken and agree to complete a CRB enhanced disclosure form issued via the Archdeacon’s office.
Sign a self-declaration form. (NB Both self declaration and CRB may need to be updated following guidelines due to come out in 2007.)
Provide for the incumbent the names and addresses of two referees from whom the incumbent will obtain references concerning suitability for undertaking this work. These references must be external to the Church. These forms and references will be stored in a secure place under the care of the incumbent.
Be prepared to undertake child protection training as provided by the parish or diocese and keep up to date with current guidelines.
Agree to work in accordance with this policy and the guidelines approved by the PCC.
Undertake a probationary period and review their work with the group co-ordinator on a regular basis.

Any person under the age of 18 that wishes to work with children or young people should sign a declaration form, which should be countersigned by a parent or guardian.

C. Guidelines for Running Groups

As a PCC we will ensure that:

Each group for children or young people draws up a document to be approved by PCC containing good practice guidelines for the running of the group. This document will include the following:
1. The name of the co-ordinator of the group.
2. A statement of the aims and intentions of the group.
3. A statement of the ratio of workers to children or young people in the group (ideally at least two per group).
4. The procedure for the arrival and departure of members of the group.
5. The procedure in the event of fire.
6. The procedure in the event of accident (including the location and use of the accident book).
7. Procedures for security of the group.
8. Reference to the procedure in the event of a suspicion, allegation, or report of abuse of a child or young person. (See Appendix 2)
9. How leaders and helpers are given support and opportunity for ongoing training and development both practical and spiritual.
Guidelines (Appendix 1) and training are provided for adults working with children and young people.
Procedures, good practice guidelines (Appendix 2) and training is given on the nature of child abuse and child protection.
In the case of groups using the church premises during the week, the following procedures are carried out:
1. All users groups will be made aware that the premises are covered by a child protection policy, and a copy of that policy made available to them.
2. If a group is sponsored by the church it is made clear that they fall directly within the policy. Any groups who have existing policies will be asked to present them to the incumbent.
3. Groups not sponsored by the church will be asked to present their child protection policy or equivalent before using the premises. However, “one off group bookings”, e.g. for a family celebration, may be allowed by the PCC.
There are appointed and trained two suitable members of the congregation to function as independent points of reference for a child or young person who has concerns about abuse or about the conduct of a worker in the church. The people appointed should, therefore not currently be working in any of the church groups for children or young people.
There is adequate insurance covering public liability.
This policy is made available and accessible to the whole congregation, including children and young people, and that copies of this policy and individual group procedures are placed in appropriate and accessible locations.
This policy is reviewed every year.

D. Support, Confession and Counselling

When a situation or allegation of abuse has been reported to social services or the police the following steps will be taken:

Advice will be sought from the Diocesan Child protection adviser.
The incumbent or Area Dean will take responsibility for ensuring that all those in close proximity to the situation including clergy and workers are helped to find the support that they need to handle their own feelings and act in a way which keeps the protection of the child as a priority.
Any support should be arranged so that the incumbent is not seen to be taking sides if a victim and alleged perpetrators come from within the same family, community or congregation.

The following steps will be taken in the event of a known abuser attending church:

Advice will be sought from the Diocesan Child protection adviser.
An agreement will be drawn up between the incumbent (or the Area Dean), the churchwardens and the abuser concerning areas of the life of the church in which he or she may not participate. This will include children’s and young people’s groups, the choir and the crèche. As part of this agreement they will be told not to enter a house in which children or young people are present and not to allow themselves to be alone with a child or young person at any time. Responsibility for ensuring that there is compliance with this agreement rests with the incumbent and the church wardens
The incumbent (or the Area Dean), in consultation with the Diocesan Adviser for Child protection will co-ordinate the provision of individual support for a survivor of abuse or an abuser/perpetrator within the congregation. He or she may themselves provide that support, or may ask another appropriate member of the clergy or congregation to provide this support. The support offered will be based upon the guidelines outlined in the Diocesan report Children and Young People (Appendices 3 and 4), and will require the formation of a relationship of stability, trust and confidentiality. Where appropriate, co-operation with any professional with responsibility for an abuser or victim of abuse may be necessary. The person offering such support will also themselves require a suitably qualified person outside the situation to provide them with help and support.
The incumbent or Area Dean in consultation with the Diocesan adviser for Child protection, will coordinate the provision of individual support for an alleged victim or alleged abuser within the congregation. He or she may themselves provide that support, or may ask another appropriate member of the clergy or congregation to provide this support.

With regards to confidentiality and confession, the guidelines from the House of Bishops Policy on Child Protection, 1999 will be followed (See Appendix 3).

Appendix 1: Guidelines for Working with Children and Young people

All who work with children and young people at St Mary’s and St Anne’s are committed to treating children with dignity and respect.

We do not allow:

Any form of physical punishment
Any form of physical restraint (except where the child’s behaviour may be a danger to themselves or another person in the group)
Verbal aggression
Sexist, racist or discriminatory comments
Children to be singled out and shown up in front of others

We expect workers to:

Treat each other with respect and ensure that their behaviour is acceptable at all times
Challenge unacceptable behaviour from their colleagues and bring it to the attention of the group co-ordinator
Treat children and parents as equals
Treat all children equally, regardless of age, gender, ability or cultural background.
To be aware of being alone with or touching a child and the implications and misinterpretations of these actions

Behaviour Policy

All workers are required to observe the guidelines above. This requires that children are treated with dignity and respect, are not physically punished and not denied full involvement with their group because of their behaviour.

We aim to encourage children to respect each other and to accept responsibility for their behaviour.

If a child were being particularly disruptive to the detriment of other children or the activity then they would be isolated from the group for a period not exceeding five minutes (but less for 3-5 year olds) in order to encourage them to calm down.

Should a child persist with disruptive behaviour then this would be discussed with the parent or carer and appropriate sanctions agreed.

Appendix 2: Child Protection Procedures.

You should undertake the following procedures immediately in the event of suspected abuse of a child, an allegation concerning abuse, or a child or young person discussing a situation of abuse with you.

Make an immediate and accurate record of any suspicions or conversations, recording exact dates, times and places, and using the actual language used by the child.
Inform immediately by telephone the group co-ordinator and the incumbent (or the Area Dean during an interregnum). Remember: any allegation could involve the group co-ordinator or the incumbent.
Report the situation immediately to social services, if possible and appropriate after consultation with the incumbent and the group co-ordinator.
Provide for the incumbent written confirmation of all telephone conversations, and the record of any suspicions concerning or conversations with the child at risk. The incumbent will record this in the child protection file (or the Area Dean during an interregnum.)

The incumbent will ensure that the Bishop and the Bishop’s adviser for child protection are informed if an enquiry about an incident is made by the press; they are to be directed to the Diocesan Communications Officer.

Guidelines for a situation in which a child or young person wants to talk about a situation of abuse.

Allow the child to speak in its own words.
Keep calm; do not looked shocked.
Accept what is said.
Look at them directly and take in what is said.
Don’t push for information or ask leading questions.
Reassure then that they were right to tell you.
Pass no judgement.
Do not promise confidentiality.
Tell him or her you need to tell someone else who needs to know (this may be the start of quite an ordeal for the child or young person).
Do not do any investigating yourself.
Do not inform any unauthorised person.
Expect to have to handle your own strong feelings.
Seek support initially from the incumbent if appropriate.

Appendix 3: Confession and Counselling

With regards to confidentiality and confession, the following guidelines from The House of Bishops’ Policy on Child Protection, 1999 should be followed.

“People who abuse children are practiced in deception and are unlikely to disclose such practices. There may however be occasions when a priest receives a confession from someone who has abused a child. While the seal of the confessional remains absolute, the priest should always consider whether children might still be at risk so that he or she may urge the person making the confession to report the abuse to social services or the police and whether absolution should be withheld until the person concerned has done so.”

Disclosure may take place in a pastoral setting outside formal confession. While a person’s right to confidentiality is of the highest importance, it is not absolute. There are occasions when confidentiality should not be maintained. If children may possibly be at risk from the person making the disclosure, a report must be made to social services or the police.

It is therefore most important for the priest to make clear to the person concerned whether what is taking place is a formal or sacramental confession on the one hand or spiritual or other counsel on the other. In the latter case the rules on confidentiality outside normal confession should be explained at the’ onset together with an assurance that no matter what is disclosed the person will be helped within the constraints imposed by the law and subject to the paramount need to safeguard the welfare of children. The priest should consult the Bishops representative in order to obtain expert professional advice about how the person concerned can best be helped.

Appendix 4: Complaints Procedure

We will listen carefully to what both children and parents have to say about our work with children and young people at St Mary’s and St Anne’s, and we welcome comments, complaints and praise!

Anyone wishing to make a complaint should initially speak to the group co-ordinator.

If the issue cannot be resolved satisfactorily then the complaint should be put in writing and forwarded to the incumbent, who will ensure that it is properly investigated.

However, if the complainant remains unhappy or wishes to share any concern ,about our work with children and young people, then the comment or complaint should be directed to the Bishop’s office

Policy updated May 2007

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