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Safeguarding Policy

The Daventry Team

Ashby St Ledgers, Barby, Braunston, Catesby, Daventry, Hellidon, Kilsby, Staverton and Welton

This Safeguarding Policy relates to all groups and organisations of The Daventry Team with responsibility for working with children and young people from 0-18 years of age.

It follows the guidelines set out in 'Children and Young People: the Peterborough Diocesan Child Protection Policy’, which conforms to the House of Bishop's Child Protection Policy

The Daventry Team and each PCC takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people entrusted to its care.

Each of us has a responsibility to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people. We must also report any abuse or suspected abuse if discovered.

This policy will be revised annually, accepted and adopted by The Team Council and also each Parish at their individual Annual Parochial Church Meetings.

Church leaders and all who work with children and young people will be required to work within the guidelines recommended in this policy. Each Leader must read, know about, and undertake to observe them.

The Golden Rule

'Keep all relationships with children and young people open, observable, readily understood and shared with more than one responsible adult.  All work with children and young people must be well supervised and the people doing it carefully selected, well trained and advised of their child protection duties.'

Objectives:

a)     To keep all children and young people, and those who work with them safe from harm.

b)     To try to ensure that every child entrusted in our care is never subjected to any form of abuse by church members.

c)     To know the procedures to follow, in the event of any concern about a child's welfare, or, if there are complaints/allegations of abuse made within or without the church organisation.

Working policy

1)     Recruitment Procedure

a)     All leaders will be required to complete and sign the Diocesan Declaration form. Written references and identification will be required and must be carefully checked.

b)     A Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check will be required. (Forms and information obtainable from Safe guarding Officer or the Diocesan Office)

c)     All records are confidential and must be kept in a safe place. During an interregnum, the Rural Dean is responsible for any records; the Church Wardens will liaise with the RD in the appointment of new workers or any child protection issues, which may arise.

2)     Leader Child Ratio

(a)  At least two adults (18+) to be present with a child or group of children.

(b)  Children must be adequately supervised.

(c)   The following ratio of children to leaders provides a useful guide.

0-2yrs 1 adult to 3 children

2-3yrs 1 adult to 4 children

3-8yrs 1 adult to 8 children

8-18yrs 1 adult to 10children

(d)  No adult should be expected to work with children alone)

3 Prevention - health and safety

(a)  Make sure the premises are safe for the age of children. Furniture and equipment that may be dangerous needs to be made secure or fenced off.

(b)  A register of attendance for each group must be kept. Including the names of leaders and helpers.

(c)   Fire exits marked.

(d)  A first aid kit should be available in the church building or at the venue of the children's activity and clearly marked.

(e)  An accident/incident report book should be kept in church or at the venue of the children's activity.

4)   Parental Consent

(a)  Parental consent for a child or young person to attend a particular activity is needed.

(b)  A contact number is required in case of emergency

(c)   Further parental consent is needed if children are taken off the premises.

(d)  If driving a child/children alone in a car. It is better they occupy the rear seats. Parents must be informed of the journey and place and times of arrival and return. Drivers should check their personal insurance policy.

5)   Reporting

(a)  The well-being of the child is paramount at all times

(b)  If there is a concern of abuse by another child within the group it must be reported immediately to the following Leader>Team Safeguarding Co-Ordinator>Vicar/Rector/Priest in Charge, who will take advice from the relevant agency.

(c)   If there is a complaint of abuse by a leader within the church community to one of the following>Vicar/Rector/Priest in Charge>Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, who will advise the relevant Lead Agency.

(d)  If there is a complaint of abuse by the vicar or a member of the clergy team

>Church Wardens>Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser>Lead agency.

(e)  If there is obvious concern about a child's well-being, or of a child complains of abuse outside the church organisation.>Vicar/Rector/Priest in Charge > Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser>ad agencies.

(f)    The Daventry Team will appoint a Team Safeguarding Co-ordinator and each PCC will nominate a Parish Co-ordinator. This means that information, procedures and training have a direct line to leaders and workers.

(g)  A lead agency may be contacted for advice in the first instance (Social Services, Police)

6)   Training

The Parishes of the Daventry Team will make every effort, under the direction of the Team Safeguarding Co-ordinator, to train leaders and volunteers to the level of their responsibility. The diocese has an obligation to train clergy, licensed workers and leaders. At least one representative will attend child protection training and support provided by the Diocese of Peterborough.

7) Guidance for Bell ringers

We welcome young people from other parishes and value their contribution to bell ringing. We recognise our responsibility as bell ringers to create a safe environment in which they are able to learn and practice the art of bell ringing with enthusiasm and enjoyment.

Therefore we require:

(a)  No adults should work alone with children and young people.

(b)  At least one adult should be in calling distance at all times.

(c)   Instruction should be given without physical contact. Except in exceptional circumstances. In an emergency safety overrides all else.

(d)  All visiting teams must be made aware that The Daventry Team has a child protection policy and procedures in place. The Tower Captain should hold a copy of the policy and make visiting teams aware of this.

8)   Choir

(a)  Any young people who are members of the church choir must have permission to attend practice and activities involving visits to events or festivals.

(b)  There must always be at least two adults in attendance at practice when children are present.

(c)   All other issues concerning choir activities, when children are in attendance must follow policy guidance.

9)   Organisations using the Church Building/Hall

(a)  Clear notices will be displayed in church and on the notice board to state the church has a child protection policy in place together with the name of the Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator.

(b)  The golden rule will be displayed and a warning that only authorised leaders and helpers will be allowed access to children's groups meeting on the church premises.

(c)   Visiting groups will be made aware of the policy and expected to have the correct ratio of adults to children.

(d)  They should be aware of health and safety issues in the building and their responsibilities where children are present. 

(e)  Groups meeting under the name of another organisation (i.e) Uniformed, Pre-school, Ti Chi etc must operate within their own Child Protection/Safe from Harm Guidelines.

Important Note: