Child Safety & Protection

CHILD SAFETY & PROTECTION

Child Protection and Safety Issues are an increasingly important part of everyday life and Church is no exception to that. As part of our belief in doing everything to the best of our abilities we aim to keep every child entrusted to our care safe from harm.

To that end we seek to follow the Baptist Union’s ‘Safe To Grow’ guidelines and have a child protection policy that all of our members agree with, child protection training and Criminal Record Bureau Enhanced Checks for our children’s and young people’s workers and volunteers, and two membership appointed Child Advocates / Independent Advisors

POLICY STATEMENT ON CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH

This statement was agreed at the church meeting held on 17th May 2011.

It will be read annually at the church meeting held in the month of June where progress in carrying it out will be monitored.

• As members of this church, we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all, especially children and young people.

• It is the responsibility of each one of us to endeavour to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people, and to report any abuse discovered or suspected.

• We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church.

• We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and young people, whether paid or volunteer.

• The church is committed to supporting, resourcing and training those who work with children and young people, and to providing supervision.

• The church is committed to following the Home Office Code of Practice Safe from Harm and adopts the guidelines and procedures published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in its publication Safe to Grow (revised fourth edition 2004).

• Each worker with children and young people must know the recommendations, and undertake to observe them. Each shall be given a copy of the church’s agreed procedures and Good Practice guidelines.

• As part of our commitment to children and young people, the church has appointed Ralph Bullock & Judy Fox to be their Advocates / Independent Advisors. Their role will be regularly explained to children, and their names, addresses and phone numbers publicly displayed.