Policy for work with Children and Young People

1. SAFETY

In all our work with young people the Youth Centre Management Committee, warden and staff, are committed to providing a safe and creative environment for the nurture, care and spiritual growth of children and young people.  Every child or young person who uses the Centre and who comes into contact with a staff member or volunteer ought to feel safe, valued and secure, and the Centre will take all necessary steps to ensure that this is so.

This Centre commits itself to upholding the ‘Code of Practice for the Church’s work with Children and Young People’ produced by the Diocese of Carlisle and subsequent revisions.

The Centre will be maintained in a way that adequately secures their health and safety, and will be properly insured.

Groups using the Centre must have their own Child Protection Policy or agree to abide by the Centre’s own policy.  Copies of this policy are available from the Chaplain/Warden, are posted on the notice board at the Centre and are available for download from the internet website: www.cdyc.org.uk.  The person making the booking must sign the booking form to signify the groups observance of this policy.  No group will be accepted which cannot provide copies of their policy on request or demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the Centre's policy.  Any group found to be neglecting their responsibility to the young people in their charge whilst at the centre will be asked to leave immediately.

2. LEADERS *

No staff member or volunteer shall work with children or young people in the Centre unless the Diocesan guidelines for appointment have been satisfied.

The Diocese of Carlisle has produced guidelines for leaders of activities involving children and young people. These guidelines, "Working with Children" are appended to this policy.

3. ABUSE

This Centre recognises that ‘the welfare of the child’ is the principle obligation under The Children Act 1989. To this end, the Chaplain, Staff and Management Committee of this Centre will co-operate fully with statutory agencies and the Bishop of Carlisle or his Representatives in cases of alleged abuse. Any report of, or suspicion of, abuse will be treated according to the latest Diocesan guidelines which require the Bishop’s Representatives in child protection matters to be informed. The Bishop’s representative will inform the Bishop and may also contact the statutory authorities, or ask the Centre staff to do so. Keeping information ‘in confidence’ when a child or young person is, or may be, in an abusive, dangerous or frightening situation is unacceptable.

Nothing in the above policy removes the rights of any individual to contact the statutory authorities when they have concerns for the safety or welfare of a child or young person.

Working With Children

Every child and young person is an important member of the group or activity that they attend. They should feel welcomed and valued by the rest of the group, especially by all the adults who have any leadership or supervisory role.

Children and young people have a right to feel safe when attending any parish activity. The parish has a duty to ensure that children and young people are in the presence of adults who can be safely trusted by the children and young people, by their parents and by the Church authorities. Every activity shall have a nominated Responsible Person who has the duty of ensuring that the Parish Policy for working with children is adhered to.

Registration. The Children Act 1989 makes specific reference to children under 8 and requires the following:

• Where a parish activity is less than two hours per session there is an obligation to meet all necessary Health and Safety Regulations.
• Where the activity is for more than two hours per session, in addition to the above, the activity must be registered with the Social Services Department.

Children and young people have a right to be protected from behaviour that is rough, hurtful, or sexually provocative. All adults in a leadership or supervisory role should be on the alert for bullying, scapegoating, or rejecting behaviour, or any other behaviour which is inappropriate.

Any situation in which an adult is alone with a child or young person should, whenever possible, be agreed with the Responsible Person and in any case carefully monitored.

Physical contact with a child or young person may be open to misunderstanding unless the message and context clearly put it beyond doubt.

If you are told of abusive words or actions that distress a child or young person or threaten their safety, follow this procedure..

• Listen carefully and sympathetically
• Be sure the child or young person knows their account will be taken seriously
• Note who else was present
• When the child or young person is calm, hand them into the care of another adult with whom they feel safe and secure
• Write down exactly what was said and what you did with time and date
• Immediately inform one of the Bishop's Representatives** who will advise what further action is required

Nothing in the above guidance removes the right of any individual to contact the statutory authorities when they have concerns for the safety of a child or young person. Acceding to a request from a child, young person or adult to keep 'In confidence' information which may indicate a child is in an abusive, dangerous or frightening situation should always be avoided.

NOTES:

A copy of this policy and Working with Children notes are displayed at the Centre.

* Groups should have their own arrangements for the selection, appointment and training of their leaders which should include either checking against registers of offenders (Police checks) where this is available to the group, or by voluntary declaration, examples of suitable forms are available on request.

** Contact numbers for the Bishops Representatives are displayed at the Centre.