BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE POLICY AND PROCEDURES. Reviewed and Accepted by Chapter Date August 2015

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE POLICY AND PROCEDURES. Reviewed and Accepted by Chapter Date August 2015"

Conrad Day
5 years ago
Views:

1 BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE POLICY AND PROCEDURES Reviewed and Accepted by Chapter Date August 2015 A. INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES The Cathedral Chapter has agreed a general policy for the protection of children from abuse, in line with the policy documents produced by the Church of England House of Bishops and the Diocese of Birmingham. The Chapter has accepted in full, and committed the Cathedral to accepting, the statement of values adopted by the Diocese of Birmingham : The Chapter of Birmingham Cathedral seeks to demonstrate that in all its activities which include children and young people: 1. The welfare of children will be given first priority 2. The spiritual welfare of children will be seen as particularly important 3. Well-informed, professional standards of care will be demonstrated 4. The procedures to protect children will be open and made clear to all 5. The welfare of children will have priority over the interests of the establishment B. THE POLICY ON CHILD PROTECTION The Chapter has adopted the Diocesan Safeguarding of Children Policy God s Children our Policy as our main policy document. This policy should be displayed in the Cathedral and the Undercroft The Diocesan Policy is available on the Diocesan Web-site: This document states how we aim to apply it within Birmingham Cathedral. Chapter notes that the Diocesan Policy is nearly 150 pages. It is unrealistic to expect all workers and volunteers to read this in full and digest it. Chapter has therefore adopted the procedure of producing mini-guides to cover the essential points for staff and volunteers to be issued as appropriate. For ease of working and updating this has been assembled so sections match those of the Diocesan Safeguarding of Children Policy God s Children our Policy Diocesan Policy The contents of each section has been included. Any extracts from the Diocesan Policy are in boxes. page 1

2 Additional Papers Working Safely with Children and Young People - for all working with or alongside children Behaviour and anti-bullying policy - for all in the music department: staff, choir & parents Safeguarding Choristers in the Cathedral for all adults in the music department, clergy and vergers Chorister Supervision) for Director of Music and Assistant Director of Music C The Dean (or, when the post of Dean is vacant, the Chair of the Cathedral Chapter) is responsible for the operation of the Cathedral s policy. D ROLES and PERSONEL (How we fulfil Parish Responsibilities See section 1.29 of Diocesan Policy) Cathedral Safeguarding Children Co-ordinator to work with the incumbent (Dean) and Chapter to implement policy and procedures : Sandra Bailey Children s Advocate : a voice and speak on behalf of children and who might be someone to whom children or young people feel they can go to with concerns or even disclose abuse. Pauline Stammers The Bishop s Safeguarding Children Officer (SCO) has overall responsibility for the Diocese of Birmingham s Child Protection Policy and to ensure that good practice is maintained in every parish. The Co-ordinator should be the person to make contact with the SCO and in their absence the Dean or Canon Liturgist Peter Baldwin, Bishop s Safeguarding Children Adviser c/o Bishop s Chaplain Bishop s Croft Old Church Road Harborne Tel: Birmingham B17 0BG BishopsChaplain@birmingham.anglican.org 3.5. The Bishop s Adviser for Children s Ministry supports clergy and lay leaders in the nurture and development of children and the effective delivery of children s ministry and is a member of the Bishop s Child Protection Management Group. page 2

3 Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Definitions 1.2 House of Bishops : Policy Statement Aims and Purpose Our Theological Approach The Safeguarding Policy Statement of the Church of England Societal Context Ecumenical Context Responsibilities of the Church of England Responsibilities of the House of Bishops Responsibilities of the House of Diocese Responsibilities of the Parish Section 2 : Recognition of Abuse This section outlines the nature of child abuse, and how to recognize when a child(ren) might be at risk. Particularly, all those who are in positions where they are in direct contact with children and young people e.g. the clergy, paid children and youth workers, volunteer helpers, captains of bell towers, music group leaders need to be familiar with this section Introduction. 2.2 Definition of abuse 2.3 The responsibility of the Church 2.4 Recognising when children are troubled 2.5 Recognition of signs and symptoms 2.6 Significant harm 2.7 Sources of stress for children and families 2.8 Abuse and children with a disability 2.9 Abuse and black minority ethnic children 2.10 Self-Harm 2.11 Some Special Topics House of Bishops Policy Children and young people who abuse Section 3 Taking Action This section describes in detail what action must be taken when there are concerns about children and young people. It provides clear procedures to follow at a time often characterized by high anxiety. It includes information on what happens when children s social care services and the police pursue a matter reported by the church. This is included in order to clarify the roles of the statutory organizations involved and the role of the church. Parishes must ensure that both those who are in direct contact with children and young people, and other leaders are aware of these procedures. 3.1 When you have concerns or suspicions about the welfare of a child Flow chart 3.2 When a child or young person confides in you 3.3 Making a referral to children s social care services 3.4 What happens when children s social care services receive your referral? Flow chart 3.5 Involvement of statutory workers 3.6 Outcome and implications for the Diocese and the Parish page 3

4 3.7 Children in Need Section 4 Working with Children and Young People This section gives practical, hands on guidance on HOW to act when working with children and young people. It is written to assist all those working with children and young people, whether paid or unpaid. 4.1 Basic principles about working with children 4.2 Good working practice 4.3 Responding to a child 4.4 Working with children from minority ethnic groups 4.5 Children and adults with learning difficulties 4.6 Physical Contact with Children and Young People 4.7 Dealing with challenging behaviour 4.8 Internet and Mobile Phone Safety 4.9 Photography of Children and the Risk of Abuse 4.10 One to One youth Work 4.11 Praying with Children and Young People Section 5 Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse This section contains specific guidance on how to deal with situations involving those who may present a risk to children and young people in a parish context. This section is especially relevant to the clergy and other leaders in the parish, e.g. churchwardens. Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) provide a framework to manage the risk posed by serious sexual and violent offenders. This section provides guidance for churches on diocesan procedures to enable compliance with these arrangements where they have a perpetrator worshipping in their community. 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Procedures 5.3 The perpetrators 5.4 The legal position 5.5 The insurance position 5.6 Principles of good practice 5.7 Procedures 5.8 Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) 5.9 Specific situations 5.10 Communication during an interregnum 5.11 Pastoring guidance 5.12 Example of a parish safeguarding children agreement with known perpetrator of abuse Suggested Form of Agreement Section 6 The Care and Counselling of Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse This section describes the longer-term implication of childhood sexual abuse on adults. It gives guidance on how to respond sensitively, wisely, and with compassion to those survivors in our congregations. It has been included to assist and support those exercising pastoral care in our churches, and will therefore be particularly relevant to clergy and leaders with pastoral responsibilities. page 4

5 The Diocese of Birmingham, Parish Pack for Safeguarding Adults also has guidance on the care of adult survivors of abuse in the church, as does Responding Well to those who have been sexually abused, policy and guidelines for the Church of England Who are they? 6.2 Choice of helper 6.3 Initial response how to be helpful 6.4 Stages on the way to recovery 6.5 Referring for further help 6.6 Referral of allegations 6.7 Examples of survivors stories Section 7 The Role of the Church This section clarifies the respective roles of those in different leadership positions, within the diocese and within the parish, in the event of a child protection enquiry and its aftermath. It outlines the possible support needs of all those potentially affected and how these might be met. It is important that those with leadership roles in the diocese and in a parish are familiar with the content. 7.1 Role of the Clergy 7.2 Role of the Bishop s Safeguarding Children Adviser 7.3 Role of the Bishop s Staff 7.4 Role of the Bishop s Adviser for Children s Ministry 7.5 Role of Parish Safeguarding Children Co-ordinator 7.6 Role of the Parish Children s Advocate 7.7 Role of the Bishop s Advisors 7.8 Role of the Bishop s Director of Communications 7.9 Support for the Parish 7.10 Support for the Child 7.11 Support of the Child s Family 7.12 Support for the alleged perpetrator 7.13 Support for the alleged perpetrator s family 7.14 Support for the church members with significant roles Section 8 - Health and Safety This section outlines what should be in place so that the environment is suitable for children and young people and the activities in which they are participating. Those who are responsible for oversight of work with children and young people, and children s and youth workers need to be familiar with the content. 8.1 PCC liability 8.2 Staffing ratios 8.3 Registration for group activities 8.4 Young people and outdoor activities 8.5 Premises 8.6 Insurance 8.7 Fire safety 8.8 Food and hygiene 8.9 Transport 8.10 First Aid page 5

6 8.11 Hirers of Church Premises Section 9: Promoting Safer Practice This section offers some guidance on the key features of an organisation that promotes the welfare of children effectively. All those who work with children should be safely recruited. Guidance on the Safe Recruitment of volunteers and paid employees is given in the separate document Safe Recruitment Choosing People to Work with Children & Young People in the Diocese of Birmingham at Introduction 9.2 Code of Safer Working Practice 9.3 Mixed Age Activities 9.4 Young Leaders Under the Age of Positions of Trust Section 10 Allegations of child abuse made against a member of the clergy or someone Holding the Bishops Licence This section outlines the House of Bishops (2010) Policy on responding to such allegations. It is especially relevant to the Diocesan Bishop, his senior staff and all clergy. It provides a process to be followed which manages the Diocese s response to such allegations in ways that address the needs of all concerned. It provides clarity about individual roles and responsibilities Introduction 10.2 House of Bishops Policy (2010) Relates to ordained and lay staff and volunteers 10.3 Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) 10.4 Procedure Stage 1: Initial reaction to allegation Stage 2: Process of investigation Stage 3: Outcomes Stage 4: Follow up Section 11 Is your church protecting your children and those who work with them? Clergy, PCC members, churchwardens, and Parish Safeguarding Children Co-ordinators should be familiar with this section Introduction 11.2 Policy and Procedures 11.3 Who does what? 11.4 Day-to-day work with children 11.5 Do all those who work with children know who can offer advice? 11.6 Publicity who knows what? 11.7 Children s workers (paid and unpaid) page 6

7 11.8 Record keeping 11.9 Other users of your church premises Reporting Insurance Resources to help People to consult Parish Child Protection Policy Checklist Section 12 Protecting children and young people from Drug Abuse This section is in place to protect children and young people (those up to the age of 18) from the harmful effects of controlled drugs defined under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 ( The Act ) like heroin and cannabis whilst in the care of the Diocese and its Parishes Introduction 12.2 Purpose of this Section 12.3 The Law on Drugs 12.4 Drug Abuse involving Adults 12.5 Practical Application 12.6 Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse 12.7 A Sense of Proportion 12.8 Procedures to be adopted 12.9 Physical Restraint of a child or young person The Importance of training Monitoring, evaluating and review Useful phone numbers page 7

Safeguarding Children and Young People

Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Procedures The Parish of. This policy is a framework that requires completion and regular review in your parish. Please add local information and details