Children

Updated 5th September 2005

CHILD PROTECTION

Contacts

The Bishop of Ely's Child Protection Adviser (Contact when a child protection case or concern arises)
Yvonne Quirk 01223 276957

Training; developing policies and procedures
Diocesan Children's Work Adviser, Gill Ambrose 01223 511717
Diocesan Youth Officer, Captain David Waters 01353 652715

Information about the Criminal Records Bureau
(Documents relating to 'CRB Disclosure' applications)
Ginni Westley, Bishop of Ely's Office 01353 662749

To discuss a concern

Ginette Boon 01223 871688 (evenings)

Child Protection Policy

The Diocese of Ely Child Protection Folder

The diocese of Ely follows the Church of England's national child protection policy. Every parish is issued with a dicesan child protection folder giving details of this and recommended procedures to carry out the policy.

Follow the links below to find the short,easy to follow leaflets based on the national policy and procedures to help you create a policy and procedures for your church.

Introduction

Parish responsibilities

Specimen policy for a parish

Parish Child Protection Co-ordinator

Safe from Harm guidelines

Safe recruiting of volunteers

The Criminal Records Bureau

Insurance cover

Good practice guidelines

Possible indicators of abuse

If you suspect abuse

Local phone numbers

Ministering to those who pose a risk

Confidential declaration form

Letter & reference form for a referee

Volunteer contract

General consent Form

Guidance for creating advice notes & consent forms

Supplementary to going away/going abroad

Logging concern about a child

Accident & incident report form

Protecting All God's Children: a child protection policy for the Church of England

The Church of England Child Protection Policy is to be found on the Church of England website at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/protectingchildren.pdf

You can find the whole document there. You can also buy it from Christian bookshops.

Protecting all God's children: the child protection policy for the Church of England.

Published by Church House Publishing £5.95 ISBN 0 7151 3867 7

What is Child Abuse?

Abuse was defined in 1996 by the National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse as follows:-

"Child abuse consists of anything which individuals, institutions, or processes do or fail to do which directly or indirectly harms children or damages their prospects of safe and healthy development into adulthood"

Working Together to Safeguard Children published in 1999 by the Department of Health recognises four areas of potential abuse for children:

Physical
Sexual
Emotional
Neglect.

Church communities must be particularly vigilant to identify any kind of spiritual abuse including the misuse of the authority of leadership, oppressive teaching, or obtrusive healing and deliverance ministries, which may result in physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Other forms of spiritual abuse include denying children of the right to faith or the opportunity to grow in the knowledge and love of God.

Any child or young person can suffer abuse. The abuse may be perpetrated by an adult, male or female, or by another child. It is also important to protect those 16-18 year olds who are legally able to give their consent to sexual activity but who may nevertheless be harmed by those who are responsible for them and whom they trust.

The church has a ministry to all - both to those who have been abused and those who have abused. It is within this tension that policy, procedures and good practice must be made to work. The church seeks not simply to keep the law in regard to Child Protection but to foster and promote best practice as part of its work for and witness to God's kingdom.

Therefore each parish should:

accept the prime duty of care placed upon the incumbent and council to ensure the well being of children and young people in its community.
Adopt and implement a child protection policy and procedures, accepting as a minimum the House of Bishop's Policy on Child Protection but informed by Diocesan procedures and being responsive to local parish requirements.
Appoint a co-ordinator to work with the incumbent and council to implement policy and procedures; to ensure that any concerns about a child or the behaviour of an adult are appropriately reported both to the statutory agencies and to the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser. Ideally this co-ordinator should be someone without other pastoral responsibility for children in the parish.
Appoint a person whom children know they can talk to about any concerns.
Ensure that all those authorised to work with children and young people and all those in a position of authority are appropriately appointed, trained and supported. All authorised personnel will need a copy of the parish child protection policy, procedures and good practice guidelines.
Pay particular heed to children with special needs to ensure their full integration and protection within the church community.
Create a culture of 'informed vigilance' which takes children seriously.
Review, at least annually, the implementation of the child protection policy.
Ensure that those who may pose a threat to children and young people are effectively managed and monitored.
Ensure that appropriate health and safety policies and procedures are in place.
Provide full insurance protection for all activities undertaken in the name of the parish.

'Safe from Harm' is a Code of Practice published in 1993 by the Home Office addressed to voluntary organisations in England and Wales. Diocesan policy is based on this.

Prevention of Child Abuse

The Church can do much to prevent abuse:

implementing good practice in all its activities
supporting all our clergy, employees and volunteers.
Knowing, observing and listening to our children and young people
providing support to families with young children
caring responsibly for known offenders

It is the duty of every Christian to be vigilant about the care of children in the congregation. Those church members who have direct contact with children are more likely than most to become aware of potential problems. Such people are typically other parents, youth workers (including leaders of uniformed organisations), clergy, head servers, children's workers, music group leaders, choir directors, organists, captains of bells etc.

Anyone who is worried about the behaviour of another member of the congregation or the demeanour of a child has a duty to voice those concerns. If the concerns are about a prominent member of the congregation or someone in a position of leadership, this can lead to considerable anxiety. The needs of the child are paramount, and everyone needs to recognise that doing nothing could result in a child being harmed.

It is important that anyone expressing concerns should be respected and his or her anxieties taken seriously. Anyone formally hearing a complaint should keep a careful record of all conversations and all decisions and actions taken. These records should be kept in a secure place and in accordance with data protection requirements.

Disclosures of Abuse

Only a small proportion of abused children talk about their experience while it is happening. It is therefore of vital importance that disclosures from children are:

listened to carefully, avoiding the use of leading questions
taken seriously
acted upon

Confidentiality should not be promised as others will need to be involved if the abuse is to stop.

If a child or young person speaks about being harmed physically, emotionally or sexually by another person or if signs of abuse are observed you must:

Never speak directly to the person against whom allegations have been made.
Never attempt to investigate the situation yourself.
Inform the person in the parish or diocese who is responsible for Child Protection.
Make a referral to Social Services.
Continue to support the child and seek support for yourself.

If you are not certain that abuse has occurred you must still discuss the concern with the appropriate person. It is always possible to discuss concerns with the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser or social services without disclosing the names of the people involved. If in doubt it is always better to make a referral to Social Services rather than do nothing.

Appointing Volunteers & Employees

Those responsible for appointment should follow the principles outlined in Safe from Harm. Prospective appointees should be regarded as job applicants and;
have a defined role:

complete an application form:
name two referees:complete a 'Confidential Declaration' form :
have an appropriate interview;
provide a disclosure at the appropriate level from the Criminal Records Bureau;
be offered the post subject to a probationary period;
have the appointment confirmed in writing by the authorising body
be formally commissioned for their role.

Confidential Declarations

Who needs to complete a Confidential Declaration Form and provide a disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau?

All clergy who have the freehold, hold the Bishop's licence or permission to officiate.
All Accredited Lay Workers and Readers who hold the Bishop's licence or permission to officiate.
Any other leaders in the church who because of their position of trust are likely to come into regular and direct contact with children. This will include those who as part of their job appoint people to work with children, young people or vulnerable adults and the parish Child Protection Co-ordinator.
All people employed by the diocese, cathedral or a parish who work with children or who may come into regular and direct contact with children during their work.
All volunteers who work with children or who may come into regular and direct contact with children during their activities. This will include adult members of mixed age activities such as, bell-ringers, choirs, servers.

People in positions of leadership or those who have access to church premises but are not deemed to have regular contact with children should be asked to supply a Basic Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (when this becomes available). This disclosure will include unspent convictions including all offences against children.