Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church

Child Protection Policy Statement

Safe to Grow – children and young people

The commitment of the Church

As members of this Church, we commit ourselves to the protection and safeguarding of our children and young people.

It is our responsibility to ensure that physical. sexual and emotional abuse are prevented or stopped by reporting any concerns to the advisors or ministers.

To assist this, the Church commits itself to supporting, supervising and resourcing those who work with children and young people.

Each person working with such groups must be trained so that they know and understand the principles of ‘Safe to Grow’ and undertake to observe them. It will be the responsibility of the Advisors to organise this training and the Children’s and Youth Worker will keep a list of who has attended.

Each worker will be recruited according to the Baptist Union “Safe Recruiting” guidance. This will be the responsibility of the Children’s and Youth Worker.

The Church commits itself to follow the Home Office Code of Practice ‘Safe from Harm’ and following the guidelines and procedures published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in its booklet ‘Safe to Grow’.

Checks with the Criminal Records Bureau, using the approved channels, will be undertaken for new applicants and also for existing staff on a regular basis. It will be the responsibility of the Children’s and Youth Worker to ensure these are carried out and the elected Elders will act as verifiers for this process.

Checks with the Criminal Records Bureau will also be conducted on the Ministers, Elders, Team Leaders, Safe To Grow Advisors and all those working with children and young people. It will be the joint responsibility of the Children’s and Youth Worker and the elected Elders to ensure this is done.

Documentation relating to these matters will be treated in the utmost confidence and safely secured by the Children’s and Youth Worker – it will only be divulged on a need to know basis.

The advisors are appointed by the Church to oversee and monitor procedures, carry out training and, if necessary, to liaise with the Church Child Protection Advisory Service, the Social Services and the Police.

The names and photographs of the advisors will be displayed on the Church notice boards along with the telephone numbers of the Church Office and the Children’s and Youth Worker.

The protection of the groups mentioned in this policy rests firmly with all of us and does not depend solely on 'spotting' abuse. It also relies on good training, a suitable environment, careful selection of staff, supervision and accountability.

Children and young people are part of our church today. They have much to give us as well as to receive. We will listen to them. As we nurture them in worship, learning and in community life, we will respect the wishes and feelings of children and young people.

This statement will be read annually at the July Church meeting and progress in carrying it out will be monitored by the Children’s and Youth Worker, supported by the Safe to Grow Advisors.