Creating a safe environment for children, young people, leaders and staff

 

The Methodist Church in Ireland reaches out to children and young people throughout Ireland and welcomes those from households where there is no Methodist or other denominational connection. We have a legal duty of care to look after all children and provide a safe environment for them as best we can.  Parents/carers expect the church to have and to enforce a child protection policy.  This policy is aimed at creating an environment where children and young people may enjoy social contact, personal and spiritual development and where they and the leaders and helpers working with them will be kept safe.

 

Adoption of Methodist Church in Ireland Child Protection Guidelines

The Church Council of Bloomfield Methodist Church has adopted the Methodist Church in Ireland’s Child Protection Guidelines, Taking Care, approved by the Conference and revised in 2011. All organisations must adhere to these guidelines as agreed by the Conference. The Church Council will review the policy every three years and keep Safeguarding on the agenda of the Church Council meetings.

 

1. Leadership

 

The Church Council believes that the recruitment and appointment process outlined in the Taking Care guidelines greatly assist the assessment of a person’s suitability to work with children and young people. As a result of implementing such procedures, leaders and helpers within this congregation will be more assured of their position and of the confidence placed in them by the Church Council/Circuit Executive.

 

The following procedures must be followed for the appointment of leaders/helpers before starting any volunteering:

1. All volunteers will complete an application form for Leaders/Helpers and provide the names of two people (unrelated) to act as referees.  The application and reference forms will only be retained until all the vetting procedures are completed.

2. A different form is required for volunteers under the age of 18.

3. The Designated Person(s) will meet informally with the applicant following the receipt of references.  The BMC Child Protection Policy will be provided and explained and the link to the Taking Care Leader’s Guide will be made available.

4. The application process includes the vetting process (Access NI) according to legislation and good practice.

5. The current Access NI pack will be provided to the volunteer to complete the online process.  The form is returned to the Designated Person for ID verification and then forwarded to MCI Vetting, using only their MCI email account (for GDPR purposes).

                                                                                                                                          

Training

 

Leaders and helpers who work with children and young people must attend Safeguarding Training every three years (as church policy or legislation demands). Even those who have a good knowledge of child protection issues in another field should attend, as Taking Care Training is the only training available that specifically deals with church activities within a church environment.

 

Reporting of Concerns

 

The leaders in each of our organisations will be fully conversant with the reporting procedure where there is a concern about the welfare of a child, as outlined in the Taking Care Guidelines. Leaders must not hesitate to report a concern about a child if they are at any time worried about their welfare.

 

The Designated Person

 

The Church Council has appointed the following Designated Person(s):-

Jennifer Hartley and Patricia Webb

The Designated Person(s) will give advice and support to organisations and to the Church Council on matters concerning the welfare of children and young people. The Church Council will keep organisational leaders updated with the name of the Designated Person(s). Any matter brought to the attention of the Designated Person(s) will be treated in strict confidence. Information will be divulged only where there is a legitimate need to know.

 

Parental Consent Forms

 

Organisational leaders must ensure that they have home contact numbers, parental consent and medical information regarding the children in the organisations which they are working with. Special consent forms will be issued for any ‘off the premises’ activity and residential programmes.

 

Good Standards of Practice

 

Each organisation will be expected to comply with good standards of practice as outlined in the Taking Care Guidelines. This includes: physical contact, recommended ratios, transport, residential programmes and outings, church sleepovers, photographs and working with children who have special needs.

 

Working Together

 

It is important that all leaders know the boundaries and rules of an organisation and that these are explained to children and parents. A Code of Conduct for children and young people will be drawn up at the commencement of the year’s activities in each organisation. This will help to create a safe, secure environment and an atmosphere where children will feel that they can relate to the leaders and helpers.

 

All leaders must abide by the discipline guidelines as set out in the Taking Care manual.

 

Technology

 

Leaders should not have direct Internet communication with individual children and young people in the organisation of which they are leaders. All such communication should be within an open forum eg. WhatsApp or directly with the parent/guardian.  Leaders should be wise as to how they use this form of communication and always do this in line with the Taking Care guidelines.

 

Leaders should not post photographs of young people from the organisation in which they are leaders, on a social networking site or anywhere on the Internet, unless they have written parental consent.

 

Health and Safety

 

The Church Council expects organisations to adhere to the guidance on health and safety matters outlined in the Taking Care guidelines. A Risk Assessment form should be completed for each organisation as well as for any outings or occasional events. Leaders will be informed of fire and first aid procedures.

 

Implementation and Review

 

The Church Council is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy and will review it every three years.

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​Download the Child Protection Policy (Word doc)