Child protection, etc

Child Protection and Adults at Risk Policies

Hamilton Baptist Church has a Child Protection Policy covering all procedures in the event of an allegation or other disclosure. It gives a framework to report and record disclosed information from and about young people. If you have any suspicions that abuse is taking place or if someone makes an allegation of abuse to you, contact Graham Shearer, Elliott Simpson, Sandra Biggart or Gwyneth Langley immediately – do NOT discuss these concerns with anyone before or after contacting one of these people.

The Pastoral Team and the principal leaders of Hamilton Baptist Church and its Organisations have had an Enhanced Disclosure performed by “Disclosure Scotland”.

This for series of documents which are based on documents issued by the Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS) which is a service operated by Volunteer Development Scotland. It was established by the Scottish Government to provide free Disclosures (police checks).

Child Protection policies cover two main areas.

good practice while working with young people

what to do if you have any concerns about something a young person tells you or you observe.

Often, volunteers build up trusting relationships with young people. Because of this, a young person may share some of their worries or concerns about things happening in their home community. Often, just listening and acting as a friend to the young person may be all that is required. Occasionally, something you are told may require some other form of action. We have a responsibility to care for and protect young people attending our organisations and activities and you should speak, in the first instance, to the person in charge. You should not speak to any other volunteers about Child Protection concerns as it is vital that confidentiality is maintained.

Principles to follow

Listen carefully - give the young person time

Keep calm - although you may be shocked or upset, it's important that the young person feels secure in telling you

Reassure the young person that you are listening and that it's okay to tell

Don't promise to keep a secret

Don't jump to conclusions or ask leading questions. You can ask,

Have you told anyone else? What are they doing about it?

Record accurately - use the young person's words wherever possible

Maintain confidentiality - don't discuss with fellow-volunteers

Enjoyment, welfare and safety of childrenThese policies, procedures and guidelines are to protect both yourself and the children and young people in your care and must be followed. Whatever situation we are working in, we are responsible for children and young people in our care up to the age of eighteen.We want the young people in our care to really enjoy their time with us and, to that end, you should always be looking out for the young people's welfare.You are not the young person's parent or guardian but it's helpful to consider that you are acting on their behalf. This means that you have to put the best interests of each young person first in every aspect of your work.Looking out for children's welfare includes:

planning safe activities

being aware of their interaction with others

noticing their levels of happiness, frustration, loneliness etc.

It is important that you, to the best of your ability, are sensitive to their needs and are able to respond appropriately.

Hamilton Baptist Church’s Child Protection Code of Conduct

You Should

Ø Play your part in helping to develop an ethos where all people matter and are treated equally, and with respect and dignity

Ø Always put the care, welfare and safety needs of a child first

Ø Respect a child’s right to be involved in making choices and decisions which directly affect them

Ø Listen attentively to any ideas and views a child wants to share with you

Ø Respect a child’s culture (for example their faith and religious beliefs)

Ø Respect a child’s right to privacy and personal space

Ø Respond sensitively to children who seem anxious about participating in certain activities

Ø Speak to a member of staff immediately if you suspect that a child is experiencing bullying or harassment

Ø Be aware of the vulnerability of some groups of children to being isolated and hurt (for example, children with disabilities and learning difficulties; children from Gypsy & Traveller communities; Black and Minority Ethnic children)

Ø Ensure that when you are working with children you are at least within sight or hearing of other adults

Ø Listen carefully to any child who ‘tells you’ (sometimes through drawings and behaviour as well as words) that they are being harmed and report what you have discovered immediately to your line manager

Ø Report immediately any suspicion that a child could be at risk of harm or abuse

Ø Never dismiss what a child tells you as ‘lies’ or exaggeration

Ø Only restrain a child who is at imminent risk of inflicting harm to themselves or others or is at risk of damaging property

Ø Never underestimate the contribution that you can make to the development of safe communities for children

You Should Not

Ø Exaggerate or trivialise another worker’s concerns about a child or ignore an allegation or suspicion of abuse in the hope that it will either ‘go away’ or that ‘someone else will deal with it’ Ø Discuss personal issues about a child or their family with other people except with your line manager when you are concerned about the child’s well being Ø Be drawn into any derogatory remarks or gestures in front of children or young persons Ø Allow a child, young person or adult to be bullied or harmed by anyone in the organisation Ø Allow children to swear or use sexualized language unchallenged

You Must Never

Ø Engage in sexually provocative games, including horseplay

Ø Never allow others to or yourself engage in touching a child in a sexually provocative manner

Ø Never make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun Ø Engage in rough or physical contact unless it is permitted within the rules of a game or sports activity or conforms to the guidance on appropriate physical restraint

Ø Never form inappropriate emotional or physical relationships with children

Ø Harass or intimidate a child or worker because of age, ‘race’, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, socio economic class or disability

Ø Never invite or allow a child to stay with you at your home

Hamilton Baptist Church’s Shortened Child Protection Policy

This document is based on a document issued by the Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS) which is a service operated by Volunteer Development Scotland. It was established by the Scottish Government to provide free Disclosures (police checks) for volunteers in the voluntary sector working with children, young people and adults at risk. See - http://www.crbs.org.uk/

Hamilton Baptist Church aims to ensure that any children and young people, are protected and kept safe from harm while they are with staff or volunteers in this organisation. In order to achieve this we will ensure our staff and volunteers are carefully selected, screened, trained and supervised. Selection

All applicants to our organisation will complete an application form
Where appropriate, short listed applicants will be asked to attend an interview
Short listed applicants will be asked to provide references and these will always be taken up prior to confirmation of an appointment.
All successful applicants appointed into “childcare” positions (as defined in Schedule 2 to the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003) will be Disclosure checked at Enhanced level.

Screening Where relevant to the post, the successful applicant will be asked to agree to an appropriate disclosure. The Disclosure will be requested prior to the applicant taking up the post. Training The successful applicant will receive induction training, which will give an overview of the organisation and ensure they know its purpose, values, services and structure. Relevant training and support will be provided on an ongoing basis and will cover information about their role, and opportunities for practicing skills needed for work. Training on specific areas such as health and safety procedures, identifying and reporting abuse, and confidentiality will be given as a priority to new staff and volunteers and will be regularly reviewed. Supervision All staff and volunteers will have a designated supervisor who will provide regular feedback and support. Every member of staff and volunteer will attend an annual review, where their performance, skills, motivation and expectations will be discussed. Annual reviews will be minuted and copies made available to the member of staff/volunteer. Hamilton Baptist Church will ensure that all staff and volunteers involved in recruitment, training and supervision, are aware of this policy and have received appropriate training and support to ensure its full implementation. Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 – PoCSA

Hamilton Baptist Church will comply with the requirements of PoCSA in that:

· We will not allow anyone who is fully listed on the Disqualified from Working with Children List to work/volunteer in a childcare position within our organisation

· We will make a referral (send a written report) to Scottish Ministers if an individual harms a child or puts a child at risk of harm and as a result of this, we take the decision to remove them or they leave of their own accord, come to the end of a contract, retire or have been made redundant.· We understand that when making a referral it should be done in the appropriate manner by using the required Scottish Government Referral Form.

Hamilton Baptist Church understands that in addition to making a referral (a written report) to Scottish Ministers, Child Protection issues concerning workers (paid/unpaid), children and young people must always be referred to the child protection agencies (ie social work and/or police) for appropriate investigation.

Adult at Risk Protection Policy

Hamilton Baptist Church aims to ensure that any adults at risk are protected and kept safe from harm while they are with staff or volunteers in this organisation. In order to achieve this we will ensure our staff and volunteers are carefully selected, screened, trained and supervised. Selection

All applicants to our organisation will complete an application form
Short listed applicants will be asked to attend an interview
Short listed applicants will be asked to provide references and these will always be taken up prior to confirmation of an appointment.

Hamilton Baptist Church’s Safe Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information

In accordance with the Scottish Government Code of Practice, for registered persons and other recipients of Disclosure information*, Hamilton Baptist Church will ensure the following practice. Disclosure will only be requested when necessary and relevant to a particular post and the information provided on a disclosure certificate will only be used for recruitment purposes. The Hamilton Baptist Church will ensure that an individual’s consent is given before seeking a Disclosure, and will seek their consent before using disclosure information for any purpose other than recruitment. Furthermore, Hamilton Baptist Church will ensure that all sensitive personal information that is collated for the purposes of obtaining an Enhanced Disclosure will be managed confidentially at all times by those involved in the Disclosure process. Where non conviction Disclosure information is provided to Hamilton Baptist Church by a Chief Constable or Chief Officer of a relevant Police Force and not to the Disclosure Applicant concerned Hamilton Baptist Church will not disclosure the actual details of the Disclosure information to the Disclosure Applicant but can inform them, if asked that additional information has been provided, should this information affect the recruitment decision, not actual details of the additional information or where it was resourced. Disclosure information will only be shared with those authorised to see it in the course of their duties. Disclosure information will be stored in a locked non-portable container, for a maximum of 30 days. Only those authorised to see this information in the course of their duties will have access to this container. Disclosure information will be destroyed by shredding. No image or photocopy of the disclosure information will be retained. Hamilton Baptist Church is allowed to keep a record of the following:

Date of issue of disclosure
Name of subject
Disclosure type
Position for which the disclosure was requested
Unique reference number of disclosure
Recruitment decision taken

The Hamilton Baptist Church will ensure that all staff with access to disclosure information are aware of this policy and have received relevant training and support. The Hamilton Baptist Church undertakes to make a copy of this policy available to any applicant for a post with the Hamilton Baptist Church that requires a Disclosure.

*Disclosure information means conviction information [spent and unspent convictions] and non conviction information [provided by Chief Constables/Chief Officers of relevant Police Forces] which can be contained in an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.