Why have a child protection policy?

Any church or organisation involved with children and young people needs to take special care in the work they undertake, and this means, amongst other things ensuring a comprehensive Child Protection Policy is operating. A Child Protection Policy is one of the most important ways of conveying that the church/organisation values children and young people in seeking their protection, safety and well-being and this applies to churches that have no known children regularly attending.

These principles can be found in the government guidelines:

‘ Safe from Harm ' and ‘ Abuse of Trust '

and should be implemented in every church, and organisation involved with children and young people.

Historically the church has opened its doors to all. It follows therefore, that people with a whole range of life experiences are coming into its buildings week by week, including those who abuse children. Sadly, it is the experience of CCPAS that a high proportion of those who abuse children within the church have been members for many years.

In recognition of the issues that inevitably arise, every church, and any organisation involved with children and young people, should be asking itself:

•  Is there anyone in our church/organisation able to identify possible signs or symptoms that a child is being abused?

•  Could a child in our church/organisation seek help if they were being abused?

•  What would we do if a child said they were being abused?

•  Would we respond differently if the allegation were against a church/organisation member, employee or volunteer?

•  Does our denomination/organisation have guidance on dealing with child protection matters?

•  Does our church/organisation have procedures for appointing workers and supervising children's activities?

Leaders and workers have a major role to play in protecting and safeguarding children with whom they come into contact and as an essential part of its work, each local church and organisation needs to:

•  Implement a formal Child Protection Policy

•  Appoint an appropriate/experienced person and at least one deputy to receive concerns and be responsible for deciding necessary action

•  Listen to, relate effectively, and value children and young people whilst ensuring their protection within church/organisational activities

•  Encourage and support parents/carers

•  Ensure that children's/youth workers are given support and training

•  Develop good practice guidelines for working with children and young people

•  Agree and implement procedures for dealing with concerns about possible abuse

•  Minimise the risk of false allegations

•  Establish links with statutory child care agencies

•  Respond effectively to the needs of children and adults who have been abused

The responses to these questions should enable a church, group or organisation determine whether they are operating adequate child protection policies and procedures. Comprehensive advice, information and forms, including a model child protection policy can be found in the CCPAS ‘Guidance to Churches' manual. There is also a version of the manual designed for non-church based groups and organisations called ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People', available from CCPAS.

CCPAS offers a comprehensive service for advising and checking individual child protection policies. In addition, if the model contained in ‘Guidance to Churches' and ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People' is being used, this should be submitted to CCPAS as a matter of course for verification and copyright purposes.

For further information on the preparation and submission of a child protection policy click here .