1. Should we have leadership of both sexes at our mixed/single sex group?
It would be preferable – children and young people may relate better to one sex rather than the other.
2. What is the position of young workers under 16 years of age? Can they be workers? Should we carry out a Criminal Records Bureau check? What about the use of occasional helpers?
CCPAS advise that all workers should be at least 16 years of age. Some churches say 18. Certainly no one under 16 should be employed as a worker (either voluntary or paid). All workers should be recruited to the same standards following the principles laid down in the government document “Safe from Harm” (outlined in the CCPAS Guidance to Churches manual). A criminal records check would be part of this process. Where occasional helpers are used, or someone is taken on for work experience - say, a 14 year old helping out in a crèche - the “helper” should be under the supervision of, and be responsible to, a named “approved” worker. They should never be on their own with the children. The helper would not be included in the ratio of children to workers. The helper would not need to undertake the same recruitment and selection procedure as a worker, though you should ask them to complete a simple form in the same way as children complete a consent form for the group/activity they are attending. If the “occasional help” becomes regular, then in the case of adults, the full recruitment policy should be applied.
3. Are there any legal requirements with regard to Adult – Child ratios?
There are legal requirements for certain activities involving children aged 8 or under. The ratios set out below apply to groups that run for two or more hours a day on 6 days or more in a year. Even if there isn't a legal requirement, the ratios are nevertheless ‘good sense' in terms of managing any group of children in this age group:
0-2 yrs 1 adult to 3 children
2-3yrs 1 adult to 4 children
3-8yrs 1 adult to 8 children
There are no legal requirements for older groups, but the CCPAS manual ‘Guidance to Churches' provides guidance in this area based on numbers and the type of activity being undertaken.
4. We are planning a “sleep-over”. Do adult supervisors have to be registered workers, or can we use parents for this or any other kind of similar activity?
If parents offer to help during a sleepover, it is important that the organiser's expectations are made clear. It is important to remember that a parent of one child in the group may be a complete stranger to the others. Parents should only be responsible for caring for their own child unless requested to look after another child by a particular parent. However, a parent/carer, should not be involved in looking after other children and should not be left alone with them. Only approved workers (which could, of course, include a parent) should be involved in general care and supervision. If the sleep-over is taking place in a family home, then parents of all participating children should be made aware of the arrangements and whether this is a church or family arrangement.
5. What steps are there to protect workers against false allegations?
Developing safe practice in working with children and young people protects children and also minimises the risk of false allegations against workers. It's a double-sided coin. Teamwork, with staff accepting a responsibility for and to each other is also vital. (See also “Abuse Issues”)
6. We want to appoint a Father Christmas. Can you help us with a Code of Practice?
Preferably use one of your “approved” children's workers. If not, Father Christmas could always have a suitably dressed assistant present who is an approved worker. Ensure that touching and contact remains in the child's control. There is no reason why children should not kiss Santa on the cheek providing this is initiated by the child and not Santa. There should be no unnecessary touching. Perhaps you could consider providing a bench for children to sit on. Ensure Santa enters in an area that is well lit and as public as possible. You can always advertise the event in advance and invite parents to be present. If you feel uneasy about a particular Santa, then go with your “gut” feeling and ensure someone else takes over.
7. What are the rules about helping children applying sun cream?
Some organisations prohibit physical contact with a child/young person due to the fear of false allegations. CCPAS recommend ‘good sense' child protection with the following advice:
8. We recently prepared a child protection policy that says that all food should be prepared in accordance with Food Safety Regulations. Where can we find these?
The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations (1995) state that anyone who handles food or whose actions could affect its safety must follow the regulations. Where food is being sold, and this includes children taken away on camp where the food is included in the cost, then best practice dictates that those with responsibility for food should possess the basic Food Hygiene Certificate and be aware of food safety (preparation, handling and storage, disposal of waste, etc). We suggest you contact your local Council Environmental Health Department to enquire about food hygiene courses. These courses are often provided free, or for a minimal charge.
9. Should we use recently qualified drivers for transporting children and young people? What age should minibus drivers be to transport children?
Whilst there is no legislation which prohibits young or inexperienced drivers from transporting children/young people, some churches prefer to operate under the regulations set out for mini-bus drivers in the area of age and experience, namely that the driver should be 21 or over and have held a full driving licence for at least two years. We advise the following:
In relation to minibuses, all drivers must be over 21 and the law no longer permits car drivers who passed their test after 1 st January 1997 to drive a mini-bus without passing a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) driving test unless they are qualified under a section 19 permit. All minibuses that carry between 6 and 16 passengers must also have a Small Bus Permit. Not all driving licences automatically include a clause permitting an individual to drive a minibus, so it is important to check the potential driver's licence. Remember, the maximum speed for a minibus is 50 mph on a single carriageway, 60 mph on a dual carriageways, and 70 mph on motorways. All mini-buses should be fitted with seat belts and used by the passengers! For further information see CCPAS ‘Guidance to Churches' child protection manual.
Frequently Asked Questions - Good Practice