Contents Page Overview 4 Children’s Church Enrolment/Registration Policy 7 Supervision Policy 8 Policy for and Leader Protection 10 Policy for Child Protection from Sexual, Physical or Verbal Abuse 14 Touching Policy 19 Access to Children Policy 20 Policy for Pastoral Care of Children and Families 21 Physical and Verbal Safety Policy 23 Policy for Participants with Special Needs and /or Disabilities 24 Policy for the Recruitment, Screening & Appointment of Staff & Volunteers 26 Training Policy 27 Transportation Policy 28 Policy for Dealing with a Complaint 29 Safety Policy 30 Policy for Emergencies 31 Procedure for Police Record 34 Positive Behaviour Guidelines 36 Health and Safety Guidelines 39 Guidelines for Standard of Conduct for Leaders in Children’s Programmes 44 Accident and Incident Reporting Guidelines and Procedures 46 Recruitment, Screening and Appointment Guidelines 48 Guidelines - If a Child Discloses Information to You 51 Procedure for Reporting Suspicion or Allegation of Child Abuse 52 Guidelines for Revocation or Termination of a Leader 53
Safety Guidelines 54 Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Social Networking 55 Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Emails and Mobile Phones 57 Risk Analysis and Management including Event Safety Planning Procedure 58 Off-Site Safety Event Planning Flowchart 62 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION - Children’s Ministry Team Facilitator 64 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION – Associate Pastor – Children & Family 66 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION – Small Group Leader 68 Sample Job Description – Teaching Team 70 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION – Pastor, Children & Family Ministries 72 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION – Children & Families Leader 73 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION – Children & Families Pastor 76 Registration and Enrolment Form 81 Incident or Accident Reporting Form 83 Children’s Ministry Volunteer Information Form 85 Police Vetting – Church Form for Vetting Application 88 Police Vetting – Church Form Schedule 89 Record of Ongoing Training and Development Form 90 Standard of Conduct for People Involved In Ministry Programmes 91 Young Volunteer Covenant 92 Interview Script - Referees 94 Management Checklist for Applicant Recruitment 96 Leader Review Form – Paid Staff 97 Pastoral Care Form 99
Visitation Children with special needs We believe that all children are part of God’s family. We aim to do all that we can to ensure that children with special needs are welcomed and that their needs are adequately catered for. Every effort is made to include these children into all of our programs. We have policies and procedures in place and maintain clear communication with parents and caregivers of children with special needs. OSH Requirements We have guidelines and procedures in place to ensure that all buildings and equipment are maintained and used as safely as possible. Policies include: Event Safety Planning Emergency Procedures First aid Checklist Safety Checklist Annual site risk assessment Accident and incident reporting Complaints Procedure Positive, open and clear communication is required from all leaders and expected from families. Families are encouraged to express their views openly to the leader concerned and /or the leader of the ministry area. Any issues arising will be with respectfully. A complaints form is to be used if mutual agreement is not reached. This will then go to the senior pastor of the church. Policies The Policies of the Children’s Ministry are to be regularly assessed. A formal review will be undertaken every two years and signed off by the Children’s Ministry leader. A copy of all policies is kept in the church office and is available to parents and leaders. Policies and procedures are updated as required to reflect current practice.
Touching guideline Training guideline Identification of child abuse. Information on identifying when a child needs help is available in the booklet “How Can I Tell” from Those churches that attended the 2013 Safety Training workshops will have received a copy of this booklet with their manual. Reporting of abuse. We must protect our children and meet legal requirements to report suspected abuse. Section 15 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 Section 15 provides that: “Any person who believes that any child or young person has been, or is likely to be, harmed (whether physically, emotionally, or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, or deprived may report the matter to a Social Worker at CYFS or a member of the Police.” When harm is suspected take action immediately. Consult with someone experienced, like Children’s Ministry leader or Resource manager or outside agencies (‘Child Youth and Families’ or ‘Child Matters’). Record details of what you saw, heard and what the child or someone else told you. Include times and dates. If your suspicions are not confirmed as significant, continue to monitor the situation closely in consultation with others (Children’s Ministry leader or Resource manager) If your concerns are confirmed and there is immediate danger, report to CYFSand Children’s Ministries Facilitator. Inform the Children’s Ministry leader or in their absence the Resource Manager of your actions so that you gain support and follow the proper process. The Children’s Ministry leader will take responsibility and report directly to the Resource Manager. Responding to suspicions and/or allegations against a leader in a church. If any suspicions of abuse occur, leaders and staff are to first and foremost act in the best interest of the child concerned. Do not protect the church, its “reputation”, any leader or pastor at the expense of the child. All suspicions and/or allegations are to be treated with confidentiality towards all parties.
Record of Orientation Training Form Holiday Programme Name of Leader: ________________________________________________________________________ Record of staff/volunteer Training and Development Training Given Method of Training Sign & date Face to face Training manual Other or video Ministry vision Goals for the ministry Value of the team of the parents Expectations of leader including Standard of Conduct Job description Interaction with children and parents Programme operation Registration and attendance sheets Check-in and check-out process Behaviour Management Positive discipline techniques Reporting Health and Safety Use of checklist Medication request and record form First aid kits Clean up container Unwell children Hazard Identification form Pastoral Care Procedures Form
Hazard Identification and Analysis Form Hazard and potential harm identification Risk Category: High Medium Low Practicable to: Controls required (including existing) Person responsible Date of Action Completed by Eliminate Yes/No Isolate Yes/No Minimize Yes/No Risk Assessment Management (RAM) Form Programme/Event: Centre: Activity/Activities: Date/s: