Child Protection
last updated on: 10th Feb 2012
The fourth edition of Protecting All God’s Children, the Church of England’s child protection policy since 1995, has now been published. Since the last edition, in 2004, a significant amount of new legislation and statutory guidance has been produced concerning the safeguarding of children, most notably the Children Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010, which has been incorporated into the revised policy document.
The latest version builds on the work of past editions, updated with regard to the recent government legislation and guidance and the sharing of safeguarding principles under the Anglican/Methodist Covenant. Both Churches are committed to full compliance with the Working Together guidance in terms of informing the statutory authorities of concerns and allegations.
It also includes a number of clarified and expanded sections, as well as a model code of safer working practice for use as part of induction packs and as the basis of local church policy development.
Safer recruitment practice is highlighted in an accompanying paper as an interim policy until current uncertainties around the Independent Safeguarding Authority are clarified by the Government.
The policy is freely available to download from the Church of England website at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/protecting_all_gods_children
Safer Recruitment.
This policy which was launched along with Protecting All God's Children at General Synod in November. It remains an interim policy due to uncertanties about the Government's plans for ISA and CRB. However it contains important information for now, including more detailed CRB guidance than previously available. You should find Appendices 1 and 2 useful for making CRB eligibility decisions
DIOCESE OF LEICESTER CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Over the last twenty years there has been a transformation in the way we in England are required to relate to children. The Children Act (1989) ensured that all who work with children (those up to the age of 18) should treat them with respect and with care to enable them to thrive.
Many of those who worked on the Children Act were Christians and were employed by church agencies. They argued from their Christian perspective that
children are fully human, made in the image of God, and adults can learn from them (Mark 9:37)
children are vulnerable, needing the protection of adults. Adults should be held responsible for any harm they do to children (Matthew 18:6-7)
We need to know that all the children under our care are safe. We want our church communities to be places where children thrive. This policy has been drawn up by a group which includes the diocesan staff who work most closely with children. The policy also draws on the most recent national advice on child protection. It requires both individuals and church communities to take seriously both human goodness, and our propensity to do evil.
Since redemption and the possibility of forgiveness are so central to the gospel, the church is particularly challenged by those who commit offences against children. Some abusers see church membership as an opportunity to be close to children. Other offenders, who are genuinely penitent, will see in church communities one of the few places where they can find a new start. Experience shows that, whether penitent or not, abusers always need protecting against their own tendencies, and children need protecting from abusers. The genuine penitent will accept the need for careful arrangements for admission to church fellowship. This coheres with our understanding of sin and its effects.
This policy aims to create a culture of informed vigilance which takes children seriously. It aims to enable authorised volunteers, employed lay people and people holding the bishop's licence to work with children in confidence. Above all its purpose is to enable the children in our care to flourish.
The Policy
The Diocese of Leicester is committed to creating a culture which allows children to flourish and child protection is a priority. It does this
by maintaining its structure for managing child protection, with an established sub-committee of the Bishop's Council, the Child Protection Committee, which reviews and develops diocesan policy. The Child Protection Committee provides a risk assessment service to enable parishes and organisations to evaluate and manage any risk posed by individuals or by activities within the church.
through the Child Protection Adviser who is directly accountable to the diocesan bishop. She advises the Bishop and his senior staff on development of child protection policy. The adviser works with the Bishop when an allegation of abuse has been made on such areas which include the proper referral of cases to the statutory authorities and the support of the accused, the victim and the congregation.
through the Child Protection Officer who helps to provide training and support on child protection matters to parishes, diocesan organisations and those who hold the Bishop's Licence and maintains the records of parish policies. The Child Protection Officer belongs to the national network of officers and advisers.
through an administrative officer who processes diocesan applications to the CRB.
through the Archdeacons' responsibilities which now include the monitoring of child protection through their articles of enquiry.
through this handbook of good practice, which includes a model policy, drawing on the experience of other dioceses and parishes to enable us all to develop our work with children.
passed by Diocesan Synod May 2003
CHILD PROTECTION UPDATES & INFORMATION April 2009
Diocese of Leicester: Protecting the Vulnerable
The Independent Safeguarding Authority Vetting and Barring Scheme
The Bichard enquiry set up after the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire in 2002 concluded that there was a need for a single agency to check individuals working with children and vulnerable adults. The Independent Safeguarding Authority has been created to do this in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The new vetting service will have a single list of those who are barred from working with children and vulnerable adults. These replace the existing Protection of Children Act (PoCA) list, List 99 and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA), as well as the current system of Disqualification orders, which is operated by the criminal justice system. The service will also collate information from employers and voluntary organisations, local authority children’s’ and social services, professional bodies including the General Medical Council and inspectorates such as Ofsted and the Healthcare Commission. Designated Officers of the Leicester Diocesan Child Protection Management Group will be authorised to access the ISA system.
The ISA will assess every person who wants to work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults. Applicants will still need to be CRB checked. CRB covers a wider spectrum of offences. The ISA system will be introduced gradually: from 26thJuly 2010(instead of 12th October 2009 as previously notified)
- New volunteers and job applicants will need to apply for registration
- Employers and voluntary organisations working with children and vulnerable adults (such as the diocese and its parishes) will not be permitted to recruit those who are not ISA-registered
Over the following 5 years all those who already have CRB clearance will gradually be integrated on to the ISA scheme.The one-off fee for registration with the ISA will be £64 for paid workers. Registration will be free for volunteers
For the present, please continue
- to CRB check all new volunteers and paid workers before they begin to work with children,
- to recheck all those whose CRB clearance is over 5 years old.
Details of the ISA application process will be publicised as it becomes available.
(with thanks to Alex Tomlin and the ATL Magazine)
CONTACT DETAILS
Child Protection Officer
c/o Andrew Brockbank
St Martins House
7 Peacock Lane
Leicester
LE1 5PZ
T: 0116 261 5312
andrew.brockbank@leccofe.org
Resources:
Policy on safe internet use
1. Letter to Child Protection Coordinators July 08
2. Diagram for CRB process & 5 year renewals 9.7.08
3. Amended Handbook page 20 - CRB Renewals 9.7.08
4. Amended Handbook page 39 Annual Registration Form 8.7.08
5. Trial Media Policy - July 08
6. Policy on Secure Handling of Disclosure Information
Child Protection Handbook( with amendments)
CRB Guidance Notes
Download - Forms
Download - Model Policy
ISA Statement April 2009
Pocket Guide to Safeguarding Children
Update Nov 2011
Policy Statement on recruitment of ex-offenders
Policy Statement on Secure Handling of Disclosure Information
