GOOD PRACTICE
Potters Church is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults, and that the needs of children or of people when they are vulnerable are paramount.
Potters Church commits itself to ensuring the implementation of the Methodist Church Safeguarding policies and procedures, of government legislation and guidance and of safer working practices in the Circuit and in the churches. (From ‘The Potters Church Safeguarding Policy’).
This document sets out the guidelines for all paid employees and volunteers when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. It is a working document and will be reviewed each autumn after every department has conducted its annual review.
Our SAFEGUARDING POLICY is available to read here.
General Good Practice for paid workers and volunteers
• Be conversant with and follow all existing controls on relevant Risk Assessments. Check the room(s) for any possible hazards before the meeting commences, and report any problems to the Bridge Centre
• Keep and take a register at the start of the meeting so that all can be accounted for
• Be vigilant at all times
• Never be alone in a closed space with a child, young person or vulnerable adult
• Always carry your CCPAS pocket guide for reference
• Attend ongoing safeguarding training. E.g. ‘Creating Safer Space’
• Report to your leader anything that you are concerned about in relation to the safeguarding of those in your care
• Ensure you are conversant with the designated fire procedure for the area of the building you are using
• If a volunteer is absent and staffing levels fall below the minimum a non DBS person can help but must not be left on their own with children
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Little Bridges
• Parents and carers are given a welcome letter explaining that they are responsible for their own child or children. They receive a copy of the fire procedure and the name of the First Aider.
• New parents sign a registration form. It states their child is the parent’s/carer’s responsibility, asks about allergies and for permission to take photographs. The forms are kept by the FSS manager.
• A notice in the room states, ‘Your child is your responsibility’
• Leaders and helpers ensure the safety gate is closed at all times so that no child leaves the room
• Leaders and helpers keep the thoroughfare clear of games and toys
• Hot drinks are kept in a separate room to the children
• Parents and carers escort their children to the toilet
• No leader or helper is left alone with a child.
All toys and equipment are well-maintained, and if necessary, disposed of
The Crèche
• The crèche is an unstaffed facility offered to parents or guardians of young children aged 0-3. There is no supervising staff member on duty at the crèche. Parents and guardians are therefore required to stay with their child whilst they are using the facility.
Potters Kids (Under 5’s)
• All children under the age of 5 is signed in and out of their activities by a guardian over the age of 18
• This guardian must be the one who returns to collect the child
• Children are accompanied to the toilet by a supervising Potters Kids volunteer, who has been DBS checked and is over 18. Should the child require help, the volunteer would go into the cubicle to help. If the child is deemed able to manage on their own then they may go into the cubicle without supervision but the door would not be locked
• Appropriate ratio of staff to children is maintained at all times in accordance with guidelines
• Registration sheets are completed for all new children
• No helper is left alone with a child
• Parents and carers are sent for if their child shows signs of becoming distressed or unwell
Potters Kids (Over 5’s)
• Appropriate ratio of staff to children is maintained at all times in accordance with guidelines
• Children are accompanied to the toilet by the supervising Potters Kids volunteer, who has been DBS checked and is over 18. If the child is deemed able to manage on their own then they may go into the cubicle without supervision but the door is kept unlocked
• Registration sheets are completed for all new children
• No leader or helper is left alone with a child
• Parents and carers are sent for if their child shows signs of becoming distressed or unwell
POTTERS MAX (11-13 year olds)
• A register is kept and taken at the start of the meeting so that all can be accounted for
• Appropriate ratio of staff to children is maintained at all times in accordance with guidelines
• Registration sheets are completed for all new children
• No leader or helper is left alone with a child
• Parents and carers are sent for if their child shows signs of becoming distressed or unwell
• Children us the toilets adjacent to the Recreation Room
Potters Youth (13-18 year olds)
• Good practice for leaders dealing with young people (under the age of 18) of the opposite sex and of the same sex
• When using Facebook, youth team members should not use the ‘Chat’ function. All correspondence should be as public as possible. This requires leaving all messages for individuals on their ‘Wall’ with any pastoral messages that cannot be discussed in person, sent to their ‘Inbox’ in a private message. Youth team members must not ‘private message’ members of the opposite sex under any circumstances. The generic youth team Facebook account should be used whenever possible.
• No private one – to- one situations to take place. Make sure other adults can see you.
• When giving lifts, youth team members must not be alone with someone of the opposite sex. If lifts are given to many young people, the parents of the last child in the car should be notified prior to the situation occurring with the youth team member seeking permission from the parents to give their child a lift. No under 18 of the opposite sex to the driver must sit in the front passenger seat
• If you are to spend time with an under 18 of the same sex outside of youth group events then their parents must be made aware and you must send a text to another youth leader to let them know.
• If you are made aware of any pastoral issues regarding someone in the Youth Group then inform the appropriate gender leader a.s.a.p.
• You cannot promise confidentiality to any young person
Mentoring (Children, Young People and Adults)
• Mentors are selected by the mentoring coordinators. They are people that have demonstrated good character and have a heart for developing younger Christians.
• Mentors receive one session of training on mentoring good practice and are given a mentoring handbook. They are expected to go to the training on ‘Creating Safer Space’ delivered by the church safeguarding officer
• Mentors working with under 18’s are DBS checked.
• Mentees under 18 are encouraged to ask their parents’ permission.
• All mentoring sessions with under 18’s take place in a ‘public place’ e.g. at the Bridge Centre
• The mentors and mentees share a booklet to direct their discussions
• The completed programme is reviewed to discuss any issues raised
Welcome Team
• Team members follow all guidelines on fire procedure, and first aid procedure
• All under 16 team members are put with an adult to welcome
• Team members are advised to get help if someone is distressed and to stay in a public place where others can see them
• Ushers check that aisles and fire exits are kept clear
• Team members make parents/carers aware if children do not return after leaving the auditorium unaccompanied
Open House
* Leaders follow all guidelines on fire procedure and first aid procedure
A register is kept and taken at the start of the meeting so that all can be accounted for
Visitors
• The team member knows the person to be visited or has made contact before the visit
• Team members visit a person of the same sex
• If appropriate they will meet in a public place
• All team members follow a set of guidelines