Appendix 3: Safety & Protection Policy

<typohead type="3">1. Introduction: Safety and Protection Issues</typohead>

1.1 Churches must take seriously the issues related to working safely with children and do everything they can to protect children from any potential harm.

1.2 The Presbyterian Church has provided various forms of guidelines over the years. It is now time to ensure that every congregation has considered these matters carefully and adopted a suitable policy and procedures. It is mandatory for every church to adopt and implement a Safety and Protection Policy.

1.3 Those in leadership and decision-making roles in each congregation need to accept responsibility for adopting and implementing a safety and protection policy.

1.4 Those who actually work with children and families should be made aware of the policy and procedures as they apply to their area of ministry.

1.5 The following sample Safety and Protection Policy could be adopted by a church in principle while they consider particular issues that might need to be included in a particular policy appropriate to programmes and activities they offer.

1.6 There are three major keys to safe practice:

1. Very careful assessment and appointment process

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written application, trusted referees, perceptive interviews, police checks

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2. Develop … and insist on use of a safety and protection policy:

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the policy statement summarises the values and principles underlying your ministry with children and families

this policy document should be accompanied by procedures, protocols, guidelines and strategies, including:

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– outline of your assessment and appointment process

– practical strategies: e.g. ratio of leaders to children and young people; fire drills; policies and protocols for car travel/swimming/camps/" counting on outings"; requirements for storage and maintenance of equipment … and how you will meet all other OSH requirements; risk management strategies.

– sample forms … for the application process, risk management, incident reports, permission slips.

<typohead type="3">3. Education:</typohead>

For leaders, children, parents, church/group members:

understanding what is expected, processes and protocols to be followed

complaints procedures

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Safety and projection policy
This document (in pdf format) covers the steps that churches must take in relation to working safely with children and taking all possible steps to protect them from potential harm.

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Appendix 3: Safety & Protection Policy