Child protection and disclosure

Sue Doggett

Most denominations have Child Protection Guidelines based on the Home Office document, Safe from Harm. Check that your church has a copy either of the denominational guidelines or the Home Office document and is adhering to it. If you are unsure ask your church leader who should at least tell you how to get in touch with your denomination office. If your church is non-denominational and has no policy on this contact the Home Office for a copy of their guidelines. The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service will answer questions and can provide training in working with children and setting up a policy and the correct systems within your church. Their address is Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service, PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ. telephone: 01322 667207; email: info@ccpas.co.uk or at . People working with children should hold a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) enhanced level certificate of disclosure. This is a legal requirement and is not optional. The Criminal Records Bureau contact address is: PO Box 110, Liverpool L3 6ZZ. The application telephone number is: 0870 90 90 344. The disclosure website is: www.disclosure.gov.uk. Your church should have a ‘Child Protection Policy’ and be able to help you with applications for disclosure.

Please make sure that the following actions are taken for your children’s work. The whole church is responsible and it should not be left to the children’s workers themselves.

• As already stated, people working with children should hold a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) enhanced level certificate of disclosure. This is a legal requirement and is not optional.
• There should be a ‘named person’ in your church who can deal with any queries and who has received training on this issue.
• There should have been some training for people working with children in your church. This can be done through your ‘named person’, denomination, CCPAS, NSPCC or your local authority.
• There should be a policy on or understanding of practice about what is appropriate when touching or disciplining children.
• There should be a recognised system for dealing with disclosures (where a child talks about being ill treated or bullied at home, school or in another location by friends, family or strangers). Children’s workers should, on no account, take it on themselves to tackle these problems or to go to the child’s parents. This must be dealt with through the correct channels or immeasurable harm can be done to the child. Although disclosures are very rare indeed, we must be prepared correctly.