B. YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S WORK IN THE PARlSH
Organized Parish Groups
1. The Sunday School is for children from three upwards. There is no formal upper limit but work is not provided for children over 10 years. It meets on Sunday Mornings during the first 45 minutes of Mass to provide catechises for young children. lt is open to all children who attend church.
2. The Guild of S. Martin is for young people who serve and sing in the choir. It meets for servers' and choir practice from time to time. Occasionally youth club activities are oraganized in the Vicarage. It is open to young people who attend S. Mary's, by invitation.

Other Parish Groups
3. The Choir is open to girls who attend church, and are willing to come to choir practice from 7pm to 8pm on alternate Fridays who pass an audition conducted by the choir mistress and the organist.
4. The serving team is comprised of boys who are accepted by the Parish Priest who attend church and are willing to come sometimes to a serving practice from 7pm to 8pm
Branches of National Youth Organizations
5. The Boys Brigade maintains its own policy and structures for Child Protection.

One off Children's and Youth Work
6. Sunday School parties, activity days and similar activities are held from time to time. An annual Youth Holiday may be sponsored by the PCC.

C. LEADERS AND HELPERS
1. The Boys Brigade is responsible for its recruitment and Child Safety Policy. A copy of this is to be attached as an appendix to this document.
2. The PCC accepts the need for a consistent policy for recruitment and selection of its youth and children's workers.
3. Recruitment is firstly the responsibility of the Parish Priest. He will act on the advice of the PCC and other people with knowledge of the group.
4. The PCC has drawn up job descriptions for all volunteers to be used by the Parish Priest in all cases. Job descriptions include information on Child Protection and safety issues by referring to this document. See Appendix.
5. In all cases those working regularly with any parochial group will be required to sign a declaration relating to previous criminal convictions. This will be handled in the srictest confidence.
5B The New Declaration system will be used in the parish.
6. The Parish Priest will use the guidance given following the Children Act in assessing the suitability of a volunteer.
a. Previous experience in working with children and young people
b. Where there is no previous experience training will be offered within the first year
c. The ability to provide warm and consistent care
d. Willingness to respect the background and culture of children in their care
e. A commitment to treat all children and young people as individuals and with equal concern
f. Physical health, mental stability, integrity and flexibility.

7. Guidance and Support:
a. Sunday School teachers meet together as necessary to discuss the syllabus and the work, and to give and receive feed back on the work undertaken. The Parish Priest is available to discuss individual matters with specific teachers.
b. The Guild of S. Martin helpers should meet together as the Sunday School teachers do.
c. Choir and Servers leaders have access to the Parish Priest to discuss progress.
d. One off events are planned together and debriefing sessions usually undertaken with the volunteers concerned.

D. INSURANCE AND LlABlLlTY
1. The Boys Brigade is responsible for its own insurance cover.
2. The other groups and activities outlined in ~B are all for church members exclusively.
3. All activities are reported to the PCC and the dates and nature of the activity are agreed by the PCC and entered in the minutes of the meeting. It is the responsibility of those organising activities to ensure that the PCC is informed of what is to happen.
4. Except in the case of Sunday School, a child may only take part in an activity sponsored by the PCC if a Consent Form has been duly filled in and signed by the adult with parental responsibility.
5. Children are brought to Sunday School on the express understanding that an adult with parental responsibility is available in church.

E. STAFF/CHILDREN RATlOS
1. All groups of children, however small will always have at least two leaders. At no time should any adult be alone with an individual or group of children.

2. Minimum Staff/Children Ratios:
Up to 12 young people No less than 2 leaders
13 - 24 young people No less than 3 leaders
25 - 30 young people No less than 4 leaders
Children under 3 should always be accompanied by an adult with parental responsibility when at PCC sponsored events.
3. Where girls are present there should always be at least one woman leader; where boys are present there should always be at least one man present
4. No person under 16 years of age should ever be left in charge of children of any age.
5. No group of children of any age should ever be left unattended.

F. TRlPS OFF THE PREMlSES
1. Trips will not be "normal" part of the work of PCC sponsored groups, and specific consent forms should be obtained and the PCC informed on each occasion. (See §D 3 & 4)
2. The list of names address and next of kin should be copied, and one copy (with the consent forms) to be taken on the trip, the other to be left with a known person in the parish. This to be the responsibility of the person organising the trip.
3. When a party is away there should always be a known contact person in the parish available at a phone in case of emergencies. Arranging this person to be the responsibility of the person organising the trip.

G. FIRST AID
1. First Aid facilities should always be available.
2. The Parental consent form should include space for consent to administer medication. In the absence of this consent, no medication is to be given to a child unless there is considered to be a threat to life or of permanent injury in the event of first aid being refused.
3. The Parental consent form should ask parents to specify all medical complaints, including food allergies .
4. Care should be taken to ensure that the means to gain access to clinicians, police etc is available.
5. Due care should be taken to ensure the safety of materials used and equipment employed.

H. DEALlNG WlTH ACCUSATlONS OF ABUSE
1. Good Practice as laid out in the Diocesan CHlLD PROTECTlON GUlDELlNES is to be maintained at all times.
2. Accusations of abuse are to be listened to sympathetically and with an open mind.
3. Leading or suggestive questions should not be asked.
4. As soon as possible full notes should be made of everything that was said by the person making the report and the person receiving it. These notes should also contain impressions of how things were said, and how the person reporting appeared to be emotionally. These records should be kept secure and indefinitely.
5. If injury has been sustained the child should at once be taken to Hospital A&E or an ambulance should be called. The police should also be informed at once.
6. a The Vicar or Parish Children's Advocate should be informed at once.
b If the accusation involves the Vicar or a member of his family, or a group of which the Vicar or a member of his family is a member, he should not be informed. The Parish Children's Advocate should be informed.
c If the accusation involves the Parish Children's Advocate or a a member of his family or group of which he or a member of his family is a member, he should not be informed. The Vicar should be informed.
d If the accusation involves the Parish Children's Advocate, and the Vicar they should not be informed. The Bishop's Advisers for Child Protection should be informed. Telephone O20 7932 1255.
7. After reports have been made to the responsible parties named in §6 above, allegations of abuse are to be kept confidential. In particular the following should NOT be informed that an allegation has been made until they are told by Social Services:
a Anyone who has been accused of abuse
b The Parents of a child whom it is alleged has been abused.
8. The Vicar and/or Children's Advocate will at once inform social services and the police, where possible through the Bishop's Advisors, in every case.

APPENDIX: Job Descriptions

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
1. In addition to the rest of the policy the Sunday School teachers are responsible for the supervision and care of children at Sunday School.
2. Sunday School Teachers work to the lesson plans agreed with the Vicar.
3. The lessons take place between 10am and 10.45am on Sundays. At the end of the lesson the children are returned to church and to the care of an adult with parental responsibility in church.
4. The Sunday School teachers' rota is agreed between the teachers and the Vicar.
5. Sunday School is for children over 5 years and under 10 years. Children between 3 and 5 may attend if accompanied by an adult with parental responsibility.
6. In the event of an emergency the Sunday School teachers will take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the children, and summon the help of adults with parental responsibility from church as soon as they deem necessary.

GUILD OF S. MARTIN (INCLUDING SERVER'S & CHOIR PRACTICE)
1. In addition to the rest of the policy the Guild helpers are responsible for the supervision and care of children during Guild meetings.
2. Guild meets at times as advertised by the Vicar. Guild activities are agreed between the Vicar and the helpers.
3. All reasonable steps are taken to ensure that a contact telephone number is held for all those attending Guild.
4. In the event of an emergency the guild helpers will take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the children, and summon the help of adults with parental responsibility as soon as they deem necessary.
5. It is assumed that children and young people are in the care of an adult with parental responsibility who is present in church during services at which Guild members are serving or singing in the choir.

YOUTH HOLIDAY, PILGRIMAGES ETC
1. In addition to the rest of the policy those helping on trips are responsible for the supervision and care of children during trips and outings.
2. The helpers will have ensured that they have with them a parental consent form for each and every child and that emergency contact telephone numbers are always
available.

Other helpers and volunteers are expected to follow the policy guidelines given above whenever caring for children as part of church activities.

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