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Guidelines
for supervision of children and adolescents
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1.
In order to minimise the risk of harm, we
will ensure proper supervision is given,
taking into consideration the number and
ages of children, the type of activity and
the environment in which it is taking place.
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2.
We will arrange that, as far as possible, an
adult is not left
alone
with a child or adolescent where there is
little or no opportunity of the activity or
counselling being observed by others.
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3.
No group will be taken off the
premises with fewer than two adults and only
with written parental consent.
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4.
Where children and adolescents have
to be transported by car or
minibus,
we will arrange, as far as possible, to have
more than one
adult
in the vehicle.
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5.
Where voluntary workers are transporting
children and adolescents, all reasonable
measures will be taken to ensure safety and
compliance with the law and insurance
requirements.
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6.
We will ensure that children that
have been collected are left
in
the care of an adult when returned home from
a meeting.
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7.
Every worker will know where the
nearest telephone is for use
in
an emergency.
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Guidelines
for contact with children and adolescents
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No
worker will meet a child or adolescent off
church premises without parental permission
or involvement.
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Workers
should never :-
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¨ engage
in rough, physical or sexually provocative
games, including horseplay.
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¨ allow
or engage in inappropriate touching of any
form
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¨ allow
children to use inappropriate language
unchallenged.
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¨ make
sexually suggestive comments about or to a
child even in fun.
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¨ discount
allegations made by a child.
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¨ do
things of personal nature for children that
they can do for themselves eg.
dress/undress, help with toileting etc.,
except in special circumstances, i.e. the
very young and / or disability, and only
with parental consent and knowledge.
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Workers
should think of how they appear with
children in public -
they
may be misunderstood !
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It
is not acceptable to shout at or
roughly handle a child.
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After
consideration, we reserve the right to
refuse to take disruptive
children
on outings or meetings.
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General
Guidelines
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Regular
opportunities will be made for workers to
meet together to review and plan their work,
to share their experiences, to receive
training and to talk about their
relationships with the children and
adolescents
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Workers
should feel free to bring concerns to their
leader or minister.
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Workers
will be reviewed on an annual basis and will
re-sign the FIMC declaration form.
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It
is important to record accidents in the
incident book as soon as possible, no matter
how seemingly insignificant.
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Parents
must be informed of any accident or incident
which has occurred on the church premises
when the child is returned to them after the
meeting.
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Workers
should be aware of the types of abuse which
may take place:
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¨ Physical,
where children or adolescents receive
physical hurt or injury.
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¨ Sexual,
where a person or persons seek sexual
gratification by using
children
and / or adolescents.
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¨ Emotional,
where children or adolescents are harmed by
a constan lack
of love and affection, or threats, taunting
etc.
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¨ Neglect,
where a child or adolescent is not receiving
adequate food
or
clothing etc
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The
following may be signs of abuse:
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Physical
abuse; unexplained injuries or those which
have received no medical attention, hidden
injuries, signs of neglect.
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Sexual
abuse: allegations made by the child or
adolescent, preoccupation with sexual
matters, sexual activity through word, play
or drawing, severe sleep disturbance with
fears and phobias, being sexually
provocative with adults.
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Emotional
abuse: regression
in behaviour, nervousness, sudden
under-achievement,
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inappropriate
relationships with peers/ adults, attention
seeking, running away/ stealing/ lying,
looking uncared for. If you suspect abuse,
do not delay, but follow the guidelines for
reporting the information.
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