Ballycullen Community Church is passionate about teaching children the good news of salvation contained in God’s Word, the Bible. We also want to support them in living lives of God honouring discipleship. Along with this we seek to promote the general welfare, health and full development of every child we come in contact with.
We are committed to seeing this happen within a safe environment by safeguarding the welfare of children by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.
Adults selected to work within youth ministries should be secure in the knowledge that they have the full support of the Office Bearers.
1. Leadership
The Office Bearers believe that the selection procedures outlined in the Safeguarding Guidelines greatly assist the assessment of a person’s suitability to work with children and young people. As a result of implementing such procedures, leaders and helpers within the church will be more assured of their position and of the confidence placed in them by the Office Bearers. The procedures outlined in the Safeguarding Guidelines must be followed for the appointment of leaders who will be 18 years or over. This includes Garda Vetting for all those working with children and young people.
2. Training
Leaders and helpers who work with children and young people should attend a Child Protection refreshers course on a regular basis.
3. Reporting of Concerns
The leaders in each of our organisations will be fully conversant with the reporting procedure where there is concern about the welfare of a child. Leaders must not hesitate to report a concern about a child if they are at any time concerned about their welfare.
4. Designated Person(s)
The Office Bearers have appointed Ruth Taylor as Designated Person and Florence Burns as Deputy Designated Person, who will provide consultation, advice and support to organisations and to the Office Bearers on matters concerning the welfare of children and young people. The Office Bearers will keep organisational leaders updated with the name of the Designated Person(s). Any matter brought to the attention of the Designated Person will be treated in strict confidence. Information will be divulged only where there is a legitimate need to know.
5. Parental Consent Forms
Organisational leaders must ensure that they have home contact numbers, parental consent and medical information regarding the children in the organisation which they are working with. Special consent forms will be issued for any ‘off the premises’ activity and residential programmes.
6. Good standards of Practice.
Each organisation will be expected to comply with the good standards of practice outlined in the Safeguarding Guidelines . This includes but is not limited to physical contact, transport, residential programmes and outings, photographs, and working with children who have special needs.
7. Communication
Leaders should limit the direct Internet and mobile communication they have with individual children and young people in the organisation of which they are leaders. Leaders will operate under the standards outlined in the Safeguarding Guidelines in order to protect both young people and themselves.
8. Implementation and Review
The Office Bearers are responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy, and will review it every three years with the leaders in charge of youth organisations.