Policy for safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people when ACTS2 members are working with children: if not under the direct control or supervision of the school.
ACTS2 is committed to following the Home Office Code of Practice – Safe From Harm (1993).
The following guidelines indicate that we take our responsibility seriously when dealing with all children and young people. We want to uphold the safety and wellbeing of every child and young person in the schools where we work, as well as providing support and guidance to every ACTS2 Team Member.
‘Children and young people’ refers to anyone in the 0–18 age range who is part of an ACTS2 activity at any time, on or off school premises.
- In all our work we are committed to creating an environment in which every child and young person can develop physically, spiritually and emotionally, protected from harm of every kind, enabled to enjoy life as God intends.
- Responsibility for ACTS2 work lies with the Council of Reference who delegate responsibility to the designated leader of the ACTS2 team in each school.
- Each team must operate under the Child Protection Policy of the school where they are assigned. The Team Leader should request a copy of the school’s Child Protection Policy.
- Team Members will always seek to speak and act in appropriate ways and should never put themselves in a position when they could be alone with a child.
- If a Team Member has any reason to suspect that a child or young person may be subject to abuse, he/she must report it immediately to their Team Leader whose responsibility it is to speak to the Head Teacher or the designated person responsible for Child Protection.
- The situation should be reported to the ACTS2 Child Protection Co-ordinator
- The information must not be discussed with anybody else.
- All Team Members will be required to undergo a check by the Criminal Records Bureau.
- All Team Members will be required to submit a reference from their Church Leader affirming that they are considered to be a suitable person to work with children and young people.
- All Team Members will be required to give an undertaking that they will operate under the ACTS2 Child Protection Policy.
- They will not be able to serve with ACTS2 if they fail to give this undertaking.
As a body of God’s people it is important for us to treat everyone with respect and in a Christ-like way. We must not compromise the safety and well-being of any child or young person.
