Child Protection Policy of the
Association of Interchurch Families
Being Updated

1 Introduction

1.1 Association Details

Name of the association:    Association of Interchurch Families (hereafter, the “Association”)
Location:                                3rd Floor, Bastille Court, Paris Garden, London SE1 8ND
Registered Charity No.:                  283811

1.2 Association Statement

The Association's committee (hereafter, the “Committee”) take seriously their responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people entrusted to the Association’s care.  This responsibility includes briefing and supporting those appointed to look after children.  To this end a Committee member will be nominated to have oversight of Child Protection matters (the CPP Trustee).

1.3 Areas of Policy

The Committee have adopted the policy contained in this document, (hereafter “the policy”). The policy sets out agreed guidelines relating to the following areas:

• Appointing people to look after children at Association meetings or events.
• Supervision of activities at meetings or events organised by the Association.
• Responding to allegations of abuse, including those made against those looking after the children or members of the Association at meetings or events organised by the Association.

2 Appointment of People Responsible for the Care of Children at Association Meetings or Events

Those who care for children within the Association fall into one of three categories:-

• Association workers, employed on a permanent or temporary contract by the Association to work with children
• People who are not members of the Association but assist in caring for children at an Association event whether on a paid or voluntary basis
• Association members who assist with children at Association events on an occasional basis.

The appointment process for each of the above categories will be as follows.

2.1 Association workers, employed on a permanent or temporary contract by the Association to work with children.

In appointing such people, the Association will ensure that:

• An application form is completed by the potential employee (Appendix A).
• References are taken up by the CPP Trustee.
• The applicant is interviewed and the Child Protection Policy explained to him or her.
• A police check is made.
• A contract is entered into with the successful applicant (Appendix B).

2.2 People who are not members of the Association but assist in caring for children at an Association event whether on a paid or voluntary basis.

In engaging the services of such people the Association will ensure that

• If the carers do not belong to a registered organisation (e.g. an established creche) they are asked to complete an application form (Appendix A)
• The names of Referees are made available the CPP Trustee.
• A police check is made on team leaders; a check may also be made on other members of the team.
• Each member of the team is given a copy of this Child Protection Policy.

2.3 Association members who assist with children at Association events on an occasional basis.

The Association will ensure that such people are given a copy of the Association’s Child Protection Policy.

3 Arrangements For Supervision Of Group/Children’s Activities

The occasions when children are supervised away from their parents fall into two main categories:

• Events formally organised by the Association or

• Informal events organised by members.

This Policy is to apply at all events formally organised by the Association; its principles and provisions should also be observed at all other events covered by (b).

For all events formally organised by the Association a person will be nominated to have special responsibility for the children, including actions under the Child Protection Policy. This person will be known as the Children’s Coordinator and his / her name and contact details will be notified to all who attend such events.

The Children’s Co-ordinator is to make him/herself aware of the local contact number of social services.

3.1 Supervision of Group Activities

Taking care of children who are away from their parents involves taking responsibility for their well being at all times, being prepared for every eventuality and anticipating situations where there is potential for harm and taking steps to minimise the risks.

It is the responsibility of all workers to know the whereabouts of children and young people who are in their care.  The supervision ratio of workers to children per age range is to be no less than as follows.

Age Range	Adults : Children
0 - 3 years (creche)	1 : 3
4 – 8 years	1 : 8
9 – 11 years	1 : 10
11 –14 years	1 : 12

There should never be fewer than two adults where any child is under 14 years and if girls are present one adult should be female.

The workers are to ensure that the only people allowed into a children's activity are the workers assigned to that group.  Other adults will not have free access.  If any adult, including parents and those with parental responsibility, need to be there for a specific reason the responsible worker is to ensure that a note is made in the workers log of their name and the time they came/left.
Both children and parents will be issued with name badges at the start of meetings and conferences and these must be worn when children are in their own groups as a means of identification when children are left/collected.

3.2 Handover of Responsibility for Children

Children’s workers will assume responsibility for children 5 minutes before the start of a scheduled “session” and will relinquish responsibility 5 minutes after the scheduled end of the session. Outside these periods parents/carers have responsibility for their children.

 Parents/carers of all children up to the age of eight are to sign the workers’ log when they collect their child.

If a child of any age is collected before the end of a session then the responsible parent/carer must sign a log indicating the child’s name and the time collected.

3.3 Parental Consent

At registration for an Association meeting where parents will be in the same building or site as the children, parents must give the names of the children that are to be passed to the care and supervision of workers and in so doing this is recognised as giving parental consent to the child taking part in all legitimate activities organised by the workers on that site.

There may be occasions when activities are to take place off site or are residential or day activities away from home and parent.  No children should be allowed to participate in such activities without the written consent of the parent/guardian.  (Appendix C - Parental Consent form)

3.4 Child Protection Record File

A Child Protection Record File will be available to record all incidents regarded as significant by those looking after children.  Since the file may contain sensitive information, it will be kept separate from the accident book which will record any accidents or injuries and which the parent or carer will be asked to read and sign on collecting any injured children.

3.5 Fire Hazard

All adults caring for children are to make themselves aware of the fire exits from the buildings and the fire warning and drill in the event of a fire.

3.6 First Aid

Best practice dictates that there should be at least one person on the premises who holds a recognised first aid qualification.  The organisers of the event are to ensure that:

• Suitable First Aid boxes are available and their location known to all those caring for children.
• The First Aider records all accidents and injuries on the appropriate form (e.g. Appendix D).
• The location and telephone numbers of the nearest doctor and hospital are readily available.

3.7 Transportation

When children are taken from an organised event, the Organisers will ensure that all drivers have adequate car insurance if they are transporting children.

Mini-buses:  Any motor vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers for hire or reward is regarded in law as a Public Service Vehicle (PSV). A small bus permit is therefore required for all mini buses used to carry between 6 and 16 passengers.  All minibuses used to transport children should therefore have:

• a small bus permit.
• the necessary insurance.
• A driver with a valid driving licence which entitles them to drive a minibus.
• When the children are under the age of 14 there should be one other adult in the vehicle.

3.8 Insurance

The type and extent of any insurance required for an event / outing will be ascertained by the adult in charge. The organisers are to confirm that any centre being used has adequate Public Liability Insurance.

4 Guidance in case of suspected abuse

1. Any member of the Association or person looking after children at an Association meeting must report any concerns of possible abuse as soon as possible to the Children’s Co-ordinator, CPP Trustee, or in their absence, committee member.
2. If the suspicions in any way involve the Children’s Co-ordinator the report should be made to the CPP Trustee or in his/her absence one of the co-chairs or another member of the Committee (who must not be related to the Co-ordinator).
3. The Children’s Co-ordinator (or CPP Trustee) should not seek to resolve the issue alone but should take one other person, preferably a co-chair or committee member into his / her confidence in order to discuss the most appropriate course of action and to gain support in what will be a tense and potentially distressing situation.
4. The Committee will support the Children’s Co-ordinator, and accept that any information they may have in their possession will only be shared on a need to know basis.
5. It is the right of any individual as a citizen to make direct referrals to the child protection agencies or seek advice from the PCCA Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ. Telephone 01322 660011 or 01322 667207.  However, we would hope that members of the Association would use the procedure in this policy.

Further details of how to respond to allegations of abuse are given at Appendix E.

5 Attendance at Meetings

Where the Committee becomes aware that someone wishing to attend an Association meeting has abused children, the Co-Chairs and CPP Trustee will make a decision as to whether the person may attend and under what conditions.

6 Abuse of Trust: ‘Caring for young people and the vulnerable Guidance for preventing abuse of trust’

The Association undertakes to follow the principles within the Abuse of Trust guidance issued by the Home Office. Those in a position of trust are not to engage in any behaviour which might lead them to develop a sexual relationship with one of the young people in their care for as long as the relationship of trust continues.

Appendices

	Appendix A	Application Form for Paid or Voluntary Work with Children and Young People
	Appendix B	Contract for Children’s and Young People’s Worker
	Appendix C	Parental Consent Form
	Appendix D	Accident Report Form
	Appendix E	Guidelines for Co-ordinator and those Responsible for Care of Children