Policy of the Methodist Church on the Safeguarding of Children and Young People

The East Lincolnshire Methodist Circuit fully adopts and endorses the Policy of the Methodist Church on the Safeguarding of Children and Young People which says:

As the people of the Methodist Church, we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God's purpose for everyone. We seek to safeguard all members of the church communities in the Circuit, of all ages. It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children and young people.

The implication of that policy is that:

• No one who has been convicted of or has received a formal police caution concerning an offence against children as listed in the First Schedule of the Children and Young Person's Act 1933 shall work with children or young people in the life of the Church
• No one who has been convicted of or has received a formal police caution concerning sexual offences against children and young people shall be appointed to certain offices in the life of the Church

This means that:

• All ministers, deacons, employed staff and all others who work with children and young people under the age of 18, or who have lone access to premises on which such children and young people may be, are required to be the subject of an application for a relevant Criminal Record Bureau discloser, comply with the requirements of Methodist Church Regulations regarding “Safeguarding” and observe good practice in their work.
• All Local Preachers are required to complete Safeguarding Form B and observe good practice in their work.
• All reasonable care must be taken by those responsible within the Circuit to ensure that persons who have been convicted of or have received a formal police caution concerning sexual offences against children or young people shall not undertake work in the Methodist Church as listed below:

1. Any duty or responsibility exercised on behalf of the Methodist Church which involves:

(a) lone access to church premises
(b) face to face contact with children and young people without the presence of another adult
(c) carrying out duties off church premises in circumstances in which the person concerned may be seen as a representative of the church

2. Any office within the following categories:

Representational

Membership of the:

• Church Council
• Circuit Meeting
• District Synod
• Methodist Council
• Methodist Conference

Liturgical or pastoral

• Local Preachers
• Worship leaders
• Organists/choir leaders
• Pastoral visitors/Class leaders
• Communion stewards
• Workers with children and young people

Implementation of the Policy

To ensure the implementation of the above Policy and the guidelines published in Safeguarding children and young people, the Circuit will:

• Appoint a Safeguarding Team to advise on Child Protection
• Support the ministers and those in pastoral charge in exercising responsibility for the implementation of this policy for good practice in the care of children and young people in the Methodist Church.
• Ensure that all churches in the Circuit have adopted a policy and appropriate procedures relating to the safety and welfare of children and young people in the church and that relevant documentation is available.
• Ensure that at all Circuit events the Circuit Policy is implemented.
• Ensure that all Local Preachers complete the safeguarding form.
• Ensure that all Circuit Office holders are aware of the terms of Standing Order 010 concerning the holding of office, duty or responsibility.
• Ensure adequate training initiatives are developed and delivered.
• Monitor and evaluate policies annually.

Throughout the Circuit

Each church must implement a policy for “safeguarding” together with an outline of good practice and sensible precautions which reflects the guidelines issued by the Methodist Church and are to be followed by all workers with children and young people.

At least two adults should be present with an individual or group of children/young people at a time.

Each church must display a child protection line phone number (eg Childline)