CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT

POLICY AIM - "ALL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD ENJOY
THE FACILITIES, CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES OF ENNIS EVANGELICAL CHURCH WITHOUT FEAR OF HARM."

This means that, as a Christian church, we acknowledge the rights of children and are committed to taking every appropriate step to ensure the safety and well being of the children and young people with whom we work regardless of class, race or creed.  We will do this by

·         Carefully selecting, training and supervising those who work with children

·         Informing children and their parents of our policy and procedures, including codes of behaviour for leaders, volunteers, children and parents

·         Recognising that our work with children is the responsibility of the whole church

·         Regularly reviewing our policy against established child protection legislation in Ireland and best practice internationally.

·         Ensuring that safety standards and procedures are adhered to

·         Dealing promptly with child welfare concerns and maintaining a formal and documented complaints procedure.

We recognise that the welfare of children must come first in whatever we do and as part of our commitment to children and young people; the church has appointed a Child Protection Officer (CPO) and a deputy CPO to cover in times of absence or other need.

A central plank of the EEC Child Protection Policy is the understanding of and respect for the rights of children.  This includes listening to children’s views and affording them the opportunity to contribute to matters concerning them.

Responsibility for the implementation of this policy rests with everyone in the church.  All who work in children’s/youth ministry must to be aware of this policy and it is their duty to ensure its implementation.

In the event of any suspected or alleged incidents that compromise this policy, it is the responsibility of the CPO to see that the case is fully documented and to follow the procedures laid down to ensure that the appropriate bodies are involved.  This responsibility does not extend to undertaking detailed investigation of suspected or alleged incidents, which is left to the appropriate statutory bodies.

January 2008

Read or download the full Child Protection Policy (PDF document)

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Last modified: 20-Jul-2010