Protection Policy Parish of Christ the King, Reading
	Policy for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults    Statement of "Parish Responsibility" The Child Protection Team of the Parish of Christ the King undertake responsibility to do everything they can to ensure the welfare and safeguarding of the children, young people and vulnerable adults of our Parish and those who instruct and supervise them in all Parish-based and sponsored activities.    Child Protection Team The child protection team (CPT) consisting of the Parish Priest, the Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council, two nominated persons from the Pastoral Council or the Parish, shall keep the discharge of the "Parish Responsibility" under review. The CPT shall invite an external person of appropriate professional standing from outside the Parish to be an adviser on good practice and procedures and to attend its meetings.    Principles Guiding the Discharge of Policy The CPT has drawn on the Diocesan guidelines and on the advice of other respected bodies in formulating its own guidelines for parish groups and their helpers.    CPT Meetings and Reports to the Parish The CPT shall meet at least twice a year and prepare an Annual Report on the discharge of the "Parish Responsibility". The report shall be given to the Parish at the Parish AGM.  The CPT or External Adviser may call any additional meetings.    Guidance on this Policy Guidance on good practice and the proposal for child protection procedures has been issued to appropriate Parish Groups and their helpers and made available through the Parish Newsletter and notice board in the Church porch.  The Diocesan Document "Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults" (Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, February 2001) has been made available to all these people. These guidelines are issued as part of the parish's commitment to safeguarding all of the children and young people of the Parish and those who work with them in any way.  They are issued by the Child Protection Team, which oversees the policy. 1. Use caution and common sense in touching a child. 2. Always ensure that someone else is present when you are with a child or that you can be seen       easily. 3. Do not enter areas such as toilets or changing rooms except when necessary. 4. Show that you are ready to believe a child if he or she makes an allegation, and take action within twenty-four hours, as required by law. Be sure that you know to whom you should report. 5. Take action immediately or at least within twenty-four hours, in the event of any concern. 6. Seek to ensure that you never travel with just one child in your car. It is acknowledged that this may be inevitable on occasion but this must be recorded. (Check that your insurance is appropriate). 7. All workers must have a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check run on them. 8. Home visiting: never go into a home unless admitted by parents. 9. Where girls are present, there should always be a responsible woman. 10. All groups are to keep a Log Book, available for view by the Child Protection Team at any time and always at the biennial meeting. It should be used to record all occasions when any adult is left unexpectedly alone with a child or young person. It should also record any trips/lifts made without prior arrangement with the child’s parents or guardians.    Some useful phone numbers: Child Protection Officer for the Diocese of Portsmouth Deacon Nick Reynolds: Tel: 01962 772029  Fax:  01962 772098    Christ the King Church: Father Gerard Flynn    Members of the Child Protection Team: Mrs May McClafferty Mrs Teresa Poole Mrs Marguerite Crockford    Child Protection Person: Mr Graham Poole    External Adviser: Mrs Tricia Cattell, Catholic Children's Society 0118 9875121    Secretary: Ms Ellen McCarthy Updated 25th October 2003             Back to Home Page                                 Back to the top