For the most recent information and policy guidelines on safeguarding
you should refer to the detailed Safeguarding booklet
listed below. This extends and updates all earlier guidelines
and advice issued on this topic. Though incomplete, the following
online documents offer some intermediate guidance. The first (sent
to all Methodist churches in September 2002) contains guidance
notes and the appropriate registration forms for voluntary workers
with children and young people. The second (sent to all Methodist
churches in November 2002), contains the revised guidelines for
completion of section X of the Disclosure application form.
SAFEGUARDING AT A GLANCE
A summary of the Safeguarding
guidelines
It is the policy of the Methodist Church
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 who work with children and young people under the age of
18 are required to complete Safeguarding Form A and to observe
good practice in their work.
- all ministers, deacons and Local Preachers are required to
complete Safeguarding Form B and to observe good practice in their
work.
- all members of the Methodist Council and all those involved in
the new disciplinary procedures of the Methodist Church are
required to complete Safeguarding Form B and to observe good
practice in their work.
- all reasonable care must be taken by those responsible 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
|
This page is from Safeguarding
A Policy for Good Practice in the care of Children and Young People,
published by Methodist Publishing House for the Methodist Church
Connexional Team (February 2000). Please refer to the
additional Safeguarding
guidelines issued in September & November 2002 for the
latest details regarding the Methodist Church's policy on this
subject.
