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STANDARD 10

Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.

 

a) Policies and procedures address all Child Safe Standards.

b) Policies and procedures are accessible and easy to understand.

c) Best practice models and stakeholder consultation inform the development of policies and procedures.

d) Leaders champion and model compliance with policies and procedures.

e) Staff understand and implement the policies and procedures.

 

What this might look like

  • Church leaders are familiar with the Child Safe Standards
  • Child safe issues are regularly discussed at any leadership or governance meeting, both independently and in relation to other issues
  • The church has a Safe Church Policy and sufficient, clear, and accessible procedures to enable the policy to be consistently implemented
  • The church keeps copies of all policies, procedures, and relevant documents
  • The church maintains specific records of adherence to the Safe Church Policy to demonstrate compliance with legal obligations and reasonable responses to any risk (for example, sign-in sheets, training records, risk assessments, records of complaints)

 

Records

Records (which need to be kept 45, preferably 100, years) include, but are not limited to:

  • Safe Church Policy (dated versions) 
  • Safe Church Register (dated versions) 
  • Procedures (dated versions) 
  • Records of attendance (children, young people and leaders) 
  • Ministry Information Forms 
  • Permission and consent forms 
  • Incident reports 
  • Contemporaneous notes, where required (including notes regarding consideration of potentially reportable matters even where a report was not made) 

 

Included In This Package

Model Procedures and Forms are available as part of this package. If your church chooses to adopt these documents, please ensure that your church name is inserted where necessary and the date of adoption by the governance body is noted on the front of the document. 

Form: Child Safe Standard 10

Please complete the below Child Safe Standard Form as part of your participation in this Safe Church Health Check.

Child Safe Standard 10

Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.

1. Do all your ministries that involve children (0-18 years) and vulnerable people have a process for gathering permission and consent forms, records of attendance, accident and incident reports and other relevant documents?(Required)
2a. Are your records securely stored for a minimum of 45, preferably 100, years?(Required)
(For example, in locked filing cabinets, online in secure servers, on a central computer with back up provisions)
3a. If your church uses an online CRM/database (eg Elvanto, Planning Centre, Fluro, PastoralCare) do you regularly download data to allow for historical enquiries in the future?(Required)
4. Does your church update the safe church register at least 2-3 times/year and keep a record of all previous versions for future reference?(Required)
5a. Does your church have a process for ensuring that staff and volunteers implement the Safe Church Policy and Procedures?(Required)
(For example, random checks by Safe Church Team, discussion in staff reviews, discussion with ministry leaders).
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 50 MB.
    A sample of the forms or describe the method you use for recording: (a) attendance (of leaders and attendees) at ministry events; (b) parental permission and consent; (c) accident and incident reporting. AND If your church has any other policy or procedure documents that may be relevant for this Safe Church Health Check, attach these also.