Child Safe Standard 9

STANDARD 9

Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.

a) The organisation regularly reviews and improves child safe practices.

b) The organisation analyses complaints to identify causes and systemic failures, and inform continuous improvement.

What this might look like

There are regular opportunities to specifically discuss child safe practices in the church, e.g. meetings, forums, planning days
Feedback is sought from children, young people, families, and communities, about the child safe practices
Any incidents or complaints are reviewed to help improve future plans for child safety and wellbeing

Additional Resources

The Office of the Children’s Guardian has produced an introductory video (5 mins) regarding Child Safe Standard 9.

(The video can be found on the Resources section of the OCG website).

A review should include:

Considering and, if necessary, updating your Safe Church Policy and any procedures (this is one reason why you should record the date on which a policy or procedure was adopted by the governance body)

Ensuring that the Safe Church Team is fulfilling their requirements

Awareness of changing legislative requirements

Making any required changes to policies/procedures

Analysis of complaints/incidents

Consideration of feedback from ministry leaders, children, young people and families.

Form: Child Safe Standard 9

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

Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.

1a. Does your Church Leadership (Pastors, Deacons, Elders. Governance Group) have a minuted review of child safe practices at least on an annual basis?(Required)

Yes

1b. How does your church seek feedback on child safe practices to inform the Church leadership as they conduct this review?(Required)

(For example, by publicising the date of this review to church attendees so that they are prompted to provide any relevant feedback.)

2. Please identify the 3-5 most important potential risks or issues specific to Children and Young People in your church.(Required)

(For example, the church has not considered risk related to online communication, the youth room is isolated with limited visibility, the church needs to improve our strategies for listening to children and young people).

3. Please identify the steps your church can take in the next 12 months to address (or begin to address) the issues raised in question 2 above.(Required)