Child protection handbook published

Child protection handbook published


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23 June 2009

A new handbook of policy and procedures about child protection is launched today at a special training day for clergy.

Safeguarding Children is designed for parishes to support their work in safeguarding children and young people.

The purpose of this document is:

  • To set out the policy of the Church of England and the Diocese of Manchester.
  • To guide workers about what to do if a child says s/he has been harmed or they believe that a child has been harmed.
  • To highlight good procedures and practice especially in the recruitment, selection and support of staff and volunteers who work with children.
  • To provide templates, resources and links to help parishes in these tasks.

This diocesan handbook provides the latest policies, principles and resources for good procedures and practice which must be taken up at all levels in the diocese.

The Bishop of Manchester says in his foreward: "Children are a blessing in our churches, and we should be passing on our baton of faith, hope and love to them in the next generation. They should know they can trust us. I am grateful to the inter-diocesan team which helped in its production. It is to be shared in every parish with all who work with children, so that their safety, wellbeing and flourishing may be assured. This is the mutual responsibility we all share, as children of the same Heavenly Father, each one made in his image".

At an essential training day, all clergy, licensed lay workers and Readers were briefed on new Vetting and Barring procedures that come into force later this year. A government initiative, it runs alongside the current CRB checks that are done on all who work with children or vulnerable people, but is much wider in scope.

Incumbents along with the PCC will be responsible for ensuring that these procedures are managed in the parish. Further training will be provided for churchwardens, parish secretaries and child protection officers in the Autumn.

Download Safeguarding Children here. Extra hard copies of Safeguarding Children can be obtained by contacting Lesley Whittaker on 0161 828 1403 or by email below.

All templates and sample forms in the handbook are available to download in the Clergy and Parish Handbook.


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