International Community Church
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Updated August 2023
CHURCH DETAILS
Name: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CHURCH (hereafter, “The Church”)
Office: c/o 50 Waverley Road, Oxshott, Surrey KT22 0RZ
Tel No: 07948 711150
Email: churchoffice@icc-uk.org
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
The Church Leadership (operating as the Church Council and hereafter referred to as “The Council”) recognises the importance of its ministry to children and young people and its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people entrusted to the church’s care.
As part of its mission, the Church is committed:
- To the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all, especially children and young people.
- To supporting, resourcing and training those who work with children and young people, and to providing supervision.
- To the Guidelines and Procedures document which was drawn from the Churches Child Protection Agency Service’s Safe & Secure Manual.
THE CHURCH AND COUNCIL note
- It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people, and to report any abuse discovered or suspected.
- We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church.
- We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and young people, whether paid or volunteer.
- Each worker with children and young people must know the recommendations and undertake to observe them. Each shall be given a copy of this document.
- As part of our commitment to children and young people the church has appointed ‘Responsible people’. Their names and contact details publicly displayed.
THE POLICY
The Council recognises the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children and young people. It also acknowledges that children and young people can be the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. The Council has therefore adopted the procedures set out in this document (hereafter “the policy”).
It also recognises the need to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary child protection agencies. The Policy and attached Practice Guidelines are based on models published by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS). The Council undertake to file a copy of the Policy and Practice Guidelines with CCPAS (and any amendments subsequently published) and to ensure social services are aware the Church has such a policy.
The Council is committed to on-going Child Protection training for all children and youth workers and will regularly review the Practice Guidelines.
The Council also undertakes to follow the principles found within the Abuse of Trust guidance issued by the CCPAS and it is therefore unacceptable for those in a position of trust to engage in any behaviour which might allow a sexual relationship to develop for as long as the relationship of trust continues.
This policy will be reviewed annually.
CHILD PROTECTION PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Updated August 2023
FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD PROTECTION POLICY AND GUIDELINES A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON IS ANY INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF 18 (whether referred to as a ‘child’ or ‘young person’)
These Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Child Protection Policy.
The International Community Church, its Council, staff and volunteers are committed to following these Guidelines in relation to all its work with children and young people. These Guidelines are taken from those recommended by the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (now known as ThirtyOne:Eight) in their ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010)’ document. ICC Guidelines have been selected as being pertinent to specific areas of ICC’s current work and programmes. This document includes details of procedures for the recruitment, training and supporting of workers (paid and voluntary), along with good practice for working with children and young people.
It must be remembered that the interests of the child are paramount at all times and IF it is necessary to depart from general guidelines in particular circumstances, this should ONLY be done with the knowledge of the Pastor or, in an emergency, reported in writing after the event.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding ICC’s Child Protection Policy and these Guidelines
OR any issues regarding the safety and wellbeing of children and young people
OR you are a child or young person and have concerns …
Please contact one of ICC’s nominated ‘Responsible Persons’
John Basson Senior Pastor Mobile: 07388 292526
Hugh McLean Council President Mobile: 07976 440921
Vicky Cannings Administrator Mobile: 07948 711150
Emma Reid Children’s Pastor Mobile: 07555 045085
John Reid Youth Pastor Mobile: 07555 045094
ICC is a registered member with ThirtyOne:Eight, an organisation which helps deal us protect vulnerable people. You could contact them directly on 0303 003 1111 or helpline@thirtyoneeight.org. Website: www.thirtyoneeight.org
Surrey Social Services work in multi-agency teams on protection issues. If you have any queries and wish to contact them (availability: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
- Phone: 0300 470 9100
- Out of hours phone: 01483 517 898 to speak to our emergency duty team.
- For concerns for a child or young person: cspa@surreycc.gov.uk
- For concerns for an adult: ascmash@surreycc.gov.uk
- SMS: 07527 182 861 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)
In an emergency, you should report the matter to Surrey Police by dialling 999.
