Birmingham Diocese

God’s Children: Our Diocese

Childhood needs to be a safe space if children and young people are to grow to become confident and compassionate adults and it is the responsibility of us all to ensure that this happens. To this end the welfare of children and young people in all their spiritual, ethnic, cultural and physical diversity will be given priority in our churches.

In 2005 the Diocese of Birmingham produced its policy for safeguarding children – God’s Children: Our Diocese. As well as providing guidance on safe recruitment and procedures for when there is an allegation or suspicion of abuse, the policy also contains advice on how to work safely with children and young people.

The policy is now available on the website in a series of twelve sections with appendices. If you’re looking for a particular piece of information we suggest you begin by accessing the document ‘Statement of Values and Policy Contents’ which gives a comprehensive list of what’s included in each section, otherwise the section headings are self-explanatory – click on one of the links below to view the section you require. (The documents are PDFs for which you will need a copy of the free download Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have a copy you can get one here.)

Satement of values and policy contents
Section 1	Introduction
Section 2	Recognition of Abuse
Section 3	Taking Action
Section 4	Working with Children and Young People
Section 5	Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse
Section 6	The Care and Counselling of Adult Survivors of Abuse
Section 7	The Role of the Church
Section 8	Health and Safety
Section 9	Safe Recruiting – Choosing people to work with children
Section 10	Allegations of child abuse made against a member of the clergy of someone holding the Bishop’s Licence
Section 11a	Part 1 A Checklist for your Parish Policy and Procedures
Section 11b	Part 2 Use of the Criminal Records Bureau
Section 12	Protecting Children and Young People from Drug Abuse
	Statement of Values & Policy Contents

Appendices

Click on the appropriate link below to view the Appendix you require.

	List of all appendixes
Appendix A1	Bishop’s Staff
Appendix A2	Bishop’s Child protection Management Group
Appendix B	Covering Letter and Application Form
Appendix D	Confidential Declaration (House of Bishop’s Policy 2004)
Appendix E	Letter and Reference Form to be sent to a Referee
Appendix F	Volunteer Agreement
Appendix G	Registration Forms for On-Site Group Activities
Appendix H	Example of General Consent Form – Day Trip
Appendix I	Example of General Consent Form – Residential
Appendix J	Accident/Incident Book
Appendix K	Referral Form – Concerns about a Child(ren)
Appendix L	Referral Form – Concerns about an Adult
Appendix M	Health & Safety Checklist
Appendix N	Relevant Offences
Appendix O	Recent Relevant Legislation and Government Guidance
Appendix P	Information – Recording, keeping safe, and the Data Protection Act
Appendix Q	Recording Proforma
Appendix R	Sharing Information
Appendix S1	Staying Safe Online
Appendix S2	Consent to use of PC to gain access to Internet
Appendix S3	Consent to the use of group photographs/images of children
Appendix S4	Relevant Offences and Useful Organisations for Internet & Photograph Issues
Appendix T	Resources
Appendix U	Agencies for Support, Help and Advice
Appendix V	Hirers of Church Premises
Appendix W	Criminal Records – Diocesan Certificate
Appendix X	Drugs Policy
Appendix Y	Drugs Policy Agreement

Safeguarding Adults

The Diocese is currently preparing advice and guidance for parishes in respect of working with adults. This will be accessible via the website as soon as it is available.

Diocese of Birmingham, 175 Harborne Park Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 0BH
Tel: 0121 426 0400 email: website@birmingham.anglican.org

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