Safe Church Policy
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH SAFE CHURCH POLICY
Last Updated: 8 November 2024
1.0 OVERVIEW
1.1 Faith Community Church is committed to protecting the safety of all people within its programs, ministries and events.
1.2 All people, regardless of age, gender, race, culture, disability and family/social background have equal rights to this protection.
1.3 All people (including children) have the right to be respected and valued as well as feel emotionally, physically and spiritually safe at all times.
1.4 Our policy has been developed to uphold this commitment to safeguarding and to adhere to national and local legislation.
1.5 The purpose of this policy is to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults who receive Faith Community Church services and provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guides our approach to protecting children, youth and vulnerable adults.
2.0 PURPOSE
2.1 Minimise the risk of abuse, misconduct and the misuse of positional power.
2.2 Ensure that all cases of suspected abuse and misconduct are handled thoroughly.
2.3 Ensure that leaders and programs are safe.
2.4 Ensure that all people are respected and valued.
3.0 APPLICATION
3.1 This policy applies to all staff, including senior leadership, managers, coordinators, paid staff, volunteers, students, or anyone working on behalf of Faith Community Church.
4.0 COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFE STANDARDS
Faith Community Church is committed to the Child Safe Standards developed by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Standards are listed below.
Standard 1: Child safety is embedded in institutional leadership, governance and culture
4.1 All staff and volunteers will be provided access to the Safe Church Policy and related procedures upon acceptance into a position.
4.2 Information about the Safe Church Policy will be provided to Sunday service attendees in order to raise awareness of the Child Safe Standards.
4.3 FCC will adhere to documentation and record keeping standards related to the reporting of abuse (documentation will be retained for 45 years).
Standard 2: Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
4.4 FCC encourages all participants, including children and youth, to provide input and feedback in programs and activities in which they are involved.
4.5 FCC will promote and encourage an environment that supports open communication and disclosure by children of all ages.
4.6 FCC acknowledges the importance of supporting friendships between children so that they can feel supported and less isolated.
4.7 FCC will support staff and volunteers to understand the signs of abuse and provide education on the procedures and reporting requirements in order to manage these situations.
Standard 3: Families and communities are informed and involved
4.8 FCC will afford participants a say in the programs and the activities in which they participate by fostering and valuing their ideas. This includes feedback from families on FCC’s policies and practices.
4.9 FCC will be accountable and transparent. We will create a child-friendly environment and open, two-way communication, allowing people to raise their concerns in an appropriate manner.
4.10 FCC will obtain appropriate information relating to the program participants, including children’s health and family situation, to ensure that we are able to care for their physical and emotional needs.
4.11 FCC will provide relevant information on their policies and practices to families and communities.
Standard 4: Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
4.12 FCC will be mindful in our approach for all programs to be inclusive for all people. This includes adapting programs for anyone with a disability to receive access to various programs, as well as provide adequate training for leaders.
4.13 FCC will be sensitive to those from Culturally and Linguistic Diverse (CALD) backgrounds and those within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with our programs, information, support and services. We respect all cultures and encourage the participation of all people and recognise their unique contribution to our community.
4.14 FCC will ensure that people working with children are suitable and supported.
Standard 5: Staff and volunteers working with children must hold a Working with Children’s Check
4.15 All staff and volunteers who work with children and youth are required to hold a valid Working With Children Check. In addition, FCC also requires staff to have a National Police Certificate.
4.16 Recruitment processes for paid and voluntary employment within FCC will state that a criminal record check is required for the position. People with criminal records will not automatically be barred from applying, however, FCC reserves the right to consider the impact of the criminal record on the requirements of the role being applied for. This process is relevant when considering the criminal record of both current and prospective employees against the requirements of their current position, promotion or transfer.
4.17 All staff are to be appointed by the Local Advisory Team (LAT) consistent with the FCC Church Constitution and in alignment with the Safe Church Policy.
4.18 FCC commits to ongoing training, supervision and support for leaders.
Standard 6: Processes to respond to complaints of child sexual abuse are child focused
4.19 All leaders will report disclosures or suspicions of child abuse, abuse, suicidal ideation or self-harm according to our procedure (https://tinyurl.com/FCCIRform). We listen to and believe children who raise concerns. We ensure that procedures are clear and appropriate in responding to allegations of abuse. Where an allegation of misconduct is made against a person in the organisation in relation to a child, we prioritise support to the child. We seek appropriate support for the person implicated to protect the safety of the child as the paramount consideration.
4.20 Responding to abuse is not limited to children, but also includes adults within our programs who may be vulnerable.
4.21 All complaints will be taken seriously and handled promptly and thoroughly, with reporting, privacy and employment obligations met.
4.22 The complaints process should be child-friendly as well as accessible.
Standard 7: Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training
4.23 All staff and volunteers are required to attend the Safe Church training workshop and are strongly encouraged to attend a refresher workshop every 3 years. We will require all ministry heads to attend additional specific training as required.
4.24 FCC will ensure that appropriate staff and volunteer training takes place to recognise and respond to indicators of abuse and neglect. Staff and volunteers should understand the most appropriate steps to take in supporting vulnerable people within our community.
Standard 8: Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur
4.25 Staff and volunteers will be educated on, and adhere to, the guidelines related to the safe use of electronic communication and safe ministry practices.
Standard 9: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved
4.26 The Safe Church Policy will be reviewed as required to reflect changes aligning to the updating of legislation, along with learnings from our experiences on how to better support children, youth and vulnerable adults. This will include learnings from the analysis of complaints.
4.27 A report on the implementation, review and improvement on Safe Church will be tabled as a regular agenda item at every ELT meeting.
Standard 10: Policies and procedures document how the institution is child safe
4.28 FCC will adopt and implement a Code of Conduct for all leaders and volunteers, including boundaries of behaviour and expectations of interactions with children. All leaders will agree to follow our Code of Conduct.
4.29 All policies and procedures will be adhered to by staff and volunteers. Leaders must champion and model compliance of these policies and procedures.
4.30 FCC will continue to develop and implement further policies, guidelines and procedures to support the Safe Church Policy as necessary.