Purpose

Mooroolbark Baptist Church is committed to being a safe place for all people who engage with us or participate in our programs, ministries and events; including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We are affiliated with the Baptist Union of Victoria, and our policy has been developed to uphold this commitment to safeguarding and to adhere to National and State legislation.

We are committed to promoting the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults who participate in any of its ministries or activities by protecting their rights and also protecting them from harm. We do this through fostering a culture of child and adult safety through constant communication and reinforcement of this commitment at all levels and ministries in our church.

The Child Safe Policy (the Policy) was written to outline how Mooroolbark Baptist Church in prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. The Policy outlines the child safe positions and practices that MBC will implement to create a culture where the safety of children and young people is promoted, where all people can be safe from any harm, and any allegations of abuse are taken seriously and acted upon.

Scope

This Policy applies to all employees, leaders, volunteers, parents and children, and individuals connected to Mooroolbark Baptist Church. The Policy is applicable irrespective of whether they directly work with or have direct contact with children or young people.

Commitment to child safety

All children who come to Mooroolbark Baptist Church have a right to feel and be safe. The welfare of the children in our care will always be our first priority and we have a zero tolerance to child abuse. We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where children feel safe. We are committed to principles of cultural safety and inclusion of children from diverse backgrounds and to the safety and inclusion of children with a disability. We recognise that these principles support the safety of all children.

Children’s rights to safety and participation

Mooroolbark Baptist Church actively seeks to include the voices of children in our organisational planning, worship services, management of facilities and other activities. Mooroolbark Baptist Church actively seeks to understand what makes children feel safe in our organisation. We regularly communicate with children about what they can do if they feel unsafe. Mooroolbark Baptist Church value the voices of children and encourage children to express their views. We teach children about what they can do if they feel unsafe. We will listen and act on any concerns raised by children, or their parents, in regard to their safety.

Valuing diversity

We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices. To achieve this, we:

• support the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children and their families,

• support the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children from culturally and/ or linguistically diverse backgrounds and their families,

• ensure that children with a disability are safe and can participate equitably,

• commit to ensuring our facilities promote inclusion of children of all abilities.

Recruiting employees and volunteers

Mooroolbark Baptist Church applies the best practice standards in the recruitment and screening of employees and volunteers. Mooroolbark Baptist Church recruitment and selection of employees and volunteer leaders ensures that child safety requirements are addressed in the recruitment process. Mooroolbark Baptist Church carefully assesses the level of contact and responsibility each role will have in regard to children.

For roles which involve contact or responsibility for children, or influence or authority over children, such as leadership positions, the following are required:

• attendance at Mooroolbark Baptist Church for at least 6 months (except paid pastoral roles),

• appropriate Working With Children Checks,

• suitable referee checks,

• an interview with a church leader, including questions addressing their experience and previous engagement with children to gauge the applicant’s attitudes and values toward children,

• applicants to have read and signed the MBC Child Safe Policy and MBC Code of Conduct,

• suitable qualifications, experience and training for the role

• National Police Checks (for identified leadership roles).

Supporting employees and volunteers

MBC provides support and supervision for all staff and volunteers. We have developed a Code of Conduct to provide guidance to our staff and volunteers, all of whom receive training on the requirements of the Code and other associated policies and guidelines. All staff and volunteers are required to attend a Safe Church workshop and refresher workshop every three years and additional ministry-specific training as provided.

Mooroolbark Baptist Church is committed to ensuring that all leaders, employees and volunteers receive relevant training and are provided with support to ensure they understand their responsibilities in relation to child safety.

Mooroolbark Baptist Church assists its leaders, employees and volunteers to incorporate child safety considerations into decision-making and to promote a culturally safe environment where children are empowered to speak up about issues that affect them

Mandatory training requirements for all Mooroolbark Baptist Church leaders including the following:

• Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct

• Attend a Safe Church workshop and refresher workshop every three years

• Identifying indicators of child abuse,

• Responding to disclosures of child abuse, and

• Code of Conduct breach and child safety incident reporting procedures.

As this training is essential to support Mooroolbark Baptist Church’s zero tolerance of child abuse approach, employees, leaders and volunteers are required to undertake all of these components before being allowed to work in a child-related role.

Roles and Responsibilities

Everyone associated with Mooroolbark Baptist Church has some responsibility for providing a safe environment for children

Safe Church Officer

Mooroolbark Baptist Church has a Safe Church Officer role who has specific responsibility for responding to any complaints made by staff, volunteers, parents or children. If a person does not feel comfortable making a report to a Safe Church Officer, they may report their concern to the Lead Pastor. The Safe Church Officer is introduced to children and families to ensure they understand who the appointed person is, and how and when they may contact them.

Reporting a child safety concern or complaint

Mooroolbark Baptist Church has a formal procedure in place for responding to any complaints made by employees, volunteers, parents or children. This process is outlined in Appendix A.

Record keeping and incident monitoring

Mooroolbark Baptist Church is committed to best practice record keeping. All reports of child abuse shall be recorded within the incident reporting system. Mooroolbark Baptist Church, in maintaining records on reports of child abuse, will maintain confidentiality and privacy for children and families in accordance with legislation. Records will be retained in line with the recommendations from the Office of Public Records. Reports of child abuse and complaints about child safety will be monitored by the leadership team to ensure that they are appropriately managed. Risks to child safety that are identified in complaints and reports of abuse will be reviewed and acted upon appropriately.

Risk Management

We recognise the importance of a risk management approach to minimising the potential for child abuse or harm to occur and use this to inform our policy, procedures and activity planning. In addition to general occupational health and safety risks, we proactively manage risks of abuse to our children.

As part of our risk management approach, all existing and new activities and facilities are assessed for risks of harm including:

• Physical risks,

• Environmental risks (e.g. areas that might obscure a line of sight), and

• Vulnerability risks (such as activities that may foster personal relationships between leaders and children who have an increased risk of being exploited).

As part of our risk management approach:

• Identified risks are actively reduced by designing and implementing appropriate preventative measures,

• Leaders are made aware of their responsibility for identifying risks of child abuse,

• Families and children are made aware of how to report on identified risks of child abuse, and

• Risk management plans are updated as required, referred to regularly and reviewed periodically.

Policy implementation

The Policy is to be implemented through the following items:

1. A policy committing the organisation to providing a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults. (This policy)

2. A Code of Conduct covering all pastors, employees, church leaders and volunteers who may come into contact with children and vulnerable adults.

3. A process for screening applicants for ministry, employment and volunteering, including referee checks and working with children / criminal record checks.

4. A process for handling allegations of sexual abuse. (See Appendix A)

5. A process for complying with mandatory reporting obligations. (See Appendix A)  

6. Training for pastors, employees and volunteers in the above policies / procedures.

These policies and procedures are to be read and implemented alongside relevant legislation related to the protection and welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Reviewing this policy

This policy will be reviewed every two years and we undertake to seek the views, comments and suggestions from children, parents, carers, employees and volunteers as a part of this process.

Legal Framework

This Child Safe Policy includes recent legislative requirements, including:

• Victorian Child Safe Standards (outlined in Appendix B)

• Reportable Conduct Scheme (outlined in Appendix C)

• Criminal Law Offences including the Grooming, Failure to Disclose and Failure to Protect offenses (outlined in Appendix D)

Non-compliance with this policy and the Code of Conduct

Mooroolbark Baptist Church will enforce this policy and the Code of Conduct. Following any report of non-compliance, we will instigate a review that may result in restriction of duties, suspension or termination of employment or other corrective action.

Definitions

• The words ‘child’ and ‘children’ in this policy refer to children and young people up to the age of 18 years.

• Children’s ministry means any activity or program where any of the participants are under 18 and not accompanied by parents or carers authorised by the parents.

• Leaders are all those in some level of leadership in our church. This includes not only the Pastors, Elders, Deacons and Ministry Leaders but also those appointed to some level of leadership role in the church, and includes those under the age of 18.

• Volunteers are all those who are involved in ministry activities, including under the age of 18.

   

Appendix A - Child Safety Reporting Process

If a leader becomes aware of an incident or allegation of abuse, the first responsibility is to ensure that the child or children are safe and the risks of further abuse or harm are mitigated. If there is any ongoing risk to a child or children, then the staff member or volunteer should immediately call 000.

If the incident or allegation of abuse could involve criminal conduct, the matter must be immediately reported to Victoria Police. It may also be appropriate to notify the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing if there is a belief that a child is in need of protection. This may involve notifications to Victoria police or the Office of Child Protection.

All reports of child abuse will be treated as serious, whether they are made by an adult or a child.

When an allegation of child abuse is received, all mandatory reporting requirements must be met, including reporting to police, Department of Health and Human Services, the Commission for Children and Young People under the Reportable Conduct Scheme, or other government departments or regulators as appropriate.

Who can report?

Any parent, child, staff member or volunteer

What to report?

Any child safety concerns, including:

• A disclosure of abuse or harm

• An allegation or suspicion or observation

• A breach of the Code of Conduct, or

How to report?

A choice of face-to-face verbal report, letter or email, telephone call, or a meeting

Who to report to?

Safe Church Officer (Child Safety Person), Ministry Coordinator, Lead Pastor, or Church staff member or leader

What happens next?

The Safe Church Officer (Child Safety Person) or other leader will offer support to the child, the parents, the person who reports and the accused person; initiate internal processes to ensure the safety of all children including an alleged victim, clarify the nature of the complaint and commence disciplinary process and investigation (if required), and decide, in accordance with legal requirements and duty of care, whether the matter should or must be reported to police, Child Protection and/or the Commission and make a report as soon as possible if required.

Outcome:

Following an investigation and determination of an outcome; all relevant staff, volunteers, parents and child will be notified and required disciplinary action taken. Policies and procedures may be reviewed and updated where necessary.

Child safety reporting process: