The Parish Council fully recognizes its responsibilities for child protection. Our policy applies to all staff, councilors and volunteers working in the Community. There are three main elements to this policy:
- Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff, councillors and volunteers to work with young people.
- Being aware of child protection issues and training councillors, staff or volunteers as necessary.
- Establishing a safe environment in which young people can interact with others in their local community.
The Parish Council will therefore:
- Establish and maintain an environment where young people feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to at the Parish Youth Council, ‘Next Step’.
- Ensure young people know that there are adults in the Parish Council whom they can approach and who have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
- Encourage any youth- led proposals to stay safe in the local community.
- Ensure we have a designated councillor or staff member responsible for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role.
- Ensure every member of staff, volunteer and councillor knows the name of the designated person responsible within the Parish Council for child protection and their role.
- Co-operate as required with other agencies who may make enquiries regarding child protection matters.
- Keep written records of parental permissions to take photographs of their children for use in Parish publications, promotional material, or excursions.
- Ensure all records are kept securely by the Clerk to the Parish Council.
- Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.