St Bartholomew and All Saints Church
Wootton Bassett
Updated 16 February, 2010
Child Protection Officer -
The Diocese adopts fully the House of Bishop’s policy on child protection
and the Home Office code of practice “Safe from Harm” within the context of the Children’s
Act 1989. The Diocese provides a Child Protection Advisor to advise the Bishop, Clergy
and Parishes and to offer advice and training to all.
Access will be provided to the
Criminal Records Bureau for Parishes, the Cathedral, the Bishop’s Office and the
Diocesan Office and for those beneficed and licensed Clergy, paid workers and volunteers
who need to obtain disclosure. Access will be provided to a Risk Assessment Service
so that the Bishop or others can evaluate and manage any risk posed by
individuals
or activities within the Church.
A person convicted of, or who has accepted a caution
for, a sexual offence against a child will not be permitted to work in a paid or
unpaid role which could bring them into contact with children nor can they be part
of mixed age activities (for example choir service, bell ringing) run by the Church.
A
person convicted of, or who has accepted a caution for an offence against a child
will be subject to an individual agreement defining attendance at worship and other
church activities.
As administrator my role involves me speaking with Church members
who wish to become involved in working with children within the Church. The applicant
will be required to complete a form and provide three forms of identification, such
as Passport, Driving Licence and Household Bill. This form is then submitted to the
Criminal Records Bureau. If the results of the search come back negative nothing
more needs to be done and the person is free to work with the children within the
Church. Should the results of the search reveal a conviction or caution against the
person concerned I would then be required to report this matter to the Clergy and
Diocese for them to progress further.
