All of you are Christ's body and each one is part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27
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Frequently Asked Questions
Child Protection Issues
Disclosure Issues
Forms and Form Filling
What do I do if I am worried a child is being abused?
If you suspect abuse:
- Do not delay
- Consult with the person to whom you are responsible for your work with children and young people or with another appropriate person eg. the minister in/with pastoral charge.
- The responsible person will contact the statutory services responsible for child protection in your area (Social Services, NSPCC or Police).
- Advise the Superintendent minister of your action
Such action, even if it proves to have been mistaken or unnecessary, is justifiable if based on concern for a child.
Nothing should prevent you from approaching the statutory authorities yourself in an emergency.
It may be helpful to find out how your local CP team handles cases of abuse. Contact your District Safeguarding or Taking Care representatives for training or information. The Safeguarding Advisor, Pearl Luxon at Methodist Church House is also available for consultation.
Check out this government webpage ‘What to do if you're worried a child is being abused?' Read the summary (pdf)
Please click here to access a Methodist Report Form for use in all cases of concern - this is required for insurance purposes. Please follow the enclosed guidance. (pdf)
What do I do if I am concerned about an offender, a person about whom there is an allegation of an offence against children in the church community?
You should tell your Minster and/or Superintendent Minister. You should encourage that person to speak to the Minister. If there is a sexual offence against children or sexual offences against an adult then they are obliged to tell their minister or Superintendent minister and seek their help in integrating into the life of the church in a safe way. This is in order to protect both them and the community, which they seek to be a part of.
There is guidance on the right kind of support and monitoring which may be needed in this kind of situation in Methodist Standing orders 690f and in the guidance section page 777f of Constitution Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church.
What do I do if someone has been observed behaving in an inappropriate or risky manner with children?
You need to discuss this with your minister or the District Safeguarding team. There are codes of practice being developed to help you decide what might be inappropriate behaviour. You may need to check out good practice guidelines and assess what has been seen in this context. Nevertheless, your own concern is enough to talk to someone and check out your instincts. Note what you have seen and the dates of conversations.
If you think an offence has been committed or you are unsure about this based upon the evidence talk to your Minister or to the Police or Social Services, or talk to the Safeguarding Advisor, Pearl Luxon at Methodist Church House.
What do I do if I am worried that I may commit an offence against children or if I know someone who might?
Check the Stop it Now website out - www.stopitnow.org.uk/about.htm
Telephone/Fax: 01527 598 184 Email office@stopitnow.org.uk
We all have a duty to help to prevent abuse and promote the welfare of children.
Can disclosures be used elsewhere - for other employment or volunteer roles?
A Disclosure is for a particular job or role at a particular time. Some church councils may accept them from elsewhere, other organisations may accept them, check with the body to which you are applying.
The Methodist Church view is that previous Disclosures may be accepted by Church Councils for a similar role or responsibility provided it is not required for paid employment or for ministry as a presbyter or deacon. See next FAQ.
Disclosures may be transferred within/among CAS denominations but the new role will have to be assessed in the light of any information on your Disclosure. The CAS decided on the basis of legal advice that the certificate can be used for other similar voluntary roles within the church up to 6 months from the date of issue and only within the CAS umbrella. If you are working in more than one church denomination check the transferability with each organisation.
If you need to reuse your Disclosure obtained through CAS in a new setting check with that organisation to find out their rules on this.
If you are to be employed (rather than voluntary), then you should have a new Disclosure.
If a church wishes to use my Disclosure from other work, what should they note from it?
A checklist for portability of Disclosures obtained from elsewhere may be found on page 13 of Safeguarding 2003.
The minister or recruiting body should see the Disclosure and corroborating ID together with the applicant. This person interviewing should note:
¥ The full name and address (checking this with other ID)
¥ The date of issue (it should be less than 12 months old)
¥ The date of birth (checking this with other ID)
¥ The number of the Disclosure
¥ Level of Disclosure
¥ The Registered Body name
¥ The date it was seen and by whom
¥ The record of this process should be signed by applicant and church officer/ minister
PLEASE NOTE - IF THE ROLE OR LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY CHANGES A NEW DISCLOSURE SHOULD ALWAYS BE OBTAINED
If there are no other reasons to obtain a new Disclosure how long does it last?
A decision on this is still pending. There are a number of changes a foot with regard to the CRB Disclosure service in the light of the ‘Bichard Inquiry'. Our preliminary advice is that after 5 years a new one will be required.
What forms do we need?
¥ You will need the CRB form, Churches' Agency for Safeguarding forms and guidance notes - obtained direct from MPH (cost £1 each).
¥ Churches' Agency for Safeguarding (CAS) forms are available from the MPH Disclosure pack or this website. A CAS form must accompany each CRB form and will show us who has seen your documents (the verifier) and who we should inform about your disclosure recruitment checks.
¥ You will also need the CAS - Documentary Evidence Sheet (also in the pack) which is signed by the verifier and which shows us which documents have been seen and used as evidence which do not appear in section X.
THESE FORMS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CAS TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHICH DENOMINATION YOU ARE FROM AND THAT THE VERIFICATION HAS TAKEN PLACE PROPERLY
Why are Disclosure application forms often returned?
There is currently an error rate of about 55% plus this year (2005). A sampling of forms was carried out by the CAS periodically by CAS in 2005 and came up with a chart (Pdf) showing common errors. Clearly this is frustrating since this costs valuable time and money. The staff at CAS are fully stretched and I am sure everyone wants them to be as efficient as possible. So in the interests of keeping the denomination's expense on this exercise to a minimum, PLEASE READ THE CAS GUIDANCE NOTES.
A charge may be applied on applications returned after a further assessment of this issue early next year.
Where are the guidance notes?
The CRB issue guidance notes with every form. The CRB guidance notes are not essential, make sure you have guidance from the Registered body - CAS.
The CAS issue their guidance notes to verifiers and with the MPH application pack.
The most up to date guidance notes are on the CAS website - www.churchsafe.org.uk or downloadable from this site
Downloadable guidance notes for CRB forms (Pdf)
Checking Identity Documentation Guidance (Pdf)
Multi-Purpose CAS form (Pdf)
Documentary Evidence Sheet (Pdf)
Do we still have to complete other forms for our own church or organisation?
Yes, you will still have to complete registration or application forms to become a volunteer or employee. You should also have a volunteer agreement or contract. You will be required to offer references. These should happen as part of your recruitment process alongside the CRB/ CRBS checks. If you are new to an organisation you may also have to confirm your identity independently of the CRB/CRBS documentary evidence process.
What happens if there is information on my disclosure?
1. First of all you should check whether it is correct. If it is not you should write to the CRB with a copy to CAS asking for the information to be corrected.
2. In cases where there is anything significant shown the Lead Countersignatory at the CAS office will also write to you to confirm the content of your disclosure, you will have two weeks to respond.
3. At this point there may be a discussion on an anonymous basis with the lead person in the denomination you are seeking to work in, in order to decide whether a panel conference is necessary to consider the matter.
4. If there are minor matters, not relevant to the role, a letter will be sent at this point recommending that there is nothing in your disclosure to prevent you working in that role. Occasionally, conditions are attached to that clearance.
5. Once you have confirmed the content of your disclosure, or having challenged it and both you and CAS have received the new one, we may confirm that the disclosure shows nothing that prevents you working with children. If the arrangement of a panel is necessary, this panel will consider the matter. This will be considered by an independent panel of experts in the denomination or District where you want to work, not by the CAS. In most cases they will not have a copy of the disclosure, they will have all the relevant information anonymously, in order to make an informed decision.
6. Before a panel confers, it will often be necessary to obtain additional information either from you, your employer or the police, social services or a former employer in order to find out about the matter on the Disclosure. This investigation will be conducted by CAS or the Methodist Representative on their behalf or a combination of the two. Your written or verbal submissions will be considered alongside other evidence.
7. If you want to find out about the kinds of offences for which you may be barred from working with children this document below may assist.
Download - Paraphrase of Schedule 4 of the Criminal Justice and
Court Services Act 2000 (pdf)
What are the Data Protection rules on the storage of Disclosure information?
The denominations or local church will hold a copy of the letter recording the CAS recommendation on suitability. All Disclosure information has to be destroyed within 6 months according to the CRB Code of Practice.
If they have recorded information from an applicant's disclosure (for portability a Disclosure must not be photocopied).
A local church should be open and transparent about the type of information held on the volunteers it recruits.
What if my role is not listed as requiring a disclosure?
Methodist officeholders, appointees and other volunteers need to complete Form C . Local Preachers need to complete Form B .
What if I have an offence against children but do not wish to work with children, simply take part in the life of the church?
Unless you have a sexual offence on your record you may undertake any role in the church that does not give you responsibility with children or involves regular contact with children.
If there is a sexual offence against children or sexual offences against an adult then you are obliged to tell your minister or Superintendent minister and seek their help in integrating into the life of the church in a safe way. This is in order to protect you and the community which you seek to be a part of. There is guidance on the right kind of support and monitoring which may be needed in this kind of circumstance.
What other recruitment checks may be carried out if I want to volunteer?
Good recruitment, which protects children and promotes their welfare involves the full range of recruitment procedures carried out for employees.
There should be an interview or meeting to establish your suitability for the role, you should complete a registration form Form A (1) and give referees, previous experience and qualifications if any. You should be told whether a CRB or Disclosure Scotland certificate is required and be given these forms. You should receive a copy of the Volunteer Agreement Form A (2).
