It is the responsibility of each one of us in the Methodist Church to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

It is the duty of a person working with children, young people and vulnerable adults to prevent abuse and report any abuse discovered or suspected.

The following may be signs of abuse:

• Physical abuse: unexplained injuries or those which have received no medical attention, hidden injuries, signs of neglect.

• Sexual abuse: allegations made by the child, young person or vulnerable adult, pre-occupation with sexual matters, sexual activity through words, play or drawings, being sexually provocative with adults, severe sleep disturbances with fears and phobias.

• Emotional abuse: regression in behaviour, nervousness, sudden under-achievement, inappropriate relationships with peers/adults, attention seeking, running away/ stealing/ lying, looking un-cared for.

N.B. Physical abuse and neglect are difficult to hide. Sexual abuse can be almost impossible to identify and prove. Many symptoms of distress can point to abuse but there may be other explanations.

It is important, therefore, that the above signs are not taken as indications that abuse has taken place. They should make us stop and think, but not necessarily jump to conclusions.

Disclosure - if a child, young person or vulnerable adult wants to talk about abuse:

1. Accept what they say, keeping calm and looking at them directly.

2. Let them know that you need to tell someone else, do not promise confidentiality.

3. Be aware that they may have been threatened.

4. Never push for information - do not put words into their mouths.

5. Reassure them they were right to tell you and you believe them.

6. Let them know what you are going to do next and that you will let them know what happens.

7. Make notes as soon as possible, writing down exactly what was said and when he/she said it. Record the dates and times of these events and keep the handwritten record. This record must be passed to the minister for security.

8. Consult with the church safeguarding co-ordinator and the minister as to the appropriate action.

9. If the child or young person is under 18 and physical abuse is suspected, Social Services or the Cheshire Constabulary Child Protection Officer must be informed, even if they are unwilling for this to happen.

10. If a child or young person under 18 makes a disclosure about sexual abuse, the parents should not be consulted, but Social Services or the Cheshire Constabulary Child Protection Officer must be informed immediately. Responsibility for investigating will then pass to the statutory agencies.

11. For vulnerable adults i.e. over 18 years of age, who allege physical abuse the desirability of a medical examination and the involvement of the police should be discussed.

12. For vulnerable adults i.e. over 18 years of age, who make a disclosure about sexual abuse, the involvement of the police should be discussed.

13. Any telephone referral made to statutory services should be confirmed in writing within 48 hours and if no communication is received from them within 3 working days they should be contacted again.

Suspected Abuse - if you suspect a child, young person or vulnerable adult is being abused:

1. Act immediately by consulting with the church safeguarding co-ordinator who in turn will advise the minister.

2. Contact will be made with the appropriate statutory services dependent on the age of the person involved.
   (Refer to points 9, 10, 11 and 12 as above.)

1. An adult will not remain alone with one child, young person or vulnerable adult. If necessary groups will meet together to ensure that at least two adults are present.

2. When an activity is being organised, be it on church premises or in our homes or in the community, we will ensure that at least two adults are present.

3. If you ever find yourself in the situation of working one-to-one with a child, young person or vulnerable adult, perhaps because they want to share with you something private and personal, the level of risk increases significantly. It is your duty to do what you can to reduce this risk by following these guidelines.

   • Public or private? First, ask yourself if you really need to go somewhere private. You can often have a fairly private chat by withdrawing to the corner of a busy hall, or just stepping outside the door. If you are able to go somewhere where you can be seen but the conversation cannot be heard, this is the ideal.

   • Location. The above will not always suffice. If you need to go to a private room, select your location carefully. Do not choose a room that is at the other end of the building from everyone else, even if it is the most private. Stay as close to other people as possible.

   • Transparency. Leave doors ajar and curtains open so that others can see in and you have not shut yourself off to the world.

   • Physical distance. Be aware that it may be appropriate to think carefully about the physical distance between you and the child/young person/vulnerable adult.

   • Comforting. Often in a one-to-one situation, the person you are dealing with will be upset or emotional. It is ill advised to physically comfort them (e.g. hugging, holding hand) unless they initiate it.

   • Work as a team. Always tell another worker who you are working one-to-one with and where. Never just disappear. This is applicable to those times when you need to take an infant to the toilet. Other members of your team should help by periodically walking by, popping his/her head around the door just to check things are OK.

   • Comfort zone. Do not do anything you are uncomfortable with. You are not obliged to put yourself in a one-to-one situation and can choose to end the discussion at any point.

   • Know your limits. Sometimes problems and issues will be discussed with you that you do not have the competence to deal with. Do not be afraid to refer on to a specialist agency or to find out more information about the subject before you meet again.

• Keep everything public.

• Touch should be related to the need of the child, young person or vulnerable adult, not the worker.

• Touch should be age appropriate - your approach to a five year old will be different to your approach to a fifteen year old.
  (Refer to Guidelines on Individual Work with regard to ‘comforting’.)

• Touch should generally be initiated by the child.

• Avoid physical activity that is, or thought to be, sexually stimulating.

• Those in your care have the right to decide how much physical contact they have with you or others, except in exceptional circumstances when they need medical attention.

• All workers are encouraged to point out to one another any concerns they have regarding a worker’s physical contact with a young person.

1. These guidelines cover activities held at other venues, in church members homes and organised trips.

2. The person organising the activity should inform the Minister, Church Council Secretary or the Junior Church Superintendent as appropriate.

3. The organiser will be aware of the safeguarding policy and the guidelines relating to individual work and touch by obtaining the ‘Safeguarding Pack’ from either the Minister, the Junior Church Superintendent or Church Council Secretary.

   The organiser will be asked to sign a form which states they are in receipt of the ‘Safeguarding Pack’ and that they agree to make themselves familiar with the contents.

   • The ‘Safeguarding Pack’ contains a copy of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedure on Disclosure or Suspicion of Abuse, Guidelines on Touch, Guidelines for Activities off Church Premises and Guidelines on the Ratio of adults to young people for group activities.

4. The organiser has responsibility for their own understanding of the safeguarding policy and guidelines and for ensuring that all those that help also understand and implement the guidelines.

5. If during the activity any form of abuse is suspected they should refer to the ‘Procedure on Disclosure or Suspicion of Abuse’.

6. If you are transporting a child, young person or vulnerable adult on your own be aware of the vulnerable position you may be in. Wherever possible, seek permission from the parent/guardian/carer. It is advisable to seat your passenger in the rear of the car. Never just disappear. Make another person aware that you are transporting a child, the destination and your expected time of return.

The recommended ratios are as follows:

Indoor Activities

Outdoor Activities

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