A web site basically consists of an initial 'Main Page' and clicking on any title in blue, allows access to other pages.



The way to get to other pages is to 'Click' (or double click) on a heading or title using the left hand button of the mouse. Some blue headings are underlined, but most are not.
The way to get back again is to 'click' (or double click) on the blue button 'Main Page'



When the mouse pointer hovers over a title that can lead to other pages, the pointer will change to a hand. This indicates the blue title is a link to another page.

Getting Around.



In the left hand side of this page are page titles.
Click - or double-click on any of these will cause the relevant pages to open.



At the base on this page are a number of blue titles, starting with 'Parish Organisations' and ending with 'Return to deanery Page'. These are a copy of some of the titles on the left side of the page.



Clicking on these will also cause the relevant pages to appear. These are repeated throughout the series of web pages, - so no matter which page you are on, there is usually more than one way to get back to the Main Page.



How each page is seen will depend on the size of your computer monitor. Where the page is larger than your screen, simply use the scroll-bar to the right using the mouse.

The Website is basically a series of text pages which will download to your computer quite quickly.

But there are some pictures which usually take a littler longer to download from the Internet. When Internet Explorer or Netscape downloads a page, it copies each piece of information onto your computer. When you want to see a picture for a second time, the copy stored on the computer is displayed and you will see it much faster.

This web site is best seen using Internet Explorer. The latest versions of both Internet Explorer and Netscape can be found free of charge on the CD's that come with computer magazines. So there is no reason to have an old version on these browsers on the computer.

This Website is maintained by StudioComs Publishing.
Most content is done in association with the local Parish Priest.

If, as a member of a parish you would like to:

1. have a contribution considered for inclusion in the Website,
2. have something which affects you removed, added, changed or updated,
3. publicise an organisation or group you organise,
4. publicise a religious event or meeting,
5. would like an important family event mentioned,
6. etc., etc.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY FOR SACRED HEART, BOURNEMOUTH, PARISH


1. MISSION STATEMENT We reaffirm the Mission Statement issued by our Diocese of Portsmouth: -

"We believe that each child or young person in our communities is created in God's image to'have life in its fullness' (John 10,10).

We are committed to promoting the fullest human, moral and spiritual development of each of them.

We will do everything we can to ensure that children, young people, and vulnerable adults in our care will be safe and free from harm or the threat of harm.

To this end all people within our communities will adhere to the guidelines and follow the policies and procedures in all activities, to ensure above all else, that the welfare of the children and young people is nurtured, upheld and protected."

2. PARISH CHILD PROTECTION PERSONNEL

(a) Currently The Parish Child Protection Team consists of Patrick Matthews as Coordinator ( Diocesan Title " Local Child Protection Representative") and Clare Flower.

(b) The appointment of further team members is necessary, both to lessen the administrative burden, but also to ensure adequate cover of the range of Parish Activities, and to cover holiday absences etc. It is desirable if a mix of genders can be achieved.

(c) Members of the team are not expected to be 'experts in child protection', but simply to have an understanding of the procedures to be adopted in the event of any issues of concern arising, a willingness to be available for contact, to be vigilant, and to be able to maintain such confidentiality as may be necessary.

(d) Any further team members will be appointed by the Parish Priest ,in consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council and the existing team.

3. ROLE OF PARISH CHILD PROTECTION PERSONNEL.

(a) To assist with the scrutinising of appointments of volunteers, and paid staff (if any), listed in this Policy as requiring screening.

(b) To ensure the safe handling and security of all application forms/declaration forms and references generated as a result, in accordance with the National Policy on Secure Storage etc. issued by COPCA.

(c) To seek to ensure that all staffing levels and logs required by this policy are maintained.

(d) To be the eyes and ears of this Policy, and to available for contact by any concerned young person or adult.

(e) To respond to any issues of concern by notifying the statutory authorities, and/or the Diocesan Child Protection Officer, as appropriate.

(f) To use best endeavours to attend all training and refresher courses provided by the Diocesan Child Protection Committee.

4. LIST OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLES GROUPS

Sacred Heart is a Town Centre Parish. It no longer has a Parish School within the Parish Boundaries, nor any uniformed organisations or youth groups. But various of our activities involve or are centred around children and young people.

The following parish groups are identified as involving children or young people: -
Altar Servers
Childrens Liturgy Group
First Communion Classes
Confirmation Classes
Bellringers
Choir
Drop Inn
RCIA
Readers

Eucharistic Ministers take the eucharist from the Church to the sick and housebound, many of whom are vulnerable adults, and will require their own separate consideration.

The list of groups will be subject to periodic review

5. LEADERS OF CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS GROUPS.

Listed below are the leaders of these groups: -

Altar Servers Roger Carr-Jones
Childrens Liturgy Dawn Mitchell
First Communion Michelle Stone
Confirmation Eileen Floyd
Bellringers Patrick Matthews
Choir Kim Matthews
Drop Inn John Coulston
RCIA ………………
Readers and Eucharistic Mins Pam Brigden

6. STAFFING RATIOS

At any group meeting when children and young people, or vulnerable adults, are present or expected to be present a minimum of 2 screened adults shall always be present

No children under the age of 3 are, from the current list of groups, expected to be present except in company of their parent(s)

For children over 3 years old, the staffing ratio will be one adult for every 8 children present

For the avoidance of any doubt the staffing numbers referred to above, exclude any persons under the age of 18, no matter how experienced or established in the group that individual may be.

7. SCREENING OF VOLUNTEER CHURCH WORKERS.

Members of the Parish Child Protection Team, and those involved in positions of trust towards children and young people, and vulnerable adults, will need, whether they be new volunteers or established church workers, to complete application forms prescribed by the Diocesan Child Protection Office, and where appropriate undergo an interview process ,Dependant upon successful approval by the Diocesan Child Protection Office, the individual should then apply to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) for an Enhanced Disclosure. This procedure is intended for the mutual protection of both the potentially vulnerable people in our midst, and the good reputations of those giving voluntary service to the Church, and should not be interpreted as any criticism of the individuals concerned. This procedure will be carried out in accordance with national guidelines established by the Home Office and COPCA and the principles of the Data Protection Acts. and all documentation resulting will be kept in safe keeping

Where the Parish Group involves only/primarily children and young people ie.altar servers, childrens liturgy, first communion and confirmation, all volunteers shall be screened.

The remaining Parish Groups, being primarily adult organisations of mixed age, shall be treated as follows: -

Choir: at least 2 screened individuals shall be present at practices and at church services. Bellringers: Likewise, but purely screened individuals on one to one initial training sessions. The bellringers will conform in addition to the guidelines on child protection published by the Central Council of Church Bellringers.

Choir and bellringers will ensure that sufficient are screened to comply with the above.

All eucharistic ministers involved or likely to be involved, in ministry to the sick and housebound should be screened.

8. DIOCESAN GUIDANCE AND COMPLIANCE.

All group leaders should have available for reference a copy of the Diocesan Child Protection Guidance 'Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults'and ensure that their group's activities are conducted in accordance with Section 2 of that Guidance.

An initial meeting, and subsequent annual meetings, should be held between the parish child protection team, and the leaders of the relevant groups, to ensure compliance with this Policy and the Diocesan Guidelines.

9. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS

Each group, other than children's liturgy, should maintain a log-book to register attendance at each event, and any incidents of relevance. There is already an established log-book maintained on the choir gallery to cover the activities of both choir and bellringers, as those groups partially share space, leadership and attendance times.

In accordance with Diocesan and National Guidance, it is impractical for an attendance record to be kept at the Childrens' liturgy group, but a head-count should be conducted.

Those young people becoming engaged with Parish Groups on a permanent basis should have consent forms signed by their parents/guardians agreeing to their involvement with that activity.

Similarly any extra-mural activities should be subject of specific consent forms.

All this documentation should be subject to long-term secure retention.

10. REVIEW ETC.

This initial policy should have the consent/support of the Parish Pastoral Council, and be the subject of regular review at least annually.

All persons named within this policy consent to being so named, and to their identities being recorded and displayed.

This Policy will be electronically stored, and updated as and when necessary.

This is edition no. 2. - May 2004.