General Data Protection Regulations

1.1 Bournemouth Community Church (BCC) needs to collect certain types of information about members and other individuals who come into contact with the organisation. BCC is committed to complying not just with the letter of the law but also to ensuring that the organisation and those involved with the organisation treat each individual they come into contact with, with respect and dignity.

1.2 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires all those who gather data about individuals to comply with the following 7 Data Protection Principles:

Personal data shall be:

Processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals. Collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that’s incompatible with those purposes (further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest or historical research or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes). Adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed. Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that’s inaccurate, having regard for the purposes for which they are processed, is erased or rectified without delay. Not kept longer than necessary in regards to the purposes it was processed; personal data may be stored for longer periods of time if it concerns historical, statistical purposes, or is in place to fulfil the safeguarding of individuals. Processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures. The subject of accountability – the designated controller shall be responsible for, and be able to demonstrate compliance with these principles.

BCC applies this to its work in the following ways:

Information about living individuals, whether service users, staff, volunteers or supporters of BCC will only be gathered when and to the extent necessary in order to provide either the service in question or the management and support of those working for BCC in a paid or voluntary capacity. Transparent communication in regards to the purposes of storing information should be given at the point of receiving it; this includes information derived from other sources, for example, tracking attendance data. Personal information gathered by BCC will not be processed to a greater degree than the original purpose it was taken. To do so BCC would require further consent. For example, by signing up for an Alpha Course, that individual’s information should only be used in reasonable connection to the purposes it was gathered for, ie. to attend the Alpha Course. BCC will only process information that is necessary to the purpose of taking it. Information that is stored will only be retained for the length of time that it is reasonable to do so. The controller regularly reviews information that is stored and seeks to only retain information that is relevant to the original purpose it was taken. The accuracy of the personal information held by BCC will be primarily the responsibility of the authorised member of staff or volunteer lead who initially collected it, however the individual can access their information upon request and make changes to ensure that data is kept up to date, and relevant, in doing so the individual also can change their privacy preferences. In accordance with GDPR, BCC will take every reasonable step to ensure that data is accurate and up to date. Any personal information gathered by BCC will only be held for the duration of the relationship between the individual and the organisation, cases will be regularly reviewed and in the case of there being no purpose in retaining an individual’s data, any information that is not relevant to historical, statistical or safeguarding purposes will be deleted from our system. Any personal information gathered by BCC will be protected from unauthorised access by being stored in a secure, encrypted online server or secure filing cabinet. Access is restricted to trained and authorised staff or volunteers who will have limited access in accordance with the purpose of the personal information and the relationship of BCC to that individual’s information. It will not be shared with any other person or organisation without the consent of the person to whom it relates (unless legally obliged to do so), and then only when absolutely necessary. BCC has sufficient governance and delegation structures to ensure that it is complying with the principles of GDPR. This includes an annual data audit on all personal data that BCC holds; this will include a review of the way BCC processes and stores data to ensure that security measures are sufficient. Regular training opportunities for authorised members of staff or volunteers will be given. BCC maintains up to date privacy notices and consent for processing data as required.

Requesting Data Procedure

Individuals will also be made aware of their rights under the GDPR to see the information held by BCC. Any individual who believes that BCC is storing personal information about them is entitled to request a copy of the information. Such requests should be put in writing to reception@bournemouthcommunitychurch.com or Receptionist, Life Centre, 711-715 Wimborne Road, Moordown, BH92AU.

Complaints Procedure

If you believe that the Church needs to notify the Data Protection Registrar because personal data is being processed beyond the parameters set out in the these Guidelines or beyond the parameters of the GDPR, telephone the Office of the Information Commissioner to obtain a form to complete, or alternatively the form can be obtained via the Internet at https://ico.org.uk/.

Last updated: April 2018

Safeguarding Children and Young People

Safeguarding Children and Young People The safeguarding of children and adults is an integral part of the life and ministry of the church. This safeguarding children and young people policy sits together with the safeguarding adults’ policy. This policy is drawn from the policy for safeguarding children in the Church of England, Protecting All God’s Children 2010. It provides the basis for ensuring that within our church community we provide the safest possible environment to enable our children to grow and flourish. It represents our commitment to safeguarding children and young people and reflects our policy statement and guiding principles. The church believes that the welfare of the child is paramount and that all children should be protected from harm or abuse. To do so we will work in partnership with children, parents, carers and other agencies to promote and safeguard the welfare of our children.

1.2 Child protection and child abuse 1.2.1 What is safeguarding? Safeguarding is the broader activities through which we are vigilant and responsive to promoting the welfare of our children and young people The primary concept in safeguarding is recognizing and responding to the potential significant harm of children. Significant harm is any single or multiple maltreatment or impairment to the health and development of a child and is determined by careful assessment. 1.2.2 Why is safeguarding important? For too long children have died or been abused at the hands of those who should have protected them. Therefore the work of safeguarding children and young people is now guided by a significant body of legislation and policy. More details of this can be found in section 4. They serve to reinforce the importance of this work and the basis from which we should be operating. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) challenges us to take measures to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse. Within England this is reflected in the Children Act 1989 which provides the statutory powers for the Local Authority to investigate and intervene where there are concerns for significant harm to a child. More specifically, statutory and voluntary organisations are guided by Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010 ), HM Government, which provides specific guidance for faith organisations. This policy has been developed against this legislation. 1.2.3 How might children be harmed? Children can be harmed in many ways. Maltreatment of a child occurs where: their health, physical, emotional, intellectual, sexual, spiritual or social development is damaged by other people. All abuse is a betrayal of trust and a misuse of relationships and power. Church communities must be particularly vigilant to identify the inappropriate use of any religious belief or practice which may harm somebody spiritually, emotionally or physically. Abuse can be an act of commission, such as sexual abuse, or omission, such as neglect or failure to protect. Child abuse affects girls and boys, babies and young people of all ages up to 18, including children with learning difficulties, children with physical disabilities and children from all kinds of family background. It occurs in all cultures, religions and classes. Digital technology such as the internet and mobile phones are being increasingly used as a medium for abuse. Amongst their peers children may experience ‘sexting’ or be enticed to have taken or send explicit photographs of themselves. With adults it may also take the form of the production and distribution of photos or video displaying abusive images of children. Children can be entrapped by these practices. 1.2.4 Who might harm a child? Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them, or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or by another child or children, including bullying and abuse through the use of digital technology. Someone may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Most child abuse is perpetrated by an adult, male or female, who is well known to the child, often a family member. Such trusted adults may be in the child’s community; they may be trusted professionals, leaders or members of a child’s church. 1.2.5 What is the impact on children? Child abuse can result in a child suffering significant harm and the need for court proceedings to safeguard their welfare. Abuse prevents children from achieving their full potential and undermines their dignity and rights. The harm it causes will affect children both while it is happening and in later life. It can be educational, emotional, psychological and relational. Historic accounts are therefore to be responded to with the same diligence. When abuse occurs within the context of the Church or by a Christian, it may affect the person’s faith and spiritual development. Children may suffer both directly and indirectly if they live in households where there is domestic violence. Domestic violence includes any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between adults or young people, who are or who have been intimate partners, family members or extended family members, regardless of gender and sexuality. If there is domestic violence it is now accepted that there will always be at least emotional abuse of any children in the household, and there may also be direct abuse of them.

1.3 Categories and definitions of abuse There are four categories of abuse described in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010, from which the following definitions are taken. 1.3.1 Physical abuse Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness in, a child. 1.3.2 Sexual abuse Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. 1.3.3 Neglect Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: • provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment) • protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger • ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers) • ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs. 1.3.4 Emotional abuse Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child which causes severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ridiculing what they say or how they communicate. Emotional abuse may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may also involve: seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another, for example in domestic violence situations; serious bullying (including cyber-bullying); causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger; exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child but it may occur as the sole or main form of abuse. 1.3.5 Why children don’t tell and adults don’t act It is commonly believed that a child or young person would resist abuse at all costs or immediately tell a trusted adult. In fact children often need to overcome a number of barriers which may be emotional or intellectual but are very real for them. Children and young people often don’t tell because they: • are scared because they have been threatened • believe they will be taken away from home and put in care • believe they are to blame • think it is what happens to all children • feel embarrassed and guilty • don’t want the abuser to get into trouble • have communication or learning difficulties • may not have the vocabulary to explain what happened • are afraid they won’t be believed All of us have a natural revulsion upon hearing someone has maltreated a child and must resist our inclination to dismiss its possible truth in favour of a more comfortable rationale. The reasons adults do not share their concerns may be because we: • find it hard to believe what we are seeing or hearing • cannot believe the suspicion that may be about someone we know • fear we might ‘get it wrong’ or make it worse • fear the consequences of getting it wrong – for the child, young person or vulnerable adult, their family and/or for ourselves • simply ‘don’t want to be involved’ • believe we do not have the information on what to do or who to contact.

1.4 Procedures to follow if there is a concern about a child 1.4.1 What to do with disclosures and concerns? Concerns about a child or young person may present themselves in a number of ways. The flow chart below will guide the response in specific situations. The core actions that should always be taken are: • take any emergency action needed to alleviate any immediate risk to life or limb • discuss your concerns with your Church Safeguarding Officer • make a brief factual note of what you have seen, heard or become concerned about (within an hour when possible) • listen, don’t ask any leading questions • ensure safeguarding action is taken All situations of actual or suspected child abuse should be reported without delay (within 24 hours) to the Safeguarding Team and their advice sought. Making a referral to Children’s Social Care If it is agreed that a referral should be made to your local Social Care office, this will normally be done by the Incumbent, Church Safeguarding Officer or a member of the Safeguarding Team. The following points should be kept in mind: • give the social worker as much detail as possible: descriptions, dates, times, and what was actually said • distinguish between fact and opinion and between what you have seen and what others have told you • follow up your contact with the children’s social care by a letter confirming what you have said to them (within 24 hours) • keep a record • be prepared to have further discussions with the social services and / or a police investigation team • continue to support the child • you may need support for yourself - from others in the church community who know what is happening or from the church pastoral care team. 1.4.2 Allegations against church officers The guidance below relates to circumstances where it is alleged that a church member has: • behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child • possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child • behaved in a way that indicates that he or she is unsuitable to work with children. Where there are concerns for the behaviour of or allegations against a church member these should be directed immediately to the Church Safeguarding Officer who will confirm the appropriate next action. These concerns must be reported to the Safeguarding Officer and will be addressed drawing on the relevant policy procedures guiding paid and voluntary workers. This may involve: providing advice, supervision and training, the use of disciplinary and statutory processes or a combination of these. In England, any allegation against those working with children must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where any of the three circumstances identified above exists. This is a useful means of consultation as the LADO will advise if the situation meets the criteria and contains sufficient information to proceed and will provide support throughout the process. 1.4.3 Caring for those who may or have harmed children For the purpose of work with children or adults at risk, no offence is considered spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is the policy of the Church that all people with positive criminal records checks should undergo a risk assessment proportionate to their role and the matters disclosed. Old, minor and unrelated offences will not prohibit otherwise suitable people from working with children. The Safeguarding Team should always be involved in this. As well as people with cautions and convictions against children there are others whose behaviour may be considered to pose a risk to children. A protocol for ‘Managing Offenders’ should be completed for those with cautions or convictions. A ‘Covenant of Care’ agreement should be completed with those who may potentially present a risk to children even where they have not been cautioned or convicted of an offence. 1.4.4 Why should the Church be concerned? Research from the Lucy Faithful Foundation has indicated that a higher proportion of convicted offenders against children may be found in church congregations than in the population generally. It is therefore probable that congregations will have people who have abused children among their worshippers, some of whom will be known. Not all will have committed sexual offences; some will have been guilty of neglect, physical or emotional abuse. They may still present a risk to children. The Church is a community of sinners being forgiven, and has a duty to minister to all people. This imposes a particular responsibility to not place people in the way of temptation, and not to compromise the safety of children.

Safeguarding responsibilities Safeguarding is a shared responsibility and most effectively undertaken when all are working within their clear roles and responsibilities. Within Bournemouth Community Church safeguarding responsibilities are held by the Safeguarding Officers and the Safeguarding Team. Bournemouth Community Church Safe Guarding Structure • We have adopted the national House of Bishops’ safeguarding children policy, Church of England (Protecting All God’s Children, 2010) • provided a structure to manage safeguarding in the church • established a Safeguarding Team to coordinate the management of all aspects of safeguarding • provided a code of ‘Safer Working Practice’ for all in the church volunteers and staff to follow • ensured the appointment of a Church Safe Guarding Officer • ensured safeguarding training and development opportunities are available to all • appointed a person, different from the Church Safeguarding Officer, to be a Children’s Champion. • display in church premises where children’s activities take place, the contact details of the Church Safeguarding Officer and Children’s Champion with, ‘Childline’ 0800 1111 and ‘Parentline Plus’ 0808 800 222 and NSPCC Helpline 0808 731 9256 numbers • ensure that all those authorised to work with children are appropriately recruited according to safer recruitment practice and are trained and supported • ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities which involve children undertaken in the name of the parish • ensure all those hiring church premises undertake to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities towards children and young people • review the implementation in the church of the safeguarding children policy, procedures and good practice, at least annually. The report should be presented to the Trustees by the Church Safeguarding Officer. • in the event of a specific safeguarding concern, ensure that all the LEP partners are also notified.
Roles in safeguarding children and young people Church Safeguarding Officer The Church Safeguarding Officer is a member of the Safeguarding Team. Their role is to coordinate all the mechanisms for safeguarding practice across the church through the provision of specialist advice, support, administration and monitoring. The Church Safeguarding Officer is responsible for ensuring the coordination of any concerns about a child, or the behaviour of an adult working with children. Their role is to ensure that these are appropriately reported both to the statutory agencies and to the Safeguarding Team. They should attend the Trustees Meeting at least once a year and work with them to ensure the proper implementation of the safeguarding policy. Where the Church Safeguarding Officer becomes aware of a suspicion or concern about abuse the following steps should be followed: • if the child is in immediate need of medical treatment or protection, contact the ambulance service or the police (very few situations will fall into this category) • inform the Senior Minister (unless there is a valid reason not to) • inform the Safeguarding Team within 24 hours. This will allow you to discuss your concerns with someone experienced, and seek advice and guidance to agree the most appropriate action to take in the best interests of the child and in line with the Child Protection policies and procedures. The Local Children’s Social Care Department and the NSPCC are available for consultation on concerns. 4.Selecting, Recruiting and Supporting Workers Safer recruitment practices form part of a network of checks and balances which will minimise the possibility of appointing inappropriate individuals to work with vulnerable groups. They are one of the four elements of ‘safe care’ practice, which are: • effective, clear appointment/recruitment procedures and practices • explicit and shared standards • clear, reliable supervision arrangements • access to appropriate training opportunities Appointments to all roles should be in line with Safeguarding Guidelines. Each appointment to a paid or voluntary post should be subject to a recruitment process, vetting checks and a mandatory six month probationary period. Good appointment and support processes will therefore include: • clarity about what the post involves and the kind of person to occupy it • completion of confidential declaration forms enabling information to be openly explored • consistent interviewing and assessment methods, where identity is verified • using references to ascertain a person’s suitability for the role • checking and rechecking regularly that the individual is suitable to work with vulnerable people • clear and thorough risk assessment to enable “safe” appointments to be made • using the safeguarding declaration and codes of conduct to guide best practice • provision of appropriate means of induction, supervision, training and support Those appointing should use the recruitment process as an opportunity to satisfy themselves that the person has the personality, experience and integrity for the work. It is recommended that volunteers are not appointed to children’s work until they have been regular members of the congregation for a sufficient length of time for them to become known and trusted by the wider church community. More information on the safer recruiting can be found in section 4.
Good practice in Safeguarding Children and Young People The following areas are included as being specifically relevant and useful to safeguarding children and young people’s activities.

5.1 Working with children and young people All staff and volunteers are to maintain the highest professional standards in their work and relationships with children in line with this policy. Bournemouth Community Church has adopted a set of Guiding Principles and a Code of Safer Working Practice which are intended to serve to keep children and young people safe from harm and adults protected from false allegations or temptation. We ask all to agree to abide by these.

5.2 Supervision and training Paid staff and volunteers have the opportunity to meet together regularly to discuss any concerns, and to receive support and be helped to review their work. Supervision is the formal reviewing and planning of the work of employees and volunteers. Supervisors are responsible for making the work purposeful and focused. Training is the ongoing activity of learning for the purpose of carrying out one’s responsibilities well and to the required standard. Safeguarding training should be made available to all those working with children and young people. Please contact the Safeguarding Officer for further details.

5.5 Openness and accountability Children and young people are best protected within environments and relationships that are trusting and open. This can be achieved by colleagues supporting each other to keep their practice within the ‘Code of Safe Working Practise’,and acting without delay on behaviour that puts a worker or vulnerable person at risk.

5.6 Confidentiality and information sharing The highest level of confidentiality should be maintained at all times in relationships with both adults at risk and children. Concerns about abuse and maltreatment however, must not be kept secret or deemed confidential. Where a child is suffering or likely to suffer harm information must be shared promptly in order to protect the child (advice sought / matter reported within 24 hours). Research and experience affirm that keeping such secrets ‘confidential’ enables the abuse and its harm to continue and only serves to protect the abuser.

5.7 The hire of church premises The welfare of children and young people is with those responsible for their care. Where external organisations are using church premises, hire arrangements must make it clear and agreed that the organisations are to abide by the Safeguarding Policy. A copy of the policy to be used should be attached to the hire agreement. Hirers should be asked to sign a copy of the Safeguarding Policy, even when the organisation have their own, to acknowledge that this has been seen and will be adhered to.

5.8 Consent It is important to ensure that children and young people can make an informed choice about whether to be involved in specific church activities. This can be done by sending the children and young people a programme before the event / activity and talking them through what it involves. Children and young people should be given the option at any time before or during an event or activity to say if they feel unhappy or uncomfortable with what is happening and they must be listened to. Parental consent must be obtained for all children and young people up to the age of 18 years, unless they are 16 years or over and living and working independently to their parents/ guardians and are not part of the looked after system where the local authority should then be approached.

Bournemouth Community Church Safeguarding Policy Statement Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. We have a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm. Safeguarding Officers: Andy Driscoll

Last updated: May 2018