Safe Practice for Children's and Youth Work in Corps-Based Ministry

Safe Practice for Children’s and Youth Work in Corps-based Ministry Contents Purpose of this Manual 4 How to use this Manual 4 Other Reference Manuals and Policies 4 Definitions 5 Workers’ Guidelines for Best Practice 6 Behaviour and Language 6 Physical Contact 6 Shaping and Guiding Behaviour 7 Inclusive Practice 8 Recreational Drugs 8 Ministry Time Etiquette 8 Privacy and Confidentiality 9 Guidelines for Electronic Communication 11 Parental Consent 11 General 11 Social Media 12 Guidelines for Publishing Images 13 Protecting Identity & Privacy 13 Taking and Publishing Appropriate Images 13 Managing Safe Activities 15 Effective Risk Management 16 Planning Event Considerations 16 Safety Guidelines for People (during Activities) 18 Ratios 19 Parents and Guardians 19 Helpers and External service providers 20 2 Night Activities 20 First Aid 20 Medication 21 Location/Venue 22 Equipment 23 Transport 24 Food 25 Hygiene & Cleaning 26 Accessing Policies and Manuals on the Intranet 27 The Mission of The Salvation Army 28 Appendices 29 3 Purpose of this Manual To provide clear processes for Salvation Army corps staff (including employees, volunteers, ministry staff and officers) that set out how to interact with and manage children and youth in corps settings. This also includes activities organised by Divisional Children’s Mission Directors/Secretaries or Divisional Youth Secretaries. This manual does not apply to staff working in Early Childhood Education Centres, Community Ministries and Nationally Managed Programmes. However, all other staff working with children are now required to comply with the processes in this manual. Please note this manual does not address child protection issues. Keeping Children Safe - The Salvation Army Child and Young Person Protection Policy contains this information and is available on the intranet. For further information, please see keepingchildrensafe.sarmy.net.nz. This manual is a living document and will be reviewed and updated regularly. How to Use This Manual This manual can be used in a number of ways: ● familiarity with the contents will help gain a broad understanding of safety and care in Salvation Army activities ● serves as a reference to check against when encountering safety issues addressed in this manual ● provides various checklists to use in preparing programmes/activities ● forms can be photocopied and used as required or can be adapted to suit circumstances and needs Other Reference Manuals and Policies ● Keeping Children Safe - The Salvation Army Child and Young Person Protection Policy ● Privacy Policy ● The Salvation Army and the Treaty of Waitangi ● Health and Safety Handbooks ● Health and Safety Policies and Guides ● Human Resources Manual These documents can be downloaded from intranet.sarmy.net.nz ● Policy for Managing Challenging Behaviour Please contact your line manager to ● Sexual Misconduct Policies & Complaints access the intranet. Procedures Manual See page 27 for more detailed ● Respect Policy directions to files on the intranet ● Social Media Policy and Guidelines 4 Definitions Due to the large range of roles and situations this policy covers, some of the terms used in this document have been standardised. Key worker: [Previously called Children’s/Youth worker or Children’s/Youth leader.] A person within The Salvation Army, paid or unpaid, who works with children/youth. In the course of their work the person must be either (a) the only children/youth/families worker present, or (b) the children/youth/families worker who has primary responsibility for, or authority over, the children/youth present. Must have completed employment/volunteer process and have completed the one day ‘Child Protection training’ Worker: [Previously called helper]. A person within The Salvation Army, paid or unpaid, working with children and/or youth. Must have completed employment/volunteer process and have completed the ‘Introduction to Child Protection’ training Activity: [Previously called event or programme.] A one-off event or regular occurrence where children/youth are present and supervised, and interacting with other children/youth and The Salvation Army workers Child: young person aged 14 years and under Youth: young person aged 18 years and under DC: Divisional Commander THQ: Territorial Headquarters DHQ: Divisional Headquarters Oranga Tamariki: Ministry for Vulnerable Children (formerly CYF) TYS: Territorial Youth Secretary TCMD: Territorial Children's Mission Director DYS: Divisional Youth Secretary DCMD: Divisional Children’s Mission Director DCS: Divisional Children’s Secretary 5 Workers’ Guidelines for Best Practice The Salvation Army is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children or youth involved in its activities and will act to ensure a safe environment is maintained at all times. The Salvation Army also supports the safety and wellbeing of its workers and encourages their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants. All staff (including volunteers) who work with children and young people must be safety checked before starting their work with children and young people. Please see keepingchildrensafe.sarmy.net.nz for more information. Behaviour and Language Do not be alone with a child or youth, and remain visible to other children’s or youth workers at all times. ● Behaviour, attitudes and language of workers are important during any children’s or youth activity ● Use language that affirms worth, dignity and significance ● Do not use negative nicknames, ‘put downs’ or sexist language with anyone ● Behaviour that gives the impression of favouritism or encourages ‘special’ relationships must be avoided ● Correspondence (email, text messaging or social networking) that is suggestive of a romantic nature must be avoided Physical Contact ● Always remain visible to other workers and never be alone in a car or other private place ● Any physical activity that is or may be thought of as sexually stimulating to the child or youth is inappropriate and must be avoided. Children/youth may not be aware of creating such situations, but it is the responsibility of a worker to be alert to such circumstances and follow the guidelines below: ○ Avoid ○ Stop ○ Tell someone ○ Report the situation to next level of authority ● It is inappropriate for a worker to pursue a romantic relationship with a participant during the time they are working together ● If fellow workers are in a romantic relationship, the focus must be on the children or youth and public displays of affection must be kept under control 6 Appropriate and inappropriate physical contact with children and youth Appropriate physical contact includes: Inappropriate physical contact includes, but is not limited to, the following: ● bending down to the child’s level and ● forcing affection upon a reluctant listening attentively child or youth ● gaining permission before hugging a ● kissing or coaxing a child or youth to child and respecting their right to kiss you refuse ● extended hugging or tickling ● taking a child’s hand and leading them ● touching any area of the body to an activity normally covered by togs ● comforting a child or youth by placing ● carrying older children or sitting them an arm around their shoulder and on your lap giving a gentle squeeze from the side ● patting a child or youth on the head ● praising or welcoming a child by (culturally inappropriate) holding their hands briefly ● use of any physical contact that may ● briefly patting a child on the hand, be interpreted as sexual advancement back or shoulders in affirmation (eg. intimate touching, fondling of any sort, massages, etc.). ● holding a preschool child who is crying, provided they want to be held ● a brief modest side hug, initiated by the youth in a public place, as a form of greeting ● handshakes, high fives ● normal playful behaviour, which is a typical aspect of structured sports or informal sporting activities. Be alert to the risks involved in contact sports Shaping and Guiding Behaviour Physical punishment in any form (eg. smacking) must never be used, even in fun. The only form of appropriate physical restraint is to protect children or youth from harm (eg. reasonable restraint to stop a fight or to avoid an accident). Shaping behaviour ● create a loving, caring atmosphere ● involve children and youth in making the group’s rules ● focus on positive actions ● provide meaningful and age-appropriate activities ● be fair, consistent and respectful ● establish and communicate realistic expectations and boundaries 7 Managing inappropriate behaviour ● Be aware of the effects of bullying on children or youth and implement strategies (eg. supervision, increasing ratios, enforcing rules) to prevent it happening ● Use various signals to help children or youth stay active in their task (eg. verbal instructions, a look, a gentle touch on the shoulder) ● Redirect aggressive behaviour in children or youth (eg. removing from situation, providing alternative activity) ● Correct inappropriate behaviour in a conversation with the child or youth while letting the child or youth know you care about them ● For the duration of the activity safely mind objects that become a distraction (eg. favourite toys and mobile phones) Inclusive Practice ● Be wary of making assumptions about any participant’s background, family status, sexuality or principal caregivers such as parents or guardians ● Respect beliefs and cultures that are different than yours Types of Families and Caregivers ● Respect each unique family

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