A summary of RSCM policy and procedures for staff and volunteers working with children and young people
What is the RSCM’s policy on child protection matters?
The RSCM Policy and Guidelines for those working with Children and Young People has been in place since the mid-1990s and has been reviewed and updated approximately every two years since then. This review process is ongoing.
The principal objectives of the policy are:
- to protect children and young people on RSCM courses from any kind of harm or abuse;
- to protect course directors and tutors from false allegations;
- to protect the RSCM’s reputation and standing in the community.
The guidelines we issue give key safeguards which we expect staff and volunteers to employ in their work. The guidelines also make it clear how to respond to any child protection issue that arises.
How do we ensure that people are suitable to work with children and young people?
There are two main processes which the RSCM uses to ensure that those who work or volunteer for us are suitable to work with children and young people.
In advance of any event, activity or course
1. a risk assessment is carried out;
2. anyone who will have contact with or responsibility for children must complete one or both of the following procedures:
- Process A
- RSCM clearance (the minimum requirement)
- a ‘self-declaration’ form is filled out by the applicant
- two confidential references are obtained by the RSCM central staff
- form and references are checked by RSCM central staff, and any problems or discrepancies followed up
- the central staff issues an RSCM clearance certificate
- Process B
- Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance (this is obligatory for anyone working directly with or responsible for children)
- a CRB enhanced disclosure is obtained
- the appropriate information is recorded and stored securely at our administrative centre
Having completed the clearance procedures, the RSCM central staff decides whether to allow an adult to work with the RSCM or participate in events where they may be in contact with children. These checks are completed at least every three years.
Process A applies to adults who may be in contact with children, i.e. as singers in an RSCM choir or participants on a residential course but not sleeping in the same building as children, and Process A and B applies to adults who have direct responsibility for the care and supervision of children as musical directors or support staff.
What guidance or training is available to those working with children and young people?
Apart from the guidelines contained within the RSCM policy document, a comprehensive set of guidance notes for volunteers and area committees is available in the Area Handbook. This includes a set of forms for use in conjunction with all organised activities and courses. Updates are circulated to all area committees.
Central staff who lead a course are well briefed on child protection and procedures so that they can in turn brief other tutorial and support staff on the course. Where a course is not led by central staff, there is a briefing of course staff about dealing with child protection issues. Briefings have been made available for cascading down through our personnel by our coordinators in the regions to Education and Training Officers and Young Persons Officers in particular on area committees.
A DVD training resource produced by Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) is also available for borrowing from the administrative centre.
The RSCM encourages all who work with us to keep up to date with child protection issues and to take advantage of child protection training organised in their diocese or through other organisations in their own locality.
What provisions for children’s safety are in place at events run by the RSCM?
The RSCM has issued guidance about the supervision of children for those organising local events and activities: Supervision of children and young people attending RSCM courses and events.
We also encourage the use of pastoral assistants, whose job is more specifically to meet the requirements for good supervision of younger people, in particular on events run by our Cathedral Singers groups. These assistants all have the appropriate level of child protection clearance.
Where do key responsibilities for protecting children lie?
The RSCM Child Protection Officer, based in Salisbury, is the first point of contact for any child protection matter. The CP officer is responsible for ensuring the clearance processes are carried out and for liaising with the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (which is the body through which we obtain CRB disclosures and which offers us advice on child protection matters). She is assisted by another member of the central staff.
The RSCM’s Head of Education has overall responsibility for child protection policy and procedures and will deal with any difficult issues referred to her by the Child Protection Officer. The Head of Education will also refer any critical decisions to the RSCM’s Senior Management team. There is also close liaison with the Director of the RSCM Voluntary Networks who oversees the work of our volunteer network.
The Voluntary Network. Our Area Committees (i.e. volunteers who organise RSCM activity at the local level) are responsible for registering all their planned events and activities with the RSCM’s administrative centre. This registration procedure ensures that child protection and health and safety risk assessments are carried out, and that anyone working on the activity is identified so that appropriate child protection checks can be made.
The Young Persons Officer (YPO) is the designated officer of the area committee responsible for child protection compliance. They advise the committee and ensure that there is adequate provision for child protection for all RSCM events in their Area at which young people aged under 18 may be present. They also ensure that clearance procedures for volunteer workers and tutors are carried out and liaise with the Child Protection Officer or their assistant at the RSCM administrative centre. In some Area committees the role of YPO is undertaken by the Area Secretary as part of their duties, rather than by a separate officer.
Staff, volunteers and awards examiners appointed to work on courses and other activities are all responsible for ensuring they are acquainted with the RSCM’s policy and guidance on working with young people.