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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 regularly since then. Procedures are currently being reviewed in the light of new legislation and any changes to policy or procedures will be disseminated in due course.

The principal objectives of the policy are:

  1. to protect children and young people on RSCM courses from any kind of harm or abuse;
  2. to protect course directors and tutors from false allegations;
  3. 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.

The RSCM’s current child protection policy can be downloaded here:

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 RSCM vetting procedures:

  • Process A
    • an RSCM ‘Self-Declaration’ form is filled out by the applicant
    • two confidential references are obtained by the RSCM's Child Protection Administrator
    • the form and references are checked, and any problems or discrepancies followed up
    • a confirmation letter is sent to the applicant
  • Process B (this is obligatory for anyone with sole responsibility or directly supervising under 18s)
    • a CRB Enhanced Disclosure is obtained through the RSCM
    • the appropriate information is recorded and stored securely at the RSCM Centre in accordance with the CRB Code of Practice

Having completed these procedures, the Child Protection Administrator, if necessary in consultation with the Child Protection Officer, 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 currently repeated 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; 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 on Area Committees.

A DVD training resource produced by Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) is also available for borrowing from the RSCM office in Salisbury.

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 RSCM Voices groups. These assistants all have the appropriate level of child protection clearance.

Where do key responsibilities for protecting children lie?

The RSCM Child Protection Administrator, based in Salisbury, is the first point of contact for any child protection matter. She 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).

The RSCM’s Head of Education is the RSCM’s Child Protection Officer and, as such, has overall responsibility for child protection policy and procedures and will deal with any difficult issues referred to her by the Child Protection Administrator. The Head of Education will also refer any critical decisions to the RSCM’s Senior Management team.

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 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 Administrator at the RSCM 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.