Legislation & Policies

Put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry.
Oliver Cromwell

Child Protection

Click the link for an UNCONTROLLED copy of our Child Protection Policy Statement

Click here for Whos Who in the Youth Team, including the Parish Child Protection Officer.

Our parish Policy is based upon that of the Guildford Diocese. Advice can be obtained from :-

·    Diocesan Child Protection Adviser, Janet Hind 01243 780684
·    Incumbent (Rev Debbie Sellin)
·    Parish Child Protection Officer (Co-Ordinator –see page 18/19 Section G2), Mrs Harriet Foges
·    Social Services Department, SW Area Office, Grosvenor House, Cross Lanes, Guildford GU1 1FA, 01483 517777
·    Police Child Protection Team, W Surrey Vulnerable Persons Unit, Longbridge, Farnham, 01252 573344.

Home Office Guidance for voluntary organisations on the protection of children, "Safe from Harm" was produced in 1993 and based on this,Guildford Diocese issued guidance "Keeping Children Safe in the Church" and established a Child Protection Policy soon afterwards. Copies of the latest editions are provided to all in our parish who are involved with children as follows (page numbers refer to The Care and Protection of Children 2008):-

· Keeping Children Safe in the Church 2008
· Practice Guidance (pp 45 to 74) of The Care and Protection of Children 2008.

The Child Protection guidelines issued by Guildford Diocese require us to make a series of checks on anyone working with children, including a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. The church is required to hold completed Information and Confidential Declaration Forms and blank forms for these can be viewed in The Care and Protection of Children 2008 on the following pages:

Information and Application Form for all paid and voluntary workers, together with explanatory notes (pp 115-117)
Confidential Self Declaration Form (pp119-121)

Health and Safety

Click here for Health and Safety Management for:-
St John the Baptist Church Wonersh, including Lawnsmead and the Cemetery.
St Martin’s church.

The H&S Officers are the relevant Church Wardens however they have a volunteer H&S Adviser (Nicola Mendelssohn) who helps the PCC to review the policy regularly and carry out the necessary tasks. For Wonersh, many of their routine tasks are delegated to the Buildings Team.

H&S Management is for the benefit of every person who comes onto church property. It is not just for a select few, and everyone must have some knowledge of the points it covers. Each of us is responsible for our own safety, and for those around us. Some people have to have a deeper knowledge than others. The following is a guide but it is your own responsibility to ensure you have identified and understand the relevant section applicable to the task being carried out:-

Health & Safety Management has been updated. A copy of the H&S Policy and Site Rules is available to view at the back of the church at St John’s, in the Vestry at St Martin’s, in the kitchen at Lawnsmead and on the website. It is important all church leaders and volunteers are familiar with how we manage H&S, so please do take a look.
Each of us is responsible for our own safety and for those around us. The church health & safety policy is to ensure health, safety and welfare of all members of the congregation, contractors, and others who may visit church premises. However should an accident occur it must be reported in the Accident Book.
Know what to do in case of a fire or emengency. Konw how to use our fire extinguishers and where they are. Please be aware of the escape routes from the church buildings.
Food hygiene is very important - when food is cooked at Lawnsmead you must follow the church food handling procedures and there must be a trained person in charge, please check out the health & safety file at Lawnsmead which has a section specifically on food preparation.
If you bring an electrical appliance onsite you are responsible for making sure it is safe and for supervising its' use.
Training information is available for a number of activities in the health & safety files, including the safe use of ladders, lifting heavy objects and the use of VDU's - you MUST read the training information before proceeding.
Take you personal protection seriously - in particular protect your eyes & ears from harm. Wear a HighViz jacket if you are asked to direct traffic. Take care if working alone in a building.
We take the protection of children and young people very seriously and we have a Child Protection Policy which is reviewed annually.
If you are aware of any defects, including lighting, please notify one of the church wardens or a member of the buildings team. Help to keep the prenises clear of obstructions & rubbish.
Those responsible for the various activities (fetes, bellringers, walks, youth work etc) within the Parish should from time to time review the appropriate Risk Assessment (16).
Some activities, including all that involve children, have been reviewed in Risk Assessments. Leaders of these activities should ensure they are reviewed regularly. A file of completed Risk Assessments is kept in the Church Office.

HEALTH & SAFETY FILE
A file is kept at the back of our churches, available to all church members, which contains:-
      H&S Policy and H&S Safety Arrangements and Site Rules
      Child Protection Policy
      Training Information for Safe Use of Ladders
      Training Information on Manual Handling
      Training Information on Visual Display Units (VDU's)
      Training Information, including FSA Food Hygiene -A Guide for Businesses (at Lawnsmead only)
      COSHH Leaflets
      Sidesmen/Deputy Warden's duties

Accident Book

Relevant Certification (Fire Equipment inspection, Gas Safety etc)

Disability Policy

We have the desire and will do all that is necessary to encourage all disabled people to come to Christ. We have level wide access for wheelchairs into the church, including fire exits. Large print copies of handouts are available whenever possible. We have a hearing loop for those wearing hearing aids. We take account of the Guildford Diocesan document Open to All.

Insurance

The church’s insurers are Ecclesiastical Insurance. The Parish Advisor on Insurance matters is Kevin Huttly

The following is a guide to the common legislation that applies to church activities:-

*Legislation*	*Who or what is affected.*	*Policy/Information*	*Guidelines*	*Parish Contact*
Charities Act	Finances of any charity, including churches	Church Accounting Regulations & Parish Resources - Accounting and Reporting	Charities Act 1993 and the PCC	Vicar
Children Act	Anyone dealing with children, including letting.	Guildford Diocese Policy & Parish Child Protection Policy Statement	Keeping Children Safe in the Church 2008 and CRB Website	Mary Thompson
Data Protection Act	Personal information (paper and computer)		The Data Protection Act 1998 : A Guide for Parishes (Guide from Bradford Diocese)	Vicar/Church Secretary
Disability Discrimination Act	Access to public buildings and spaces	Wonersh Health and Safety Policy	Church Care - Legal Guide and Guildford Diocese Report "Open to All".	Vicar/Wardens
Planning	Lawnsmead & Vicarage			Vicar/Wardens
The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 1994	The CofE has its own controls for buildings by Faculty		The Diocese of Guildford \| DAC	Vicar/Wardens
TPO – Waverley District Council and Waverley Conservation Areas	Both churches are in Conservation Areas			Vicar/Wardens
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. and H&S (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998.	All building users, including letting	St John the Baptist Church Wonersh Health and Safety Policy & Risk Assessments, and St Martin's Church Blackheath H&S Policy & Risk Assessments.	Churchcare: Health and Safety in Churches Ecclesiastical Insurance booklet and free advice	H&S Officer(s) -Church Wardens H&S Adviser to the PCC - Nicola Mendelssohn.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005		Fire Risk Assessment Form	Fire Risk Assessment Principles for Church Premises	H&S Officers - Church Wardens
Food Standards Agency			Food Hygiene - A guide for Businesses
Licensing Act 2003	Lawnsmead Hall & Selwyn Room – Hiring of church premises.		Department for Culture Media and Sport - alcohol and entertainment	Paddy MacVean
No Smoking	All premises	Advice on smoking at work	Signage Guidance for Churches	Vicar/Wardens
Security		Church Security Guidance Notes	Church Security Ecclesiastical	Vicar/Wardens
General Maintenance			Church Care
Climate Change	Energy audit & efficiency		Shrinking the Footprint	Vicar/Wardens

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