Section 1: UNIVERSITY CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
1.1 The Children Act 1989 defines a 'child' as a person under the age of 18. The Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 regard a 'child' as a person who is not over the minimum school leaving age and a 'young person' as a person who has not attained the age of 18. For the purpose of this policy, a 'child' is under 16 and a 'young person' is over 16 but under 18. Both children and young people are included in this policy.
Statement of Principles
1.2 Canterbury Christ Church University is committed to providing, as far as is reasonably practicable, an environment that is safe from harm for those under the age of 18.
1.3 All children and young people have the right to protection from abuse, freedom from injury and a safe and healthy environment while in the care of the University.
1.4 The University seeks to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place for dealing with allegations of child abuse. The University will respond to any allegation of abuse with all due speed.
Managerial Responsibility
(a) Senior Management
1.5 The responsibility for oversight of the University's Child Protection Policy rests with the Vice Chancellor and Principal, with delegated responsibility to the relevant members of the Senior Management Team.
(b) University Child Protection Co-ordinator
1.6 The Vice Chancellor and Principal nominates an appropriate person as the University's Child Protection Co-ordinator, who will be a person of sufficient seniority in the University. The Child Protection Co-ordinator is the senior member of staff responsible for child protection issues within the University.
1.7 The nominated University Child Protection Co-ordinator is Prof Margaret Andrews, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Students).
1.8 The Child Protection Co-ordinator may designate other full-time members of the University staff to cover for absences or to act on behalf of the Co-ordinator.
1.9 There will be proactive steps taken to make clear the identity of the University's Child Protection Co-ordinator to all staff and volunteers involved in all activities involving those children and young people, and to draw attention to this Child Protection Policy and associated documentation. This extends to those engaged in activities such as summer schools, research, and University programmes of study where there are identified students under 18.
(c) Admissions
1.10 It is the responsibility of the relevant head of department or person responsible recruitment and admissions for a specific programme or activity to engage in the early identification of children and young people, and to notify the appropriate members of staff of these students.
(d) Director of the Programme or Activity
1.11 The key managerial responsibility for any programme or activity rests with the individual appointed for this purpose by a member of the Senior Management Team or Head of Department. This individual is termed 'the director of the programme or activity', although the title may differ according to the event.
1.12 Where appropriate, the member of the Senior Management Team or Head of Department may appoint a person ('appointed person') to take responsibility for child protection issues for the programme or activity.
1.13 The director of the programme or activity is responsible for
(i) ensuring the programme or activity is planned, organised and delivered in accordance with this policy;
(ii) devising the means by which the policy is implemented;
(iii) providing any child protection statement for the programme or activity additional to this policy;
(iv) arranging the training, induction and guidance for all staff and volunteers appropriate for the programme or activity concerned, which includes drawing attention to this policy;
(v) informing the University Child Protection Co-ordinator of specific child protection measures for the programme or activity, including the name of any appointed person for those child protection measures where this is appropriate.
Checks on Staff
1.14 Appropriate checks will be made of staff and volunteers having substantial unsupervised contact with children and young people.
Responsibility to Report Allegations of Abuse
1.15 The Children Act 1989 requires the safety or welfare of the child or young person to be of paramount importance; it overrides all other considerations.
1.16 All members of staff working closely with children or young people have a responsibility to be alert to the possibility that a child or young person may have been, or may be at risk of being, abused.
1.17 Any member of staff or volunteer having any concern about issues relating to the protection of a child or young person should make direct contact with either the appointed person for child protection for the programme activity or the University Child Protection Co-ordinator as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Scope of the Child Protection Policy
1.18 This policy extends to all members of the University staff working with children and young people, even if for a temporary period. It also extends to volunteers and contract workers engaged on behalf of the University.
Availability of the Child Protection Policy
1.19 Directors of programmes or activities should inform parents, guardians and carers that this Child Protection Policy is available on request.
Review of the Child Protection Policy
1.20 The University will review the Child Protection Policy annually, in the April of each year.
