Code of Behaviour

It is important for all personnel to:

  • Treat all children with respect and dignity;
  • Treat all children equally;
  • Model positive, appropriate behaviour to all children we come into contact with
  • Be aware of the Church’s child protection and child safeguarding policy;
  • Challenge and report abusive and potentially abusive behaviour;
  • Develop a culture of openness, honesty and safety;
  • Develop a culture where children have permission to tell and to talk about any concerns or worries that they may have;
  • Respect each child’s boundaries and support them to develop their own understanding and sense of their rights;
  • Be aware of their responsibility for the safety of all children in their care;
  • Work in open environments;
  • Help children to know what they can do if they have a problem.

Adults must never:

  • Hit or otherwise physically assault or abuse children;
  • Develop sexual relationships with children;
  • Develop relationships with children that could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive;
  • Act in any way that may be abusive or may place a child at risk of abuse;
  • Use language, make suggestions or offer advice that is inappropriate, offensive or abusive;
  • Do things for a child of a personal nature that they can do themselves;
  • Condone or participate in behaviour that is illegal, unsafe or abusive;
  • Act in any way that is intended to intimidate, shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade;
  • Engage in discriminatory behaviour or language in relation to race, culture, age, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation or political views;
  • Consume alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs while having responsibility for or in the presence of children/young people.

In general, it is inappropriate to:

  • Take children away or to your own home, especially where they will be alone with you;
  • Involve children in one-to-one contact; activities should usually be supervised by at least two adults (3). However, there may be two circumstances where this may occur:
    1. In a reactive situation, for example when a child requests a one-to-one meeting with you without warning, or where a child has had to be removed from a group as part of a code of behaviour (1.5);
    2. As part of a planned structured piece of work (for example one-to-one music tuition).