The forms will be available for new children to fill out throughout the year.

Discipline Procedures

Pre-school Children
·         Children will be given a verbal warning by the team leaders.  In the case of a serious discipline issue the adult responsible will be called upon to remove the child.
·         If a child is in distress and not settling in their class, the adult responsible will be called upon to come and settle the child and if necessary, to remove the child.

Grade 1-9 children
·         An initial warning will be given by the team leaders, but in the case of a serious discipline issue, or if the unacceptable behaviour continues in-spite of the warning, the Kids patrol volunteer will be asked to remove the child.
·         The Kids Patrol volunteer will supervise the child in a public place (i.e. the church foyer).
·         The Kids Patrol volunteer will return the child to the group leader after the period of time that was specified by the group leader.
·         Follow up with parents will be used where necessary.
·         In cases of very serious discipline issues the child may be banned from attending their group for a specified period of time, after consultation with leaders of Urban Kidz.
·         Please note that Urban Voice does not allow any physical punishment of children within any of the different age groups.

Kids Patrol Volunteer
·         The kids patrol volunteer provides support for the leaders by removing a disruptive child, so that the remaining children can continue with their program.
·         The child should be supervised in a public environment for a period of time until he/she is ready to be returned to their group (eg: the foyer)
·         The kids patrol volunteer will at no time be alone with a child in an enclosed area.
·         They will also undertake to check the premises and ensure that there are no children causing disruptions in the church environment.

Medical Procedures
·         First Aid kits containing basic equipment will be stored in each different room.
·         A larger first aid kit is kept in the church office if more specialised equipment is required.
·         A box of plastic gloves will be stored in each room with the first aid kits and gloves should be worn at all times when performing any type of first aid involving broken skin.
·         Leaders of Urban Kidz are not permitted to administer medication without permission of parents.
·         In the event of a medical emergency, the assistance of a trained first aider or a medical doctor within in the congregation will be enlisted.
·         In the event of a medical emergency, every effort will be made to contact the child’s parent immediately.
·         A seriously injured child will, at the discretion of the medical doctor, trained first aider or children’s ministry co-ordinator, be transported to hospital for further assistance.

Disclosure and follow up
·         If a child discloses any information that causes concern, an incident report must be filled out.
·         Incident Report Forms will be kept in a known place within each of the children’s rooms.
·         The completed reports are then to be given to the child protection co-ordinators, who will ensure that the appropriate action is taken.
·         The reports will be treated as confidential and kept in a locked cupboard.
·         A separate form will then be filled out explaining the appropriate follow up which has been taken by the child protection co-ordinators. These forms will also be treated as confidential and kept in a locked cupboard.
·         When a volunteer joins a team the procedure for disclosing information will be explained in more detail by their group leader.
·         Children will be informed in their groups who the child protection co-ordinators are, should they wish to disclose information.
·         Photographs of the child protection co-ordinators will be displayed in a public place.

Roles of Leaders
·         When a new volunteer has joined a team they must agree to submit a certified copy of their ID book, so that we can request a Police Clearance certificate confirming that they do not have a criminal record.
·         If the potential volunteer does have a criminal record, they may be accepted as volunteer at the discretion of the head of children’s work, if the reason for the record does not disqualify the leader.
·         No volunteer will be accepted in the children’s ministry if they have a committed a crime of a sexual nature, or are suspected of having committed such a crime.
·         Police clearance must be obtained within the first term of working with the children. If it is not produced, or if there are objections to this being undertaken, then the person may not be allowed to volunteer on the children’s teams.
·         Teenagers 16 years and older are also required to provide police clearances.
·         Volunteers younger than 16 years old will be required to sign a code of conduct and expected to adhere to this at all times. If they are found to be in violation of this code, the group leader reserves the right to remove that person from their team.
·         Volunteers must avoid being on their own with a child.
·         When taking a pre-school child to use the toilet, at least 2 volunteers must be present at all times.
·         The toilet door must be kept open and the volunteers should not enter the toilet stalls without another volunteer present.
·         Volunteers are not required to change the nappies of small children and can call the adult responsible for the child if this is required.
·         All leaders must dress appropriately when on duty.  The team leader has the right to address these issues with a leader where necessary.
·         All our leaders must provide us with up-to-date contact details and inform the leader of their group if there are any changes to these details.
·         We value a child’s right to privacy and will not allow the children to be photographed, except by appointed people.  Individual photos will then only be displayed within the church premises with parental consent.
·         No individual photos of children will be displayed on the church website.
·         If parents who are not leaders wish to attend the groups with their children, they must not be required to supervise children or be left alone with children who are not their own.
·         We are happy for visitors or potential leaders to come and see the children’s work but the team leader has the right to ask someone to leave if necessary.

Teenage Volunteers (14-18)
·         The level of responsibility given to a teenager needs to be determined by the team leader.
·         Teenagers should not be left alone or given responsibilities beyond their capacities.
·         They should be offered support and supervision by adult team members and where possible should be mentored by an adult team member.

Physical Environment
·         Equipment and play areas will undergo regular maintenance.  If a leader sees a piece of equipment needing attention, they should inform the relevant group leader.
·         The rooms should be kept tidy and safe.
·         Moveable equipment such as sound equipment, cables etc should be stored as safely as possible and leaders need to be aware of and monitor any possible safety risks.
·         Fences around the premises should be kept in good condition and repaired as soon as possible if damaged.
·         Outside doors near the children’s rooms should be kept locked unless in use.

Fire Safety
·         We comply with the churches fire safety procedures

Transport

Transport to and from Church
·         When children are transported to church on a bus or a taxi engaged by Urban Voice, their parent or guardian must have signed an indemnity form giving permission for the child to make use of the transport.
·          Hired transport must be safe and roadworthy, in compliance with the legal requirements.
·         Children must not accept lifts from people they do not know.
·         If children receive lifts from church members, it is to be recorded in a book which is kept in the church office, stating who is being taken and who is taking them.
·         If children receive lifts from church members, it must be in compliance with the legal numbers permitted per vehicle and children are required to wear safety belts.
·         Children are not allowed to be transported in canopied or open bakkies at any time.
·         This information will be communicated to the children and the church members.

Transport to outings/camps
·         When transported in cars children are to be taken in legal numbers per vehicle and are required to wear safety belts.
·         Children are not allowed to be transported in canopied or open bakkies at any time.
·         A record of which children are travelling in which vehicle should be taken by the leader organising the outing.
·         Hired forms of public transport should be safe and roadworthy in compliance with legal requirements.

Procedures for camps/outings
·         Signed indemnity forms must be given by each child in order for them to attend.
·         First Aid kits will be taken on all outings
·         In the event where leaders sleep in the same vicinity as children there must be at least two same sex leaders per room.
·         Children will always be separated into male and female groups for sleeping arrangements.
·         Swimming activities must always be well supervised by sufficient competent swimmers.
·         During swimming activities, a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 4 children must at all times be adhered to and there must always be a minimum of 2 adults in attendance.

·         Children who disregard the safety regulations for swimming or other high risk activities will be not be allowed to continue with the activity.

___________________________
Gary Welsh on behalf of the Elders