Our Policies
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Data Protection
LIFE has notified the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner that we keep records in the Data Protection Act category of 'Pastoral Care'. As part of this process we believe it is important to put in place a statement of our policy relating to personal data. The Act applies to structured manual records as well as computerised records, and we are required by law to provide anyone with a copy of the data held about them on request.
"LIFE's policy is that personal data kept on behalf of the church, apart from simple address/phone lists, should only be held or accessed by a member of the Leadership team or those expressly given permission to do so. In addition, such data should only be held in a password-protected environment."
Whilst it is necessary for us to notify under the Act, the church holds very little data of a personal nature other than address, phone number and information relating to church finances. If any LIFE member holds any data relating to church activities and are unsure about how you might be affected by the Data Protection Act, then they should speak to the Leadership Team.
Child Protection
We will make this policy statement available to all church members and will ensure that every children's worker has a copy.
- As members of this church, we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all, especially children and young people.
- It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people, and to report any abuse discovered or suspected.
- We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church.
- We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and young people, whether paid or volunteers.
- The church is committed to supporting, resourcing and training those who work with children and young people, and to providing supervision.
- The church is committed to following the Home Office Code of Practice 'Safe from Harm' and adopts guidelines and procedures based on those published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in its publication 'Safe to Grow' (revised edition).
- Each worker with children and young people will know the recommendations contained in those guidelines and procedures, and will undertake to observe them. Each shall be given a copy of the church's agreed procedures and good practice guidelines.
As part of our commitment to children and young people, the church has appointed a Child Protection Adviser and a Children's Ambassador.
The Child Protection Adviser's role is to be the central point of contact for any child protection concerns raised within the church: he/she is the person that children's or young people's workers can turn to if they have any concerns about a child or young person in their care or about the behaviour of one of their fellow-workers. He/she is also be the person that children know they can speak to if they have a concern about any child protection matter, although we recognise that children will often turn to the person they most trust in such situations.
The Children's Ambassador's role is to speak up for the children and young people so that they have an independent voice in the life of our church.
Health & Safety
- The church recognises and accepts its responsibilities for providing, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe and healthy environment to promote the health, safety and welfare of all those who take part in church activities.
- The church will, therefore, take appropriate steps within its power to meet its responsibilities in so far as is reasonably practicable by, among other arrangements:
- Providing and maintaining furnishings which, so far as reasonably practicable, is are safe and without risks to health;
- Assess the generic risk to the health and safety from church activities;
- Taking particular care in the selection and management of those charged with the care of children and young people in the church. Guidelines will be drawn up relating to the way in which children's and young people's activities shall be resourced and managed.
- Ensuring, so far is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;
- Providing such information, instruction, training, and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those who take part in church activities;
- Providing and maintaining a suitable environment for the church's employees, leaders, helpers and members that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare;
- Consulting, where necessary, with all employees, leaders, helpers and members on the implementation of any changes to this policy;
- Ensuring that adequate funds and resources are made available for carrying out this policy.
- The church will appoint a Health and Safety Officer to coordinate action in support of this policy. The Health and Safety Officer will report to the church's Leadership Team and advise them on matters relating to Health and Safety.
- The Health & Safety Officer will:
- carry out and keep records of appropriate risk assessments (these to be reviewed annually) of the church's activities and report to the Leadership Team as necessary;;
- co-ordinate the implementation of the church's Health & Safety Policy (including fire safety);
- in conjunction with a member of the Leadership Team or their nominee, carry out investigations of any accidents and recommend measures for preventing their recurrence;
- ensure that all accident and other appropriate records are maintained and returned to the appropriate bodies;
- ensure that all appropriate arrangements are made to provide first aid;
- ensure that all Food Safety legislation is complied with;
- arrange safety training courses, as may be necessary or desirable, so that specific legal requirements are adhered to and that any changes in such requirements are complied with and communicated to employees, leaders, helpers and members as necessary;
- ensure that, where necessary, all relevant safety regulations are prominently displayed, that all emergency procedure notices are properly exhibited and clearly visible at all times;
- ensure that access to and from emergency exits and fire equipment are not impaired and that corridors and stairs are kept free from obstructions other than of a temporary and partial nature.
- All employees, leaders, helpers and members will:
- take reasonable care of their health & safety;
- as regards any duty or requirement imposed on the church or any person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, co-operate with the church so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with;
- ensure that they shall not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of health, safety, welfare, in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions;
- make themselves familiar with and conform to the Health and Safety Policy of the church at all times;
- observe all safety rules, procedures and codes of practice at all times, and in particular must be fully conversant with the procedures to be followed in the event of a fire or any other emergency;
- conform to all the Food Safety regulations that are applicable to themselves;
- co-operate with the church to enable it to carry out the duties and requirements under the provisions of all health and safety legislation, including participating in any training if called upon to do so;
- report to the church's Health and Safety Officer any accidents or hazardous occurrences or dangers whether persons are injured or not as soon as is reasonably practicable;
- ensure that all working equipment and materials used by them are in a safe and serviceable condition and that no cables or wires are left in such a position as to be likely to cause anyone to trip;
- have regard to the possible consequences of their actions on the health, safety and welfare of all those persons who at any time and for whatever purpose may or will take part in church activities.