IMAGINE NATIONS CHURCH CHILD PRTOECTION PROTOCOLS
1. You should not be alone with a child at any time, unless this child is your own. Always have another unrelated adult with you, (eg not your spouse, sister) or have other children with you
2. You cannot take children to the toilet alone. Take another unrelated adult with you to direct the child to the toilet. Check the toilets do not have other adults inside before directing the child to go in. Do not assist the child with toileting unless the age of the child means assistance is required. In such instances, ensure you are Accountable to another unrelated adult. Document any concerns/incidents you have, if you need to assist children with toileting.
3. You cannot actively seek touching or hugging from children or have children sit on your lap. You cannot wrestle with or tickle children. Children seeking hugs should not be rejected but hugs are to be to the side and not prolonged. You must keep your interactions to commonly Accepted public expressions of friendship.
4. You may not counsel or pray with children alone. Any altar or follow-up ministry with children must be done in the full view of others.
5. You may not hit or yell at any child. Know and follow the ink discipline guidelines. Make positive requests of children should you need to. For example: “let’s do this now” is more positive than “do you want to do this?”
6. You must not photograph or video children, or upload photos or video of children to any social media or internet forum or share images with others, except the children’s pastor for use within ink, without parental consent. If you have taken photos on behalf of ink on your personal device, you must delete these photos.
7. You must report any behavior you think is inappropriate by any other person in regards to children. Child abuse is a crime and we must not try to cover it up in the hope of not bringing disgrace to the church. You must report concerns only to the safer churches officer, or call the ACC Abuse Hotline for advice: 1800 070 511