Saxmundham Town Council

Child Protection Policy

Saxmundham Town Council fully recognises its duties and obligations to child protection and the following policy will apply to all members of Saxmundham Town Council, it's staff and volunteers who work for and with the council

Saxmundham Town Council will, as far as is reasonably practical; ensure that it practices safe recruit procedures when recruiting volunteers to assist with children's activities that it organises.

Our policy applies to all Saxmundham Town Council personnel and volunteers working with children. There are four main elements to our policy:

• Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
• Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
• Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

All activities organised and staffed by Saxmundham Town Council will have a minimum of two adult supervisors present, one of whom must have had a recent CRB Enhanced Disclosure.

Because of the nature of the activities that Saxmundham Town Council organises, there will be little or no ongoing contact with children attending such activities. However, where there is any suspected abuse or potential abuse of a child, the Chairman of Saxmundham Town Council will ensure that the matter is referred to the local authority Child Protection Team and will fully co-operate with any investigation that ensues.

Saxmundham Town Council, while having no direct control on the activities organised by hirers of the Market Hall, will advise such hirers that it is good practice to have such a policy and will offer assistance in the formulation of such a policy if requested.