Leading with Care

Summer Employee Training

Welcome to St Giles

• A warm welcome to St Giles to all our summer employees
• The policies contained in this training are to protect you, the worker and also the children who will attend camps and events.
• By adhering to these polices, we can ensure a successful work term.
• Important sections of the policies are highlighted but you are encouraged to read the actual policies for more details.

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• Hard copies at church for reference or online at:
• https://presbyterian.ca/resources/resources-od/safety-policies/

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Why the Leading with Care policy?

• All would agree that we should care for children/youth/vulnerable adults and follow the ways of Jesus. So, why is this policy necessary?
• Because children, youth and vulnerable adults are precious to us and we want to ensure that their teachers and leaders are equipped and trained in the best ways to nurture their faith journey.
• We also want to assure them, their parents and guardians that our programs are safe.

The Policy

• It is the policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada that all persons, and in particular all children, youth and vulnerable adults, who participate in the denomination’s programs/ministries and/or use the denomination’s facilities will be cared for with Christian compassion and will be safe.

Leading with Care and Youth Programs

• The program is intended to minimize risks to all persons who participate in St Giles activities and ministries and/or use our premises.
• Even if the ministry is not high risk, teachers and leaders should do everything in their power to reduce risk including practices like these:
• Police records check- required for all employees older than 18 years
• Follow a two person policy whenever possible (required in a vehicle)
• Note that driving situations are high risk, drivers are responsible for knowing what their insurance covers
• Leave doors open whenever possible, think “transparency”

Police Records Check

• Residents of Sarnia- Sarnia Police either attend in person at the Police station or on line
• In person SP station 555 Christina St North Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30
• On line- https://www.policesolutions.ca/checks/services/sarnia/index.php

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• Residents of Lambton County- must apply through the OPP
• https://www.opp.ca/index.php?id=147&lng=en
• The Office Administrator will provide a letter to go with your request.
• Once received please forward a copy of the PRC to the office.
• All costs will be reimbursed through the office by submitting receipt to the administrator.

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Relevant Policy Sections

• Fire drills and fire exits
• Teacher/Leader and participant ratios (4.4) page 41
• Off site excursions, overnight events (3.7) page 21
• Sample Activity and medical waivers for outings (4.5) page 42
• Allergies (including adult allergies) will be posted on attendance and for the kitchen staff page 22
• Infectious disease (3.7) page 22
• Follow the first aid procedure outlined in our Child and Youth Leader manual & found on the first aid clipboard. Potential concussions, minor injuries reported to parents. If a severe accident occurs call 911 and submit incident report form.

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Teacher/ Leaders

• Children should not be left unattended.
• 4.12.1 Physical contact
• a. Appropriate and inappropriate touching page 52
• b. Dealing with a participant’s inappropriate behaviour page 53

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• 4.12.2 Washroom procedures page 53
• 4.12.3 Understanding child/youth/ vulnerable adult abuse – zero tolerance for abuse in any form (Page 54)
• More detail on these bullet points are in the following slides.

Physical contact

• Do not show favouritism when dealing with children/youth/vulnerable adults. Show a similar level of affection and kindness to all.
• Do not engage in or allow the telling of sexual jokes or behave in a way that promotes sexual exploitation of others.
• Provide clearly stated consequences for inappropriate behaviour. 1. an immediate warning with reason (ex. If you have “hands on” you will have to sit out/miss out on ___because everyone needs to feel safe here), 2. follow up-prevention measures (extra supervision, encouraging positive behaviour, etc), 3. withdrawal from activity if behaviour continued, supervisor and parent notified. Be fair, consistent and reasonable, matching consequences to the age and ability of the child/youth.

• Do not use corporal punishment such as hitting, spanking or strapping

Appropriate touching some examples

• Love and care can usually be expressed in the following common sense ways:
• holding or rocking an infant who is crying
• affirming a participant with a pat on the hand, shoulder or back
• bending down to the child’s eye level and placing a hand gently on the child’s hand or forearm
• putting your arm around the shoulder of a person who needs comfort
• Accepting a hug- accept hug but keep it simple without expressing great appreciation that may increase frequency of contact, turning to your side for side hugs might work better for you, address early and simply if hugs are too frequent or feel risky
• More examples in section 4.12.1 of the policy – page 52

Inappropriate touching examples

• kissing a child/youth/vulnerable adult or coaxing them into kissing you
• extended cuddling
• tickling
• piggy-back rides
• having others sit on your lap (except for babies/young toddlers)
• touching anyone in any area covered by a bathing suit (except changing infant’s diapers)
• Hugging when not appropriate
• More examples section 4.12.1 of the policy page 52

Washroom procedures 4.12.2 (page 53)

• Children under 6 who need to go to the washroom should be escorted to but not in the washroom by a teacher/leader who checks the bathroom for safety. No young child should be unsupervised away from the group. Leaders need to know where their children are at all times. Without an adult/older youth escort, leaders will have to take the whole group and wait outside the doors.
• No adult or teen helper is ever to be in a closed washroom or cubicle with a child. If washroom help is needed and another adult is not available, the adult who accompanies the child should position him/herself in plain view at the open door of the washroom.
• In case of illness, the parent or supervisor should be notified immediately and cleanliness ensured for child and others. Preschool children with backpacks may have an extra set of clothing with them.
• Vulnerable adults may need special bathroom aids: assist bars, and so on. It may be necessary to ensure that cleanliness follows use.

Dealing With Abuse

• Section 4.13 details the moral and legal obligation to report abuse.
• Any suspicion of abuse should be reported to your supervisor.
• Please accept any disclosure without question. Ensure you report to the supervisor first and follow procedure from there.
• Supervisor will speak to to the minister
• Protective agencies and police will be called if required

Harassment Policy�PCC

Policy application

• The policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada is that harassment of any kind shall not be tolerated and will be addressed. This policy applies to
• members,
• adherents,
• staff and
• volunteers of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Definition

• Harassment means physical or verbal behaviours against a member, volunteer or employee in the church that are unwelcome or should be known to be unwelcome.

Harassment occurs when someone: �

• makes unwelcome remarks or jokes about your race, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other of the prohibited grounds of discrimination, which may vary from province to province;
• threatens or intimidates you because of your race, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other of the prohibited grounds of discrimination;
• makes unwelcome physical contact with you, such as touching, patting or pinching.
• There is a separate policy for dealing with Sexual abuse (1993)
• “Policy for Dealing with Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment”

Included in the Policy

• Responsibilities
• Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Harassment within the Church
• Complaints should be in writing
• Complaints will be investigated

Who should review the policy?

Policy and Program Review This policy will be read at least annually by sessions, ministry boards, presbyteries, synods, camps, colleges and standing committees in The Presbyterian Church in Canada to reduce the risk of harassment, including workplace harassment and sexual harassment. To ensure the policy continues to comply with applicable legislation, the Life and Mission Agency will conduct a review at least every three years. All employees and volunteers of the church are to receive training on the contents of this policy

Link to two policies covered

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• https://presbyterian.ca/resources/resources-od/safety-policies/

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