Building a Healthy Safeguarding Culture

We shouldn’t ever be alone with a young person in private. 

If a sensitive discussion is needed away from the rest of the group, there should be another leader or another young person present. If a young person is particularly upset and wants to speak to you, do this at least within view/earshot of another leader.

Avoid any games or other forms of contact that could be seen as sexually provocative or excessively rough.

Only engage in physical contact with a young person when it is initiated by them and age appropriate.

• For instance, if a young child wants to sit on your knee, that is okay, but should be age appropriate and they should be encouraged to sit independently when they can. 

• If a young person initiates a hug, this should be appropriate, in view of others, and not prolonged longer than necessary. 

• Physical contact during prayer ministry has specific guidelines - see below.

• Prayer ministry requires (at least) two people to be praying for a young person

• Ask for permission to pray, and check in throughout the process to allow a young person to easily stop if they want to

• Ask for permission to lay a hand, and only ever lay a hand on the shoulder rather than any other part of the body (even if praying for healing)

• Always offer words/pictures lightly and appropriately

  • E.g., use phrases like “this might just be from me…” or “I think God might be saying…” rather than “thus says the Lord”

  • Avoid directive words 

    • E.g., prophetic words that would direct someone to a particular course of action

  • Avoid sensitive words

    • E.g., prophetic words relating to romantic relationships, to having children, or to deaths

• Encourage young people to write down any words/pictures they receive

Volunteers are not permitted to be alone with a young person out of public view, therefore another leader or another young person must be in the vehicle at all times. 

In unplanned or emergency moments where it is necessary and safer for us to give a child or a young person a lift, we ensure that, wherever possible, we take another volunteer with us and the young person should always be seated in the back. In this circumstance, leaders must first make sure to inform the ministry leader and the parents/carers.

Volunteers are not permitted to be alone with a young person out of public view, therefore:

Parents should be called for any child who needs assistance using the toilet.

If multiple children who can use the toilet unassisted all need to use the toilet, a PVG’d volunteer may accompany this group to the bathroom but may not enter the cubicle. However, this can only happen if (a) it is more than one child, and (b) there are still at least 2 PVG’d volunteers remaining in the main session.

DO NOT:

• Add young people on your personal social media accounts

• Accept friend requests from young people on social media

• Exchange personal information (e.g. phone numbers) for connecting digitally on personal devices

• Store photos/videos of young people on your personal phone*

DO:

• Make sure your own digital identity is protected - e.g., by checking your privacy settings

*Photos and videos may only be taken with prior written parental consent, and stored on the Kingdom Vineyard drive in line with the policy.

For KV Youth, the only direct online contact to young people should be through the Youth Phone. Written parental consent is required for this, and communication should only take place via text since many social media platforms have age restrictions.