Summary of the Safe Conduct Policy

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Pilgrim Congregational Church is committed to making every effort to ensure that all who participate in the life of our church are able to grow in their faith in an environment that is safe, secure and nurturing. Therefore, we have created a policy and procedures which support our Code of Conduct, which is the heart of the policy. It defines standards of and sets expectation for behavior, emphasizing individual responsibility. The goal is for individuals to fulfill the highest standards of personal conduct toward others and to lead and guide us in the fulfillment of the standards set by our Christian faith. We intend to affirm and nurture appropriate behavior, prevent and correct behavior contrary to the policy and, as necessary, discipline those persons who violate the policy.

In the policy, we have outlined processes which support the Code of Conduct. There are four ways we will do this.

1. Screening and Selection of Staff and Volunteers

Through an intentional and thorough screening process, potential candidates for both paid staff and volunteers will be screened. Such screening may include a review of a formal written application, an interview, reference check and background check, 

 

   2. Training and Education

PCCHP will train staff and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults, as well as key church leaders, regarding this Safe Conduct Policy and its related procedures. 

 

Safe Church Team members, as well as staff and volunteers who have regular contact with children, will also receive education about child abuse awareness and prevention and mandated reporting. 

 

Training is a mandatory part of volunteer and staff orientation. Such training will be offered annually in September, and within 30 days of the start of employment for staff. 

 

Educating all who participate in our programs is also an important component as we work to create a culture of safety at PCCHP.

 

   3. Monitoring and Supervision

Each person in a position of leadership for programs for children and vulnerable adults will have responsibility for monitoring the performance of the staff and/or volunteers in the program. 

 

The objective of monitoring is first to protect children and vulnerable adults, then to protect staff and volunteers from false allegations and finally to protect the reputation of PCCHP and its ministries. 

 

Performance can be monitored through scheduled visits, random visits, spontaneous interviews with children, interviews with parents, regular meetings with staff and volunteers, as well as group supervision meetings.

 

   4. Responding and Reporting

As previously stated, the primary objective is to ensure the safety of those participating in the life of the church. In particular, the policy is in place particularly for those who are most vulnerable among us. Therefore, the policy primarily outlines extensive protocols for responding to a variety of issues which may occur in programs for children and vulnerable adults. 

 

Types of responses will vary depending on the circumstance and can vary from logging incident reports to making reports of suspected child abuse, conducting and/or cooperating with an investigation, dealing with complaints of misconduct and providing appropriate pastoral support. 

 

All appropriate communication and documentation – within the church, with the Barnstable Association and the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ as well as with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Media Outlets is outlined.