PLEASE NOTE : All volunteers who are helping out with the

vulnerable sector (children under 18, the disabled or the

elderly) will need a vulnerable sector police check. Please

submit your original form to Carolyn Schilstra (admin@covenant-church.ca) or let her know if you need to apply for one.

DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

 PHYSICAL ABUSE: non-accidental injury inflicted on

another person.

 NEGLECT: failure to meet the basic needs of someone

dependent on another for care.

 SEXUAL ABUSE: any experience forced on one person by

another which may or may not involve physical contact.

 EMOTIONAL ABUSE: any attempt to control another

person’s life.

 HARASSMENT: any interaction with a person that makes

them feel attacked, demeaned, intimidated or manipulated.

 SPIRITUAL ABUSE: the exploitation, coercion, or control of

a person by a leader with spiritual authority.

Reporting Abuse

 abuse of a child under the age of sixteen must be reported

to Family and Children’s Services.

 abuse of an adult will be reported to the Pastor who will

inform the Chair of Council and the Safe Church Team.

Gen Alpha, GEMS, Cadets, Youth

 those working with children & youth will use positive

techniques of guidance, such as redirection, positive

reinforcement and encouragement rather than competition,

and criticism.

 they will have age-appropriate expectations and establish

an environment that minimizes the need for discipline.

 they will refrain from any behaviour that could be considered

abusive.

 they will make sure that the children and youth in their care

are always supervised.

 they will not use, possess or be under the influence of

alcohol or drugs while working with children or youth.

 they will monitor bathrooms at all times.

 any one-on-one meetings must be pre-arranged with the

consent of the leaders and the parents.

 when transporting children or youth there will always be

two adults or other people in the vehicle.

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP

 All children in Children’s Worship (CW) should be toileted

before CW starts. If a child needs to go to the toilet during

CW, a parent will be notified and will need to come to take

their child to the toilet. Children over the age of 6 can go to

the toilet on their own.

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS

 only assigned nursery attendants are to be in the nursery.

 no married couples or parent/child volunteers will be

scheduled at the same time, in the same room.

 only parents or designated care-givers can sign a child

in/out of the nursery.

FRIENDSHIP

 volunteers are not to help with the personal care of the

participants.

 volunteers are not expected to transport the participants

and to and from the meetings.

 volunteers are not expected to deal with any behavioural

issues.

PASTORAL MINISTRY WORKERS

(including ministers, elders, deacons and pastoral care workers)

 try to meet in public places if possible or ensure that a third

person is present at any visits or meetings.

 all pastoral ministry workers need to report all pastoral

visits to their respective co-ordinating bodies.