Good Practice Guide for Parent and Toddler Groups

Supportive Material Relating to Salvation Army Groups  What Happens at the Group?  Basic Procedures  Keeping Children Safe

THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PARENT AND TODDLER GROUPS Supportive Material for Salvation Army Groups

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE GROUP? (Refer to pages 12 and 13) One of the main aims of the parent and toddler group is to build a bridge between the community and the Christian fellowship. The group provides an ideal environment for Christians to witness in a natural way to the love of Christ.

Sunday may not necessarily be the best day for members of the parent and toddler group to participate in worship. However, a worship time during the week, or once a month, could be considered and geared towards a congregation of parents/carers and young children.

A pram service may be an ideal introduction to worship. Special Christian festivals may also offer opportunities to involve members of the parent and toddler group in worship.

To establish a link between the parent and toddler group and the corps/centre, information about the Dedication and the 'Thanksgiving and Presentation' Ceremonies, and the Cradle Roll could be distributed. In some corps/centres, the term 'Birthday Book', as opposed to the Cradle Roll, has been used to positive effect.

A library of Christian tapes, videos and books could be maintained to help those who have questions of faith.

Whereas the corps officer/centre manager has a pastoral responsibility to the parent and toddler group, a suitably gifted person could be appointed as chaplain where appropriate.

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THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PARENT AND TODDLER GROUPS Supportive Material for Salvation Army Groups

BASIC PROCEDURES (Refer to pages 14 - 16) REGISTRATION FORM – DATA PROTECTION When preparing the Data Protection Notice, it is necessary to think through how you will want to use the data and who you will want to share it with.

The following may be appropriate for your use but, if you have any queries, please contact the Director of Risk Management, Territorial Headquarters.

Sample Wording The Salvation Army will use your information for administration, statistical research, and to contact you by mail or telephone to inform you of changes to the timetable and to let you know of activities that may be of interest to you.

By completing this form, you consent to our processing your sensitive personal data, such as health data, for the above purposes.

ACCIDENT BOOK As from December 2003, it will be necessary to commence using the new Salvation Army Accident Book as this embraces current legislation. The Health and Safety Officer, Territorial Headquarters, will be sending this latest publication to all corps and centres as soon as it is available.

MONEY MATTERS In all financial matters, Salvation Army policies and procedures must be followed. If you have any queries in this respect, please refer to your corps officer/centre manager.

Register /Cash Books All groups should use The Salvation Army's Common Register and Sectional Cash Book. If you hold more than one session a week, you may find it easier to use the Group Sectional Cash Book. All of these items are available from Salvationist Publishing and Supplies. (Mail Order Hotline: 020 7367 6580). In consultation with the corps officer/centre manager, the register should be re-written annually or could be revised according to school intakes.

Banking All accounts are to be held with Reliance Bank Limited in accordance with the Official Minute (Code 96/03 Section - Green). Transactions on the account will be 17/07/2012

THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PARENT AND TODDLER GROUPS Supportive Material for Salvation Army Groups authorised by two signatories, one of which must be the corps officer/centre manager.

Receipts A receipt must be obtained for every payment made and filed in order. A petty cash book may be used for small amounts where there is no receipt. A signature must be obtained.

Budget preparation All necessary information regarding proposed income and expenditure must be provided for the annual budget.

Audit All books and documents dealing with cash and accounts are periodically audited.

All leaders and treasurers must ensure that books and documentation are ready when required.

Grants No grant, for any purpose, may be made from parent and toddler group funds to support another corps/centre group activity without full consultation with the leader, treasurer, corps officer/centre manager. In accordance with Salvation Army policies and procedures, the corps officer/centre manager will then submit a proposal to the Divisional Business Board.

Donations Donations may only be made to other charities where a collection has been taken or a fund-raising event held specifically for the project. Charity law does not permit funds to be donated from one charity to another.

Fund-raising Fund-raising may be undertaken following consultation with the corps officer/centre manager.

Members of the parent and toddler group should be encouraged to support the Helping-Hand Scheme. The corps officer/centre manager will be able to acquire details and supportive publicity materials from the Divisional Family Officer.

Equipment For insurance purposes, all items of equipment should be recorded. As lists are updated, ensure your corps officer/centre manager is given a copy.

Training With the approval of the corps officer/centre manager, commissioned or warranted leaders attending training events or conferences relating directly to their role and responsibility, may claim 75% of the fees and 50% of the travel costs (by the most economic practicable means) from Salvation Army funds. As these expenses will 17/07/2012

THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PARENT AND TODDLER GROUPS Supportive Material for Salvation Army Groups normally be met from local funds, this needs to be taken into account when the annual budgets are prepared.

Events which are in the nature of conventions, fellowship events and retreats, whilst having their own value for individuals, do not fall within this category.

INSURANCE The following notes relate to parent and toddler groups run and operated by Salvation Army corps and social services centres. For groups using Salvation Army premises, but not run by the Salvation Army, whether it be under licence, renting, or otherwise, then the group must arrange their own insurance cover.

In The Salvation Army, most insurance is purchased centrally and parent and toddler groups are considered a core activity of Salvation Army corps, but not of a social services centre (see next paragraph). Therefore, most of the insurance cover required should already be in place as shown in the corps/centre Insurance Schedule.

Social services centres must advise SAGIC if they are operating a parent and toddler group, as Insurers do not regard this activity as a ‘core’ activity of a social services centre, only of a corps. Cover can be extended, normally with little or no extra premium. These notes therefore apply to social services centres once SAGIC are aware of a parent and toddler group operating in a centre and it is noted on the centre’s Insurance Schedule.

The Combined Liability Policy issued to the Salvation Army Trustee Company will cover: Employers Liability that will indemnify against legal liability for personal injury to employees and volunteers running the group. The limit of liability under the policy is £10,000,000 any one occurrence.

Public Liability that will indemnify against legal liability for personal injury to any person or damage to their property, due to the negligence of The Salvation Army or anyone working for it. The limit of liability here is £10,000,000 any one occurrence but an excess of £250 for each occurrence applies to property damage.

In both cases it is important to note that: 1. The policy indemnifies The Salvation Army for claims made against it. The

injured party does not have the right to claim directly from the policy 2. Payment is not made automatically if someone is injured, but only if the

injury or damage has been caused by negligence on the part of The Salvation Army or any of its employees, etc.

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THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PARENT AND TODDLER GROUPS Supportive Material for Salvation Army Groups There are no specific special conditions that apply to parent and toddler groups, but it is important to comply with any legislation and regulations specifically related to this activity and those that apply to Health & Safety. Ensure that risk assessments have been carried out and the appropriate risk reduction measures are put in place.

The buildings and contents are covered by the corps/centre’s insurance and a check should be made that the cover is sufficient to include any items owned by the parent and toddler group. Any 'vulnerable' items, such as CD players and the like, would be best insured against "All Risks". This should be done via the person responsible at the corps/centre for keeping the insurance cover up to date (ultimately the corps officer/centre manager, although the responsibility may have been delegated to somebody else).

If the group handles any significant sums of money, check that the corps/centre’s cover for loss of money is adequate to include it and that the conditions relating to the insurance cover can be met.

Corps/centre may also have purchased Personal Accident Cover that provides benefits if an insured person suffers a serious injury resulting in death, loss of eyes or limbs, permanent disability from working at all or temporary total disability from following the usual occupation. Parents and toddlers are not covered in this.

However, you may wish to check whether the corps/centres insurance includes the cover and, if so, to which of the employees and volunteers involved in the activity it would apply.

OUTINGS In the very near future, The Salvation Army will be circulating to corps/centres some material relating to good practice for outings. If, in the interim period, you need some advice, please contact the Health and Safety Officer or the Quality Assurance Manager, Territorial Headquarters.

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THE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PARENT AND TODDLER GROUPS Supportive Material for Salvation Army Groups

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE: SAFEGUARDING ISSUES (Refer to pages 17 and 18)

Every adult who works with children should complete an application process that will ensure the best possible preparation for their involvement with the group, from a safeguarding perspective.

The group leader should be either commissioned or warranted, using the appropriate application forms found in either the Safe & Sound pack or the Volunteers Handbook. Group helpers should complete the 'Application for Voluntary Work with Children and Young People' and receive a 'Letter of Authority'. All of these forms give consent for a criminal records check to be carried out and a commitment to Safe & Sound training (including screening and initial interview) .

Safe & Sound training should be undertaken, if at all possible, before the adult starts helping in the group but certainly within three months of starting. This training will give adults the necessary awareness of child protection issues they will need.

The Safe & Sound wallchart (on display at every Salvation Army Corps) includes Parents & Carers leaflets and Summary Child Protection Policy leaflets.

For further queries contact: Director of Safeguarding 07789 878539

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