INCORRECT

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 (2.1).

INCORRECT

Leading with Care does not cover all types of abuse. 

Leading with Care is primarily a prevention document. If careful steps are taken in leading, teaching and supporting, incidents of harm can be prevented. If, however, despite good prevention practices, an allegation of sexual abuse and/or harassment is made, the Policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada for Dealing with Sexual Abuse and/or Harassment outlines procedures for both sessions and presbyteries.

INCORRECT

Leading with Care does relate to property concerns.

INCORRECT

The Leading with Care policy is in place for all areas of the church and church-used facilities.

INCORRECT

The Leading with Care policy is safety driven.

INCORRECT

The Leading with Care policy (4.12.3) relates to:

• Physical abuse may consist of just one incident or it may happen repeatedly. It involves deliberately using force against a child in such a way that the child is either injured or is at risk of being injured. Physical abuse includes beating, hitting, shaking, pushing, choking, biting, burning, kicking or assaulting a child with a weapon. It also includes holding a child under water, or any other dangerous or harmful use of force or restraint. Female genital mutilation is another form of physical abuse.
• Sexual abuse and exploitation involves using a child for sexual purposes. Examples of child sexual abuse include fondling, inviting a child to touch or be touched sexually, intercourse, rape, incest, sodomy, exhibitionism, or involving a child in prostitution or pornography.
• Neglect is often chronic, and it usually involves repeated incidents. It involves failing to provide what a child needs for his or her physical, psychological or emotional development and well being. For example, neglect includes failing to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter, cleanliness, medical care or protection from harm. Emotional neglect includes failing to provide a child with love, safety, and a sense of worth.
• Emotional abuse involves harming a child’s sense of self. It includes acts (or omissions) that result in, or place a child at risk of, serious behavioural, cognitive, emotional or mental health problems. For example, emotional abuse may include aggressive verbal threats, social isolation, intimidation, exploitation, or routinely making unreasonable demands. It also includes terrorizing a child, or exposing them to family violence.

INCORRECT

Outside users/renters of church facilities are affected by Leading with Care.

INCORRECT

A Leading with Care Committee should be representative of the congregation.

INCORRECT

It is the policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada that all persons—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 (2.1).

INCORRECT

The Leading with Care policy is implemented for any church activity, in any location.

INCORRECT

A ministry is automatically classified as high risk if any of these conditions apply:

• teacher/leader is alone with persons served
• teacher/leaders have limited or no supervision in role
• the activities of teachers/leaders are in a place where activities are not observed or monitored
• teachers/leader has access to personal property or money of the persons served
• the ministry position involves touching persons served.

If a ministry is high-risk, you must ask for a Police Records Check. In addition, if you check off any additional checks in the “Yes, this is true” column, you must work to reduce the risks (3.5).

INCORRECT

The Pastoral Heart of the policy is very important.

INCORRECT

Section 4 is a resource for your information.

INCORRECT

These are the four parts to our active commitment (1.1).

The following action statements describe both the reasons for this policy and The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s active commitment to it:

• We will prevent abuse of children/youth/vulnerable adults. Prevention includes having good processes in place in order to prevent opportunities for abuse, neglect and harm from arising.
• We will protect the vulnerable in our midst. The Presbyterian Church in Canada affirms that the protection of all children, youth and vulnerable adults is a spiritual, ethical and legal imperative.
• We will report incidents of abuse, neglect and harm. Such incidents, wherever and whenever they are encountered, will be reported immediately to the minister, the police, and the appropriate agencies in accordance with civil law requirements and the policies of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
• We will train and support our teachers and leaders. Many congregations already have in place a process for recruiting, training, supervising and supporting teachers and congregational leaders. One of the reasons for this policy is to provide ways for congregations to begin, continue and/or improve on this process so that teachers and leaders are well trained and equipped for their ministry tasks

INCORRECT

Any person can be considered vulnerable in relation to the policy.

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The Risk Assessment Guide is a key initial process and should be filled out to determine risk.

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Sample job descriptions are available.

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Sample job descriptions can be adapted to your needs.

INCORRECT

Workshops on the Leading with Care policy are to be held biennially within the presbytery.

INCORRECT

A teacher/leader should never be alone with a student/child in a closed area (3.5).

A ministry is automatically classified as high risk if any of these conditions apply:

• teacher/leader is alone with persons served
• teacher/leaders have limited or no supervision in role
• the activities of teachers/leaders are in a place where activities are not observed
  or monitored
• teachers/leader has access to personal property or money of the persons served 
• the ministry position involves touching persons served.

If a ministry is high-risk, you must ask for a Police Records Check. In addition, if you
check off any additional checks in the “Yes, this is true” column, you must work to reduce the risks.

INCORRECT

A fire drill should be held at least once a year.

INCORRECT

Here are some suggestions for reducing risk (3.5.2):

• Follow a two-person policy whenever possible—during any program, have at least
  two adults present.
• Require two volunteers/staff to transport children/youth/vulnerable adults in a
  church vehicle or in a volunteer’s vehicle.
• Visit frail seniors with a partner.
• When the two-person policy cannot be used, notify a parent before a proposed
  one-to-one contact with a child/youth (e.g., in a mentoring relationship) and ask
  permission to meet.
• Where the two-person policy cannot be used, require that one-to-one contacts
  between a volunteer/staff and child/youth/vulnerable adult take place in a public area either inside or outside the church where both people can be seen by others.
• Add a window in the door of each classroom or always leave the classroom door open.

INCORRECT

The Covenant of Care sets out the expectations of behaviour.

INCORRECT

Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.