Legal and Safe

Environment

Included in the Presentation:Why this session is importantDuty of CarePartnering with ParentsConfidentiality vs PrivacyLone Ranger MinistryProper Supervision

WHY THIS SESSION IS IMPORTANT!

Basic PremiseLegal and Safe Environment is not to perturb you.

But it is a reality in serving young people and protect both them

. .and you. .  

Be it an adult or young person or child – Being attentive to legal matters ensures that everyone will be treated in a “just and reasonable manner”  Protects both you and the young people you serve

DUTY OF CARE

Keeping kids safe is important! We have a “duty of care” to consider when working with young people.

Pretend that the young person is a

Ferrari or a Ming Vase

Parents are entrusting us with the most precious thing in their lives – their children!

You would not allow kids to play “keep away” with a Ming Vase. Nor would you allow them to throw the vase like a baseball. The vase is too valuable and too beautiful to be treated like that.

If you were asked you to watch a friend’s Ferrari… Would you take it for a joy ride?

Would you park it someplace where it could be vandalized or stolen?

Duty of Care When they are in your hands treat the young people as if they were a Ferrari or Ming Vase!

Do what you say you will do from the time they arrive to the time they leave as scheduled and advertized!

Don’t change plan without informing “owner”

Part of your Duty of Care is to keep everyone safe. Accidents happen – but if you know that young people are beating each other with sticks and you let it continue and someone gets hurt. . .it’s a violation of duty.

PARTNERING WITH

PARENTS

Basic Principles

The young people belong to their parents not to us. We are not the super heroes in the lives of the young people we serve. Their parents are the superheroes in their kids lives. We are the tool in the super hero utility belt that is used at the parents discretion. Therefore, we should be Parent Focused! We Serve them, they are our peers and our primary clientele !

Parents should always be aware of what we are teaching, where we are going, and who will be attending the event. There should never be any secrets from parents.

Confidentiality vs. Privacy

Confidentiality ScenarioJack comes to you after class or youth

groupand asks to talk to you privately.

Jack: “Thanks for seeing me. I need you to promise that you won’t tell anybody what I tell you.”

You: “Jack I want to help you. But I can only keep your confidence if what you tell me does not involve someone hurting you, you hurting yourself or someone else. If it is any of those things then I have to tell others.”

Basic Principle

You never tell a young person that you will keep their confidence before hearing what they have to say. And you should always make them aware, before they speak, that you are obligated to report any disclosure of abuse or potential hurt to them or others.

LONE RANGER MINISTRY

No such thing as Lone Ranger Ministry! We should never be alone with a young person! Jesus sent his disciples out 2 by 2 ! You can not do this ministry alone.

If a young person needs to speak with you then you can do one of the following things:

Meet with them in your office with door open

Meet in a public space, like the food court in the mall

PROPER SUPERVISION

Young People need to be supervised at all times when on parish property.

Danger Time to Watch for: early drop offs/ late pick ups remember to inform parents as to when you will be arriving.