Child Protection Policy

Dear Faculty and staff of Bethlehem University,

Permit me to draw your attention to the fact that Bethlehem University has a Child Protection Policy that everyone at Bethlehem University should be aware of.

We are seeing an increasing number of children on campus, especially on Fridays, some of our programmes involve working with children, and many of our first year students are also under 18 years of age.  Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility. As professionals who might work and interact with children, we are required to ensure that our policies and practices reflect this responsibility. Therefore, all faculty and staff employed by Bethlehem University are responsible for the care, safety and protection of children. This responsibility extends to the identification and timely response to concerns regarding the possible sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse or neglect of a child.

Bethlehem University’s Child Protection Policy demonstrates the University’s commitment to children and ensures public confidence in its safe practices and promotes the welfare of young people and their protection within a relationship of trust.  It provides guidelines to create and maintain a safe environment for children. It is a tool that protects both children, faculty and staff by clearly defining what action is required in order to keep children safe, and ensuring a consistency of behaviour so that everybody follows the same process. The Policy provides clear ways of identifying concerns and the appropriate procedures should a concern arise (recognising and responding to abuse) .  It also includes guidelines for reporting and recording concerns.  The Child Protection Policy emphasizes the respect of the rights, wishes and feelings of the young people with whom we might work or interact with while taking all reasonable practicable steps to protect them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.