Membership of CAS
CAS is a collaboration between a number of participating churches, acting as an Umbrella Body* within the terms of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB); acting between the CRB and the participating churches. It will handle applications and forward them to the CRB, receive Disclosures, interpret the information contained and give advice as appropriate. Also, it will provide initial risk assessment based upon the Disclosures to an agreed standard and will assist in further investigation. It will provide letters on each Disclosure to individuals, to the authorised verifier or recruiter in the local church or nationally and a copy to the denomination/ recruiting body as appropriate for applicants not deemed unsuitable.
It will conduct an audit of the relevant policies and security arrangements of the existing members periodically. Membership of CAS is open to any Christian based organisation.
All participating denominations or organisations must comply with all security and data storage arrangements of CRB/ CRBS, as set out in CRB and CRBS Codes of Practice.
* Umbrella Body
A Registered Body which acts on behalf of organisations which are themselves entitled to ask exempted questions for the purposes of recruitment (ROA 1975), but who are not themselves registered, is called an umbrella body. A Registered body is an organisation that is entitled to ask exempted questions under the Exceptions order of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Membership of CAS is open to any Christian Organisation. We can accommodate any sized organisation, from independent associations and outreach projects to large denominations.
CAS is registered in England, Wales and Scotland
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ENTITLEMENTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS/CHARGES
FULL MEMBERS
Full Members pay a grant to CAS to
contribute to the overall running costs of the organisation.
ASSOCIATE AND INFORMAL MEMBERS
These members pay a standard charge of £12 per application.
Membership can be tailored to your individual needs - please call us for an informal discussion.
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ADDITIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS
- advice on child protection issues within your organisation
- advice on good practice in the recruitment of paid staff and volunteers
- practical guidance on how to establish and maintain safeguarding policies within your organisation
If you are interested in becoming a member of CAS please phone or email Katherine Shaw on 020 7467 5206 or cas@methodistchurch.org.uk to request a membership pack.
THE AGM
The Annual General Meeting will receive a report from the mangement group and Director of CAS. It will appoint a Chair, Treasurer and other members of the management group from across the denominations represented in CAS. The current Chair is John Brown of the United Reformed Church.
The AGM will receive information on and review the fees to members but the final decision will be made by the managment group as it has financial responsibility.
The AGM will also review its aims and its relationship with the Churches’ Forum for Safeguarding annually. The Forum is very important to CAS as it was out of a meeting such as the forum that CAS was initiated. The Forum is a valuable place where churches can support each other in promoting good practice and high standards across churches in Child Protection and Safeguarding.
Associate and informal members can attend the AGM but are not entitled to vote.
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