Safety

Here at Post Pals we realise the importance of internet safety and have made this our number one priority.

Post Pals is now registerred with the following \''safe site\'' organisations:


www.4allfree.com

www.hits4me.com

www.ala.org

www.onekey.com

www.ajkids.com

We also made contact with the The Internet Watch Foundation


We have made every effort to ensure the safety of all those who are involved with the website.

In accordance with the Protection of Children Act 1999, all team members have received criminal record checks and have been verified as safe to work alongside children and young people.

Please take time to read our organisational policies and please contact us if you have any concerns.

Child Protection

It is the policy of Post Pals that no-one shall work or volunteer to work with children and young people within or on behalf of Post Pals who:

• has been convicted of or has received a formal police caution concerning an offence against children as listed in the First Schedule of the Children and Young Person\''s Act 1933; or
• has been convicted of or has received a formal police caution concerning sexual offences against children and young people.

This means that:

• all who work or volunteer to work with children and young people under the auspices of Post Pals will be required to be checked through the Criminal Records Bureau, and are expected at all times to conform with good practice in their work: and
• those responsible for the appointment of such workers and volunteers must take all reasonable steps, including obtaining Disclosures from the Criminal Records Bureau, to ensure that persons who have been convicted or have received a formal police caution concerning sexual offences against children or young people shall not undertake work with young people under the auspices of Post Pals.
• All who work or volunteer under the auspices of Post Pals will be acquainted with this policy and have reference to the Good Practice Guide.

Furthermore, Post Pals will:

• Plan the work of the organisation so as to minimise situations where the abuse of children may occur.
• Treat all would-be paid staff and volunteers as job applicants for any position involving contact with children.
• When considering any such applicant, obtain at least one reference from a person who has experience of the applicant\''s paid work or volunteering with children.
• Explore all applicants\'' experience of working or contact with children in an interview before appointment.
• Make paid and voluntary appointments conditional on the successful completion of a probationary period.
• Issue guidelines on how to deal with disclosure or discovery of abuse.
• Train paid staff and volunteers supervisors in the prevention of child abuse.
• Appoint a named individual from within the Post Pals to act as the Child Protection Champion. Their role will include the continual monitoring of the effectiveness of the organisations Child Protection Policy, plus the dissemination of information relating to Child Protection to members of Post Pals and to paid staff and volunteers.
  

Website content

• Photographs of any child will only appear on the website with express parental written consent. When this is sought we will explain what the photograph/s are to be used for. Should we wish to re-use them for a different purpose, we will do this only with your approval.
• Applications and information will only be taken from the parent or appointed guardian of the child and never the child themselves.
• An alternative postal address may be used and is recommended to be posted on the WWW, i.e. PO box, grandparents\'' address.
  

Confidentiality Policy

This policy was guided by the Data Protection Act 1998.

Any information collected by \''Post Pals\'' will not be used without parental consent.

Direct contact information for children or their families will not be published on the WWW without parental consent.

Information will only be collected through the child\''s sponsor, i.e. parent, guardian, Nanny.

Contact information will only be used for letters and gifts and necessary administration.
Information will not be passed on to any third parties.
Parents or Guardians can review any information, withdraw its use and refuse to allow any further collection or use of the child\''s information at any time. To do so please contact Vikki George: viks@postpals.co.uk

Parents/Guardians will check the information collected and be informed of its use before any details are published or used.

In accordance with \''verifiable parental consent\'' commission, FTC Oct 2001, Parental consent will be verified by: getting a signed form from the parent via postal mail or Fax.

There will become a new notice and request for consent to parents if there are material changes in the collection, use or disclosure practices to which the parent had previously agreed.

Photographs of any child will only appear on the website with express parental written consent. When this is sought we will explain what the photograph/s are to be used for. Should we wish to re-use them for a different purpose, we will do this only with your approval.

Disclaimer

If we become aware of any misuse or exploitation of Post Pals or families involved we will reserve the right to take immediate action.

We cannot warrant or sustain any information contained on any website linked to or from Post Pals, including those of our Sponsors.

Post Pals website is targeted at a general adult audience, but we welcome the participation of younger users with their parents\'' consent. We strongly encourage parents to stay involved in the online activity of their children.

Post Pals have taken reasonable measures to ensure the integrity of this website and its contents and by using this website, you agree to use the services at your own risk.