F4
[Also issued to clergy as Ad Clerum 1.8]
A growing number of parishes throughout the diocese are employing youth worker/ ministers in order to increase and develop their work with young people. This is an exciting and encouraging development. However, when a parish embarks on the employment of a youth worker/minister it needs to be aware of the legal, financial and personnel implications of doing so.
A diocesan working party has produced a set of guidelines concerning the employment of youth worker/ministers to assist parishes in this particular aspect of their work. It needs to be noted that:
- It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that they comply with current legislation and that a detailed contract of employment is entered into with the youth worker.
- The Diocesan Secretary and the diocese's personnel advisers (via the Diocesan Secretary) are happy to give advice.
It also needs to be emphasised that if a parish is anticipating the employment of a youth worker/minister, it is expected that a copy of the diocesan guidelines will be obtained and its recommendations strictly adhered to. We have a moral duty to ensure that all we do as parishes is within the law and, more than that, is an example of excellence.
Thank you for all you are doing to develop youth work and youth ministry in your parish.
For any advice about youth work/ministry or to obtain a copy of the diocesan guidelines, please contact the Diocesan Youth Officer at the Diocesan Office.
