Child safe Policy

Introduction Child Safe Prinicples Mandatory requirements Obligations Child safe Policy Child Protection, Child Safe and Child Safeguarding: What’s the Difference? Child Protection Policy Posters Quiz

POLICY:

Our service respects the rights of every child to live, learn and grow in an environment of safety, whilst still encouraging appropriate risk taking. Our Educators, Educator families, staff, Educator Assistants and volunteers are all fit and proper persons and have completed appropriate training.
Our Service will take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with child safe standards and has a commitment to child safe standards by embedding them in our core values and code of conduct, which benefits our service by:
  • Reducing the risk of abuse and enable proper responses to allegation of abuse
  • Avoiding scope for doubt and indecision, which can lead to in action and tolerance of poor behaviour.
  • Enabling staff and volunteers, to feel empowered to act in the best interests of children when they have safety concerns.
  • Giving parents comfort and confidence in the kind of culture, environment and experience they can expect for their child when engaging with our organisation.
  • Gaining valuable information about how children experience our organisation

The child safe standards are as follows:

  • Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
  • Standard 2: A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safet
  • Standard 3: A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
  • Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
  • Standard 5: Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
  • Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
  • Standard 7: Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

In complying with the child safe standards, the following principles will be applied to each standard:

  • Promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children
  • Promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • promoting the safety of children with a disability
Type of Abuse:
  • Sexual abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Serious emotional abuse
  • Serious neglect

SCOPE:

This document applies to the family day care Educators and residents, Families, parents, volunteers, family day care assistants, and Coordination Unit Staff

CODE OF CONDUCT: CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

Statement of commitment to child safe standards

Our service is committed to the safety and well-being of all children and young people. We will make child safety a top priority in our operations and build child safety in everyday thinking and practice. Service has a zero tolerance for any abuse and discrimination and is committed to providing a child safe environment where adults, children and young people feel safe, are safe and they feel confident to speak up if they are worried. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability. Every person involved in our service understands their responsibility and roles to keep children safe. Our Service will:
  1. Build a child safe culture in the organization.
  2. Drive changes in organizational culture – embedding child safety in everyday thinking and practice
  3. Provide a minimum standard of child safety across the whole organization
  4. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives
Consequences of Breaching the Code of Conduct
Staff, volunteers or contractors who breach this Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary
actions that could include enhanced supervision, appointment to an alternate role, suspension or termination from the service.
CODE OF CONDUCT

I WILL:
  • Adhere to all relevant Australian and Victorian legislation, Service Child Safe Standards Policy and other organizational policies
  • Comply with Service guidelines on physical contact with children
  • Raise concerns with management if risks to child safety are identified in any of the
  • Activities, facilities, structures, procedures or staffing practices at Service
  • Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
  • Report and act on any behavioural complaints, concerns or observed breaches regarding this Code of Conduct
  • Report any concern, allegation, disclosure or observation of child abuse to the relevant person or authority as outlined in Service reporting procedure and in line with mandatory reporting requirements, including the Reportable Conduct Scheme
  • Respect the privacy of children and their families by keeping all information regarding Child Protection concerns confidential, only discussing information with the relevant people to follow reporting procedure
  • Treat all children and young people with respect, regardless of race, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, Culture, property, disability or other status
  • Listen to and value children and young people’s ideas and opinions
  • Welcome all children and their families and carers by being inclusive
  • Actively promote cultural safety and inclusion listen to children and respond to them appropriately
  • Conduct myself in a manner consistent with the values of the service
  • Work with children in an open and transparent way – other adults should always know about the work being done with children
I WILL NOT:
  • Condone or participate in behavior with children that is illegal, unsafe or abusive
  • Seek to use children in any way to meet the needs of adults
  • Ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
  • Exaggerate or trivialize child abuse issues
  • Use hurtful, discriminatory or offensive behavior or language with children
  • Engage in rough physical games
  • Discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, race, culture or sexual orientation
  • Initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes
  • Develop ‘special’ relationships with specific children or show favoritism through the provision of gifts or inappropriate attention
  • Exchange personal contact details such as phone numbers, social networking details or email addresses with children
  • Have unauthorized contact with children and young people online, on social media or by phone
  • Use any computer, mobile phone, or video or digital camera to exploit or harass children.
I have read this Code of Conduct and agree to abide by it at all times.
https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safety/resources/guides-and-information-sheets/
PROCESS:
Our service will ensure that: nominated supervisors and staff members at the service who work with children are advised of the existence and application of the current child protection law; and any obligations that they may have under that law.
Service staff will:
  • Build a child safe culture in the organisation.
  • Drive changes in organisational culture – embedding child safety in everyday thinking and practice
    • Provide a minimum standard of child safety across the whole organisation
    • Ensure that our service has a zero tolerance to discrimination
    • Promote and celebrate cultural celebrations and events
    • Keep up to date with all current Child Safety Standards
  • Highlight that we all have a role to keep children safe from abuse
  • Educate all service staff, family day care educators, assistants and residents, parents and volunteers on child safe standards and their roles and responsibilities via induction and training sessions. Small education sessions to be conducted during visits, meetings and also information to be emailed on regular intervals. Mandatory e-learning for all staff (Centre for excellence in child and family welfare)
    https://www.cfecfw.asn.au/child-safe-standards-elearning/
    https://www.cfecfw.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CFECFW_CSS_FacilitatorGuide.pdf
    https://www.cfecfw.asn.au/reportable-conduct-scheme-elearning/#/?_k=tl9s8o
  • Ensure all service staff, family day care educators, assistants and residents, parents and volunteers understand the nature and risks of child abuse & its consequences.
  • Educate all staff about key indicators of child abuse
  • Facilitate reporting of child abuse and make sure all reports are investigated properly regardless of the position of the accused. All reporting procedures should be children friendly. Refer to Policy “ Child Protection” for more details
  • Make the service’s communication and complaints procedures known to all service staff, family day care educators, assistants and residents, parents and volunteers.
  • Have a clear process how to raise a concern in relation to breach of the code of conduct and how service will respond to the breach.
  • Record any matters relating to breach of code of conduct, child abuse and safety
  • Respond appropriately when inclusive, safe or orderly behaviour is not demonstrated and implement appropriate interventions and sanctions when required
  • Be proactive and preventative in relation to child safety, think about:
    • Any shared spaces between adults and children like toilets and change rooms
    • Any past incidents
    • Any circumstances where children can be alone with adults or a trust relationship can be developed.
    • Get input from staff, volunteers and children
    • Constantly improve processes and policies
    • Identify risks, reduce or remove them.
  • Discuss child safe standards in meetings and forums
  • Encourage children to contribute in planning and decision making.
    • Promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children, providing support and training to educators as to how they can achieve this in their service
    • Undertake a safety and performance review of the educator within 24 hours of a serious incident
  • Do regular assessments of family day care residences and Identify potential risks and hazards, discuss with educator and make plans to remove or reduce the risks. If coordination staff identify a serious significant risk to health and safety of children in care, educator can be terminated and department will be notified. Refer to ”Assessment and approval and reassessment of family day care residences/venues” Policy 16
    • Ensure all educators and educator assistants hold a current working with children card (WWCC) or teaching registration card (VIT)
    • Ensure all persons over the age of 18 years residing at the educator’s home hold a current working with children card (WWCC) or teaching registration card (VIT)
    • Ensure all students and volunteers hold a current working with children card (WWCC) or teaching registration card (VIT).
    • Refer to “Assessment of family day care educators, family day care educator assistants and persons residing at family day care residences” Policy 20 for requirements to have working with children check for family day care educators, assistants and family day care residents.
    • Establish a environment of trust which enables children to speak up if they are worried.
    • Have Zero tolerance approach to child abuse
    • Make child safety a top priority in our operations, Building child safety in everyday thinking and practice
    • Lead from the top down to embed a culture that makes child safe standards paramount.
    • Apply strong governance arrangements, documenting how duty of care responsibilities to children will be met.
    • Respect embrace and support the diversity of young people.
    • Include the Child Safe Standards policy in the induction of new staff.
    • Have a clear code of conduct including acceptable & non-acceptable behaviour in matters relating to:
      • physical contact
      • Photography
      • social media
      • professional and personal relationships
      • communication
  • Ensure all staff including volunteers, assistants, coordinators, educators sign the code of conduct.
  • Have Robust pre-employment screening (values based and direct questions, knowledge of safe standards), communicate our commitment to child safety in job advertisements and have clear duty statements
  • Do our best to ensure every child achieves their development and learning potential;
  • Work with parents and guardians to understand their child’s needs and, where necessary, adapt the care and learning environment accordingly;
  • Encourage positive relationships between Educators and families, so families feel supported enough to share information which may enable us to offer more individual support.
  • Ensure that all service staff/educators maintain tobacco, drug and alcohol free environment while education and care is provided to children. Refer to “Tobacco, drug and alcohol free” Policy 8.2
  • Ensure safe sleeping practices are followed. Refer to “sleep an rest for children” Policy 1.5
    https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safety/being-a-child-safe-organisation/
    https://dhhs.vic.gov.au/about-us
    https://www.childwise.org.au/page/79/fact-sheets
    https://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation/Pages/child-safe-faq.aspx
    https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/childprotection/Pages/cssone.aspx
    http://ffdc.com.au/?page_id=396
    https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/childprotection/Pages/csstwoprepare.aspx
Educators will:
  • Protect the wellbeing of the children by acting sensitively in matters of child protection,
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding a child’s condition
  • Participate in regular development training sessions that will include cultural diversity and inclusive practices
  • Attend annual mandatory child protection training and e-learning modules of child safe standards
  • Teach children about self, safety and respecting others
  • Keep themselves and families updated of the Child Safe Standards
  • Discuss any concerns regarding children’s safety and wellbeing with service staff and if necessary families and record it.
  • Discuss any incident of injury, illness, trauma with service staff and families. record it by completing incident, illness and trauma report, signed from parent/guardian and send it to service as soon as possible no later than 24 hours.
  • Implement curriculum which is inclusive of all cultures and indigenous back grounds
  • Celebrate cultural traditions with children and families
  • Be proactive and preventative in relation to child safe standards, think about:
    • Any shared spaces between adults and children like toilets and change rooms.
    • Any past incidents
    • Any circumstances where children can be alone with adults or a trust relationship can be developed.
    • Identify risks, reduce or remove them.
  • Participate and contribute in child safe standards meetings and forums
  • Keep up to date with all current Child Safe Standards
  • Encourage children to contribute in planning and decision making.
  • Establish an environment of trust which enables children to speak up if they are worried.
  • Have Zero tolerance approach to child abuse
  • Make child safe standards a top priority in our operations, Building child safety in everyday thinking and practice
  • Respect embrace and support the diversity of young people.
  • Abide by the code of conduct including acceptable & non-acceptable behaviour in matters relating to:
    • Physical contact
    • Photography
    • Social media
    • Professional and personal relationships
    • Communication
  • Attend regular training to improve our knowledge and understanding of Child Protection and our responsibilities to children in this area; Refer to Policy “ Child Protection” for more details
  • Model positive behaviour to children, consistent with the standards of our profession;
  • Proactively engage with families about children’s outcomes;
  • Ensure that educators/residents/visitors maintain tobacco, drug and alcohol free environment while education and care is provided to children. Refer to “Tobacco, drug and alcohol free” Policy 8.2
  • Ensure safe sleeping practices are followed. Refer to “sleep an rest for children” Policy 1.5
  • Work with parents to understand the needs of each child and, where necessary, adapt the care and learning environment accordingly;
  • Inform service of any new resident and provide WWCC of new resident (over 18 year’s age) to service.
  • Advise service immediately of any changes in any resident being not fit and proper person.
  • Perform self-assessment of residences before start of care of children every day and maintain daily checklist.
  • Work collaboratively with families to improve learning, development and wellbeing outcomes for children with additional needs, including those from indigenous or other cultural/linguistically diverse backgrounds and children with disabilities;
  • Communicate with the Service staff in the event we anticipate or face any tension or challenging behaviours from parents, or we have any suspicion child abuse may be likely or has occurred;
  • Try our utmost to develop supportive relationships with our families and children, so families feel supported enough to share information which may enable us to offer more individual support;
  • Support all children in developing their positive behaviours and learning their own role in these Standards;
  • Treat all members of the service community with respect.
  • Maintain confidentiality of those involved regarding any incident that may occur.
Families will
  • Read the Child Safe Standards policy of the service
  • Report any concerns of a child being at risk of harm whilst in care to the Service staff or Educator
  • Provide a summary of the child’s needs, cultural back ground and health needs to service and Educator prior to starting care and ongoing as required
  • Keep the Educator up to date with any changes to a child’s Health and Physical wellbeing.
  • Remain confidential and respect the privacy of those involved regarding any incident that may occur
  • Seek support and advice from service staff if required
  • Indicate dietary equipment’s for religious or cultural believes
  • Involve in cultural traditional celebrations.