Child Protection 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:
Children have a right to be protected from abuse and neglect. Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility; parents, communities, governments and businesses all have a role to play. The interest of the children must be paramount at all times, including when intervention occurs to protect them. All service staff have a moral responsibility and duty of care to report child abuse and neglect.
PURPOSE:
To ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of children being cared for and educated by the service are protected by implementing procedures in accordance with the Child Protection Legislation and ensuring all staff are informed of their roles and responsibilities in Child Protection matters.
SCOPE:
This document applies to all Educators, Families, volunteers, family day care assistants, parents, guardians and Coordination Unit Staff of Service.
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.
  • Each nominated supervisor, Family day care educator, Educator assistant and person in day-to-day charge of the service will complete the child protection training every 12 months or earlier as required under a state or territory law, a government protocol or under another instrument such as a state government memorandum of understanding and send a proof to service.
  • Service will offer child safety training and information during staff meeting and induction.
  • All Staff Will Maintain confidentiality and records as per requirements
  • All educators will supervise children closely, including at meal and snack times, during sleep and routine times and during play. Educators are always in attendance both inside and out, to supervise children and to be there to help avert preventable accidents and protect children
  • All Staff will protect the well-being of the children by acting sensitively in matters of Child Protection.
  • All Staff will conduct themselves professionally and in the best interests of the protection of children from harm, at all times.
  • Educators will seek advice from the Scheme staff or other professionals in matters relating to Child Protection if required.
  • The nominated supervisors and staff members at the service who work with children will be advised of the existence and application of the current child protection law in the relevant jurisdiction and understand their obligations under that law
  • policies and procedures will in place in relation to providing a child safe environment
  • Duty of care is a common law concept that refers to your responsibility to adequately protect children in your care from harm. It applies to all staff members within service and all staff will take reasonable steps to protect children from injury that is reasonably foreseeable
    As an educator:
    • It is critical to be able to Recognise the signs of child abuse
    • You may be the best placed or only adult in a position able to identify and respond to suspected abuse.
    • you must follow the Four Critical Actions as soon as you witness an incident, or form a reasonable belief that a child has, or is at risk of being abused. See below: Four Critical Actions For Early Childhood Services
    • ​Following these actions will support you to best protect children in your care and meet your legal obligations and duty of care.
  • All staff including Family day care educators, assistants, volunteers, coordinators will take immediate action to inform Victorian Department of Human Services Child Protection, wherever they have formed a belief on reasonable ground that a child in their care has suffered or may be at risk of suffering harm from abuse or neglect.

    Reasonable grounds for forming a belief may include where:
    • A child states they have been abused
    • A child states they know someone who has been, or is being, abused
    • Someone who knows the child states that the child has been abused, is being abused, or is at risk of abuse
    • You observe a child’s behavior, actions or injuries that may place them at risk of harm, or may lead you to suspect that abuse is occurring.
    • You are aware of persistent family violence, parental substance misuse, psychiatric illness or disability that is impacting on the child’s safety, stability or development.
    • you observe signs or indicators of abuse, including non-accidental, unexplained injury, persistent neglect, poor care or lack of appropriate supervision
    • You become aware of possible harm via your involvement in the community, external to your professional role.
    • Staff members should make sufficient inquiries to form a belief. However, once a belief has been formed, it is not the role of staff to conduct an investigation into child protection concerns or criminal offences. It is for DHHS Child Protection or Victoria Police to determine whether the report should be investigated.
    • If a child discloses abuse to you, you should only ask appropriate questions to obtain any further necessary information in order to form a belief on reasonable grounds .It is important not to use leading questions which may influence the child’s answers. You should maintain written records including all observations, disclosures and other details that led you to suspect the abuse.
  • Educator should make sufficient inquiries to form a reasonable belief and to determine a child’s immediate needs. However, once a reasonable belief has been formed, it is not Educator’s role to investigate. This is the role of DHHS Child Protection or Victoria Police. The Educator may either notify DHS Child Protection Services directly of their concern and advises the Coordination Unit of this action or immediately contact the Service Staff. In the latter case, the Service staff will immediately contact the Child Protection Services office.
  • Service Staff/Approved provider will ensure that an incident, injury, trauma and illness record is kept. It is strongly recommended that all staff use the ‘ Responding to Suspected Child Abuse: Template’ for incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse.
    https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/health/protect/EarlyChildhood_ReportingTemplate.pdf
  • As a Family Day care Educator/service Staff, you must keep clear and comprehensive notes relating to incidents, disclosures and allegations of child abuse. Your aim should be to provide as much information within the template as possible. These records will be helpful in making a report of the abuse to the relevant authorities. If you require support to complete the template, you should seek support from your manager/ service provider. This information may be sought at a later date if the matter is the subject of court proceedings. These notes may also later assist you if you are required to provide evidence to support the Court’s decisions.
  • Service Staff will inform Department of Education and Training, DHS Child Protection Services no later than 24 hours wherever Family day care Educator or Service staff wherever they have formed a belief on reasonable ground that a child in their care has suffered or may be at risk of suffering harm from abuse or neglect.
  • Educator will share information, upon request, to assist DHHS Child Protection or Victoria Police to investigate the suspected child abuse and protect and/or promote the well being and development of a child notifying regulator where appropriate or required.
  • Service Staff will not inform the child’s parents prior to contacting DHS Child Protection Services. DHS Child Protection Services are responsible for determining when, and by whom, the parents will be informed of the notification.
  • Also refer 1.5 “Sleep and Rest for Children” policy
Complaint against an Educator or Scheme Staff member