child protection policy

policy

In this section

5.1 Child Protection Policy

The Richmond Creche and Kindergarten (RCK) aims to ensure that children are cared for, safe and protected from any form of abuse, violence or exploitation.

In all their actions, staff will reflect a commitment to respectful relationships with children and families. Staff will not engage in any behaviour that exploits and/or sexually abuses, and/or physically abuses and/or emotionally or psychologically abuses children in the care of the Richmond Creche and Kindergarten. Staff will also not:

use RCK computers or equipment to distribute, collect or view child pornography and/or
distribute, collect or view child pornography on RCK premises or during RCK organized activities.

Staff will comply with all legal and ethical obligations to report cases of child abuse and neglect to the Department of Human Services via Child First and/or Victoria Police.

5.17.1 Definitions of Abuse

Physical abuse involves any non-accidental injury to a child by a parent or caregiver. The injury may take the form of bruises, cuts, burns or fractures. Physical assault of children is a crime.
Sexual abuse occurs when an adult or someone bigger and / or older than the child uses power or authority over the child to involve the child in sexual activity. Physical force is sometimes involved. Child sexual abuse involves a wide range of sexual activity. It may include fondling of the child’s genitals, masturbation, oral sex, vaginal or anal penetration by a penis, finger or other object, or exposure of the child to pornography. Sexual assault of children is a crime.
Emotional abuse occurs when a child is repeatedly rejected or frightened by threats. This may involve name-calling, being put down or continual coldness from the parent or caregiver to the extent that it affects the child’s physical and emotional growth and development.

Neglect is the failure to provide the child with the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, shelter and supervision, to the extent that the child’s health and development are at risk.

5.17.2 Child Abuse and Neglect Procedures

Reporting abuse of children in their family environment

Staff are responsible for adhering to the following procedures:

If a staff member suspects that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect within their family environment, s/he will discuss the situation with his/her supervisor and/or the Coordinator immediately. Parents will be informed if deemed appropriate.
Concerns will be documented and held in confidential records, accessible only to authorised staff and the President of the Committee. Often, it may only be over time that enough information is available to ascertain a clear picture as to whether or not a child is at risk.
Detailed records of all concerns will be kept by the Coordinator. The records will be based on observation and direct comments from the child, which should be recorded verbatim without interpretation;
The Co-ordinator will evaluate all concerns and in conjunction with the staff member and make the decision to make a referral to Child First or to Child Protection. See 5.19.3 for definition and contact numbers.
If the child is at immediate risk, Child Protection Services will be notified immediately.
If a staff member is unhappy with the decision of the supervisor, the President of the Committee should immediately be contacted to mediate the issue. Whilst it is acknowledged that the staff member is entitled to make a notification her/himself, all efforts to reach agreement as to the most appropriate course of action will be exhausted.
Staff are to identify safe and protective behavior within the environment and establish procedures for child protection matters.
Staff to demonstrate a commitment of Professional Development by attending accredited training courses.
Staff to reflect with the services relevant licensing requirements.

If the suspected abuse is not reported the child remains at risk of further abuse or neglect, and subsequently, may be subjected to the risk of permanent harm or possible death. Furthermore, by not notifying, you become, in effect, part of the abuse because you are colluding with the abuser by maintaining the secret therefore, protecting the abuser and not the child. Moreover, you effectively reinforce to the child that no one can or will help them.

N.B: Staff Training and Development in Child Abuse and Neglect

It is the responsibility of the Coordinator of the Centre to ensure that staff receive appropriate and adequate training on a regular basis on child abuse and neglect and the responsibilities of mandatory reporting.

Reporting abuse of children at RCK

If a RCK staff person or volunteer suspects an occurrence of abuse of a child perpetrated by another staff person or volunteer, then he/she will immediately report his/her concerns to the Co-ordinator.

The Co-ordinator will evaluate all allegations seriously.
The Co-ordinator will immediately discuss the matter with the President of the Committee.
The Co-ordinator and President will determine a relevant course of action to take. The plan will be documented and kept confidential. The plan will include steps to inform the child‘s parents/carers about of the allegations.
All allegations of physical and sexual assaults of children at RCK will be referred to Child Protection by the Co-ordinator.
Staff Training and Development in Child Abuse and Neglect
It is the responsibility of the Coordinator of the Centre to ensure that staff receive appropriate and adequate training on a regular basis on child abuse and neglect and the responsibilities of mandatory reporting.

Deciding to Refer to CHILD FIRST or Child Protection

A referral to Child FIRST may be the best way of connecting children, young people and their families to the services they need, where families exhibit any of the following factors that may impact upon a child’s safety, stability or development:

significant parenting problems that may be affecting the child’s development
family conflict, including family breakdown
families under pressure due to a family member’s physical or mental illness, substance abuse, disability or bereavement
young, isolated and/or unsupported families
significant social or economic disadvantage that may adversely impact on a child’s care or Development

A report to Child Protection should be made in any of the following circumstances:

Physical abuse of, or non-accidental or unexplained injury to, a child (mandatory reporters must report).
A disclosure of sexual abuse by a child or witness, or a combination of factors suggesting the likelihood of sexual abuse – the child exhibiting concerning behaviours, for example after the child’s mother takes on a new partner or where a known or suspected perpetrator has had unsupervised contact with the child (mandatory reporters must notify).
Emotional abuse and ill treatment of a child impacting on the child’s stability and healthy development.
Persistent neglect, poor care or lack of appropriate supervision, where there is a likelihood of significant harm to the child, or the child’s stability and development.
Persistent family violence or parental substance misuse, psychiatric illness or intellectual disability – where there is a likelihood of significant harm to the child or the child’s stability and development.
Where a child’s actions or behaviour may place them at risk of significant harm and the parents are unwilling or unable to protect the child.
Where a child appears to have been abandoned, or where the child’s parents are dead or incapacitated, and no other person is caring properly for the child.

Many cases will not neatly fit into these categories, and it may be harder to determine whether the level and the nature of any risk is such that the child is in need of protection. The following questions may help resolve the best course of action in such cases:

What specifically has happened to the child that has caused your concerns and what is the impact on their safety, stability, health, wellbeing and development?
How vulnerable is the child?
Is there a history or pattern of significant concerns with this child or other children in the family?
Are the parents aware of the concerns, capable and willing to take action to ensure the child’s safety and stability, and promote their health, wellbeing, and development?
Are the parents able and willing to use support services to promote?