CHILD SAFE POLICY AND PROCEDURE

PREAMBLE

This policy and procedure clarifies and affirms the standards of behaviour that are expected of employees of Victorian Arabic Social Services andVASS College of Vocational Education including teaching/non-teaching staff, all adults contracted, employed or engaged by the organisation, volunteers, all staff involved in child-connected workin the performance of their duties and all adult students. This policy and procedure is to form part of the Staff Code of Conduct, Student Handbook and at all formal staff inductions.

SCOPE

The policy and procedure aims to help all employees, students and volunteers understand and fulfil their legal and professional responsibilities in achieving a child safe and supportive workplace environment.

PROCEDURE

VASS College of Vocational Education has zero tolerance in regards to any form of abuse, discrimination and violence towards any child, staff member, student or client. The following procedure is to be followed strictly by all staff members, volunteers and students.

  1. Promoting and Respecting Cultural Safety:

Victorian Arabic Social ServicesandVASS College of Vocational Educationworks with many clients who are of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and others. These families have experienced varied journeys.

In order to promote and respect cultural safety in the work environment, the following strategies must be adopted by all staff members, volunteers and students:

  1. valuing and respecting people’s beliefs
  2. building responsive relationships
  3. communicating openly and honestly to find out how best to be inclusive and respect cultural needs
  4. examining our personal ideas, customs and beliefs and respecting that the beliefs of one person may not be the same as another
  5. acknowledging and respecting that others can hold different beliefs of equal significance.
  6. Promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
  1. Promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children:

Victorian Arabic Social Services and VASS College of Vocational Education encourages all staff members to promote and advocate for an environment that creates a physical environment that is respectful of Aboriginal culture.

Victorian Arabic Social Services and VASS College of Vocational Education encourages staff members to network and engage with Aboriginal organisations and local Aboriginal communities in order to develop strategies for improved cultural safety.

VCVE has implemented ongoing professional development for all Early Childhood Education and Care Trainers and Assessors within the College on promoting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander safety and developing effective partnerships mandatory as per the Training Package.

In order to promote the safety of Aboriginal children within the workplace, the following strategies must be adopted by all staff members:

  1. support the development of effective partnerships
  2. respect of Aboriginal cultures, values and practices
  3. create a physical environmentthat is respectful of Aboriginal culture
  4. create a sense of identity and belonging selectculturally appropriate symbols, images and objectsin consultation with the families of Aboriginal childreninvolved in the workplace
  5. acknowledging the traditional owners of the land - Wurundjeri Tribe

3. Promoting the safety of children with a disability:

In order to promote and respect the safety of children with a disability in the work environment, the following strategies must be adopted by all staff members, volunteers and students:

  1. acknowledging that children with a disability are particularly vulnerable and ensure risk assessment process considers their needs
  2. ensuring VCVE clearly demonstrates a zero tolerance to discrimination and actively welcomes all children
  3. making sure the environment does not pose access difficulties
  4. being responsive to families regarding specific measures that may be required to ensure the safe participation of a child with a disability
  5. supporting staff, other children and their families to understand and be inclusive of people with a disability

4. Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse:

If any staff member, student or volunteer work with children and young people, you can help to keep them safe by being alert for the signs or indicators of harm and taking appropriate action early.

People who work with children and young people should pay attention to:

Physical signs of abuse or neglect – these could include bruises, burns, fractures (broken bones), frequent hunger, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or poor hygiene.

Behavioural signs of abuse or neglect – these could include showing little or no emotion when hurt, wariness of their parents, alcohol or drug misuse, age-inappropriate sexual behaviour, stealing food, excessive friendliness to strangers or wearing long sleeves and trousers in hot weather (to hide bruises).

Disclosure – if the child tells you they have been abused.

  1. Responding to and reporting suspected child abuse:

Meeting the needs of children and making sure they are safe at Victorian Arabic Social Services and VASS College of Vocational Education is a shared responsibility between all staff, the family, the community and the government. When adults caring for children do not follow through with their responsibilities, are abusive or exploit their positions of power, then it is the child protection system that becomes responsible for taking action.

Each situation is different. In considering the most effective response that will ensure the child’s safety and wellbeing, you may need to gather information and facts. These could include:

  1. Make notes – record what you observe. Date and sign the entry.
  2. Continue to observe – record what you observe, and date and sign each entry.
  3. Consult colleagues – get support and advice from your colleagues and supervisors. Compare notes and brainstorm possible strategies.
  4. Develop action plans based on procedures – familiarise yourself with your employer’s procedures and processes about what to do.
  5. Talk to other agencies about helping the family – collaborate with or engage family support services, community health services, local government services, regional Department of Human Services and Child Protection contacts, and disability services. You may want to call a case conference for professionals to discuss their concerns.
  6. Talk to the child – do this with respect for the child’s or young person’s need for privacy and confidentiality.
  7. Talk to the parent or parents – only if you believe it will not jeopardise the safety of the child or young person.

In addition, any person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child needs protection can make a report to Child Protection.Child Protection will assess and, where necessary, investigate if a child or young person is at risk of significant harm.

Child Protection is part of the Victorian Department of Human Services. It provides child-centred, family-focused services to protect children and young people from significant harm caused by abuse or neglect within the family. It also aims to make sure that children and young people receive support to deal with the impact of abuse and neglect on their wellbeing and development.

Who to contact in an emergency:

For concerns that are life threatening, call Victoria Police 000.

For concerns about the immediate safety of a child after hours or on weekends or public holidays, call the After Hours Child Protection Emergency Service on 131 278 - toll free for all Victoria.

Intake Unit phone numbers:

Northern and western suburban LGAs (Banyule, Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra) Tel. 1300 664 977

Eastern suburban LGAs (Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse, Yarra Ranges Tel. 1300 360 391

Southern suburban LGAs (Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip, Stonnington) Tel. 1300 655 795

South-western rural and regional LGAs (Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Greater Geelong, Moyne, Queenscliffe, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, Warrnambool) Tel. 1800 075 599

Western rural and regional LGAs (Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack) Tel. 1800 000 551

North-western rural and regional LGAs (Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mildura, Mount Alexander, Swan Hill) Tel. 1800 675 598

North-eastern rural and regional LGAS (Alpine, Benalla, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga) Tel. 1800 650 227

Eastern and south-eastern rural and regional LGAs (Bass Coast, Baw Baw, East Gippsland, Latrobe, South Gippsland, Wellington) Tel. 1800 020 202

Other emergency contacts:

Statewide CASA Crisis Line after business hours weekdays, weekends and public holidays - Tel: (03) 9344 2210 or Rural Free Call: 1800 806 292.

Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre - Tel: (03) 9486 9866.

When it is not an emergency:

If it is not an emergency, but you are concerned that a child may be harmed from abuse by their parents or caregivers or any staff member, volunteer or student, then you can discuss your concerns with a regional Child Protection worker during office hours.

Reports of child abuse cannot be accepted through this website or via email.

Support is always provided at the Counselling and Support services at Victorian Arabic Social Services and VASS College of Vocational Education for all staff, students or clients who have witnessed or experienced abuse. Victorian Arabic Social Services and VASS College of Vocational Education encourages all staff, students and children to speak up if they have experienced, witnessed or suspected any form of abuse.

How to make a report:

Call the appropriate Intake Unit phone number. The Child Protection Intake Worker will ask you for certain information, including:

  1. details – the child’s or young person’s name, age and address
  2. indicators of harm – the reason for believing that the injury or behaviour is the result of abuse or neglect
  3. reason for reporting – the reason why the call is being made now
  4. safety assessment – assessment of immediate danger to the child or children. For example, information may be sought on the whereabouts of the alleged abuser or abusers
  5. description – description of the injury or behaviour observed
  6. child’s whereabouts – the current whereabouts of the child or young person
  7. other services – your knowledge of other services involved with the family
  8. family information – any other information about the family
  9. cultural characteristics – any specific cultural or other details that will help to care for the child, for example, cultural origins, interpreter or disability needs.

A report should still be made, even if you don’t have all the information listed above. The reporter’s identity is protected unless they provide written consent for it to be disclosed or it is required by order of the Court.

LEGISLATION AND REGULATION GUIDELINES

  1. Child Safe Standards
  2. Disability Act 2006;
  3. Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001,and;
  4. Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 1995 (Vic).
  5. Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
  6. Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Act 2015
  7. Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Oversight and Enforcement of Child Safe Standards) Act 2016
  8. Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Regulations
  9. Charter of HumanRights and Responsibilities
  10. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Approved by: / Leila Alloush CEO / Date: / January 2017

REVIEW DATE

January 2018