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Child Safe Standards How effective is your leadership team in promoting a child safe culture in your organisation? 2 June 2016.

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Presentation on theme: "Child Safe Standards How effective is your leadership team in promoting a child safe culture in your organisation? 2 June 2016."— Presentation transcript:

1 Child Safe Standards How effective is your leadership team in promoting a child safe culture in your organisation? 2 June 2016

2 The Child Safe Standards – part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry. 1 January 2016 – Victoria introduced compulsory minimum standards for organisations that provide services for children to help protect children from all forms of abuse. Capacity building: Category 1 organisations – relevant government departments and other regulatory bodies – DHHS, DET, VRQA, DORJ, Business Victoria Ongoing capacity development for Category 1 and Category 2 organisations – CCYP Government now considering: a child safe standards compliance regime a model for reportable conduct i.e. a centralised reporting of abuse allegations to the CCYP (2017).

3 Registered schools (Category 1 agencies, via a Ministerial Order).
Mandatory child safe standards - all organisations operating within Victoria that provide services for children. Category 1 Organisations that receive government funding or are covered by regulation or contractual requirements (Category 1 agencies). By 1 January 2016 Category 2 Other child-related organisations that have little or no funding or regulatory relationship with government (Category 2 agencies) 1 January 2017 Registered schools (Category 1 agencies, via a Ministerial Order). 1 August 2016

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

5 Designed to provide a framework to help organisations keep children safe from all forms of harm.
Are flexible and principle based to enable organisations to tailor their approach based on their type of organisation, level of responsibly for children and activities involving children. Each standard must be applied and incorporate the following principles: the cultural safety of Aboriginal children the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background the safety of children with a disability.

6 For the purpose of these standards:
a child is defined as a person under the age of 18 years child abuse is defined as: sexual abuse (including grooming, with the intent to sexually harm a child) physical abuse or violence serious psychological or emotional abuse serious neglect

7 Organisational culture and leadership
Standard 1: Organisational culture and leadership Leading from the top down and embedding a culture that makes child safety everyone's business. This means: protecting the interests of the child, not the organisation making child safety a top priority in the organisation taking a zero tolerance approach to child abuse, and to racial, religious or cultural discrimination establishing values, behavioural expectations and recruitment practices that are consistent with a child centred, child safe culture.

8 Child safe policy or statement of commitment
Standard 2: Child safe policy or statement of commitment Creating a foundation for a child safe environment This means: documenting how to meet duty of care and responsibilities to children affirming a commitment to child safety and the best interests of children making a commitment to child safety clear to people in the organisation, children and families and the community.

9 Setting clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
Standard 3: Code of conduct Setting clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children This means: providing written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children detailing acceptable and unacceptable behaviours in given situations, as it relates to the organisation’s context – for example physical contact, personal care, online communication or staff to child ratios educating staff, volunteers, parents and children about the expected standards of behaviour and what will happen if a person does not comply.

10 Recruitment, induction, supervision and management
Standard 4: Recruitment, induction, supervision and management Effectively screening and training people in the organisation to reduce the risk of child abuse This means: engaging only the most suitable people (whether in a paid or voluntary capacity) to work with children and deterring unsuitable people from applying or being appointed having robust pre-employment screening processes that communicate a commitment to child safety not seeing assessments and checks as a one-off activity providing high quality supervision and professional development.

11 Responding to and reporting abuse
Standard 5: Responding to and reporting abuse Putting in place clear procedures for responding to and reporting child safety concerns or child abuse This means: children knowing who to talk to if they are worried, and are encouraged to report unsafe behaviours people within the organisation are aware of their duty of care and legal responsibilities, and know what to do to respond appropriately concerns and complaints are acted upon appropriately, whether it is: about a staff member or volunteer, another child, a child’s parent or carer or anyone else external to the organisation raised by a child, the child’s family or a staff member or volunteer.

12 Risk assessment and mitigation
Standard 6: Risk assessment and mitigation Identifying potential for harm and proactively planning to prevent, reduce or remove the risk of child abuse This means: having a clear understanding of the vulnerabilities of the organisation (and the specific activities provided) and the potential risks this may pose to children being proactive to reduce the likelihood of risks emerging or escalating adopting a risk management approach and developing a risk management plan.

13 Empowerment and participation
Standard 7: Empowerment and participation Supporting children and young people to understand their rights, contribute to child safety planning and to raise concerns This means: valuing and respecting children’s opinions encouraging children’s participation in decision making establishing an environment of trust and inclusion that enables children to ask questions and speak up if they are worried or feeling unsafe.

14 Resources and tools Creating a child safe organisation A guide for creating a child safe organisation – tip sheets Resources for parents and carers – child safety tip sheets Child safe standards information line and

15 Case scenario: A new child care worker at your service has been seen spending a lot of extra time with one particular child. The child does not appear to enjoy the extra attention. Staff have started to feel a little uncomfortable. How do you think an organisation with child safe standards in place could prevent/or respond to this situation?


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