|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AIM
To state the procedures for meeting statutory obligations to report children who are at risk of physical, emotional, psychological or sexual abuse, and neglect.
RATIONALE
The Department of Community Services requires that all children who are at risk of abuse should be notified.
STRATEGIES
Co-ordination Unit Staff and Carers are mandatory notifiers of child abuse or neglect.
This means that if a member of the Staff or a Carer has reason to suspect that a child is being abused or at risk of being abused they have to report it to The Department of Community Services (DOCS).
In the case of suspected child abuse, please follow the policy terms below:
ONE
If the Carer has reason to suspect that a child attending care is being abused, the Carer should notify DOCS immediately.
The Carer should then inform the Co-ordinator.
If the Carer discusses the suspected child abuse with her CDO, the CDO must inform the Co-ordinator of the concerns expressed by the Carer as soon as possible.
If the CDO has reason to believe that a child is being abused, the CDO must notify DOCS and immediately inform the Co-ordinator.
The Co-ordinator will also request that the Carer or the Staff member keep records of the incidents that have led him/her to believe that abuse may have been perpetrated on the child.
The Co-ordinator may also immediately report the child to the Department of Community Services, as a child at risk.
The Co-ordinator will inform the Carer/Staff member of the fact a child has been reported to the Department of Community Services, and of any outcome or
information the Co-ordinator receives on the matter, from the Department.
In all cases all information on these matters must be kept confidential, and must not be discussed, except with the Co-ordinator of the Scheme or the Officers of the Department of Community Services.
As Families of children can be perpetrators of abuse the Carer/Staff member must note that, for the child's safety, he/she should at all times discuss the alleged abuse first with the Co-ordinator, not with the Family of the child.
If the alleged abuse is notified to the Department of Community Services all subsequent procedures are the duty and responsibility of that Department.
Training on Child Abuse indicators and procedure will be available to new Carers during the induction process and on a regular basis, as part of the training offered by the Co-ordination Unit to all registered Carers in this Scheme.
Training for Staff will be regularly updated as needed.
A comprehensive information book on Child Abuse is included in the Carers induction package. The Carer should ensure that she/he is conversant with the contents of this package.
TWO
If a Family suspects that a Care Giver has abused a child placed in his/her care, the Family should immediately contact the Co-ordinator of the Scheme and the Department of Community Services, if the circumstances so warrant.
If the Family/Carer has reason to suspect that a member of the Co-ordination Unit Staff has abused a child in care the Family/Carer should immediately contact the President of the Scheme and the Department of Community Services.
The Department of Community Services in the Bega Shire is located on Church St. Bega, and the phone number is 64 990500.
DOCS HELP LINE NUMBERS
for mandatory reporters only 13 36 27
for families and the general public 13 21 11
REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS AND OTHER STANDARDS
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
NSW Children’s Services Regulation 2004
The Ombudsman Act 1974
The Ombudsman Amendment (Child Protection and Community Services) Act 1998
National Childcare Accreditation Council Quality Practices Guide 2nd edition 2004 Family Day Care Quality Assurance, Principle 4.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
