Keeping Children Safe Policy
Introduction
This Policy sets out the I Have a Voice Joyous Choir protection principle and objectives, and the obligations of I Have a Voice Joyous Choir People and others within the scope of the policy, to keep children safe and well.
Scope
This Policy applies to:
all I Have a Voice Joyous Choir People - staff members, I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Members, volunteers, and work experience students and
contractors (including sub-contractors and sole traders) and partner organisations
who provide services or work with I Have a Voice Joyous Choir in connection with any I Have a Voice Joyous Choir activity which involves working with children, may involve contact with children or may involve access to records relating to children.
Principles
Principle 1: We are committed to supporting child wellbeing and safety and protecting children in our work. To help ensure children are safe and well, we apply a holistic view of children’s wellbeing and an understanding of child safe practices.
We recognise:
Children have the right to feel safe and well, and to be safe and well, at all times.
Children form one of the most vulnerable groups in our humanitarian work.
We often work in contexts where children experience heightened vulnerability or whose own circumstances give rise to additional vulnerability, including:
Children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and children with cultural and linguistic diverse backgrounds who must be provided special considerations for cultural safety and identity.
Children with disability may experience additional vulnerability. These needs require additional consideration.
Principle 2: We value and respect children. The best interests and the views of children are central to our decision-making and actions. We are committed to upholding the rights of the child and to applying, so far as practicable, the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Principle 3: We have zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Principle 4: We act in accordance with Australian legal standards and obligations and the relevant laws of other countries in which we operate, in the context of international legal conventions, declarations and agreements relating to children’s rights and protection.
Approach
We support children to be and feel well and safe through:
1. Facilitating opportunities for children to build on their strengths and enhance their resilience, by:
providing opportunities for children to engage in activities that are inclusive, meaningful, safe, and educational.
2. Working with their families and communities to prevent and reduce their vulnerability, by:
supporting and empowering their families and carers to meet their needs
minimising the risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children in their daily life
including support for their families (so far as reasonably practicable) and when in contact with our activities
actively seeking their participation in our work including design, implementation, monitoring and review.
3. Embedding a child safe organisational culture, by:
managing the risk of employing or engaging persons who may pose a danger to the safety or wellbeing of children in child-related work
providing I Have a Voice Orphans Choir Ltd People and sole traders with the knowledge and skills to keep children safe and minimise risks to children
providing easy ways and support to report child protection concerns and take action
in response to children’s safety, when:
there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is at risk of child abuse, neglect or exploitation or that child abuse, neglect of exploitation has occurred
child abuse, neglect or exploitation has been disclosed
there are reasonable grounds to consider that a breach of this Policy or of the Child Protection Code of Conduct may have occurred.
requiring contractors and partner organisations to apply child protection standards in their activity with I Have a Voice Joyous Choir .
Personal Obligations
My personal responsibility - keeping children safe and well
As a I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Person or as a sole trader, I am responsible to ensure that I protect the safety and wellbeing of children in my I Have a Voice Joyous Choir activity or work, including:
when I work with children and/or their families and carers
when I come into contact with children in my activity or work
when I supervise others who work with children or have contact with children
when I have access to records relating to children
when I have a governance responsibility.
As a I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Person or as a sole trader, I must:
act in accordance with the I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Ethical Framework
support and comply with all I Have a Voice Joyous Choir activity in connection with child safety and wellbeing
comply with the standards of behaviour in the I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Child Protection Code of Conduct
complete the prescribed child protection training
undertake regular screening by:
providing relevant Working with Children Checks (or Working with Vulnerable Persons Checks), when required to do so by law or by this Policy
undertaking a criminal record or police check
where suitable checks cannot be obtained from a regulatory body or police, providing a satisfactory statutory declaration.
What should I do if I have a concern about child abuse, neglect or exploitation that arises during my engagement with I Have a Voice Joyous Choir ?
I may have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is at risk of child abuse, neglect or exploitation or that child abuse, neglect or exploitation has occurred.
In addition, child abuse, neglect or exploitation may have been disclosed to me.
If any of these things happen, I must immediately:
report those matters to my line manager or key I Have a Voice Joyous Choir contact person for my role (if possible through I Have a Voice Joyous Choir online system Report It or by submitting a written child protection incident form) and
where reasonable and practicable, provide or arrange for the safety of the child and, where available, follow up support.
In addition:
If I am required by law to report child abuse, child neglect, or child exploitation to the relevant police or child protection authority, I will do so.
If I am required by I Have a Voice Joyous Choir contractual obligations to report child abuse, child neglect, or child exploitation to the relevant funding partner, I will do so.
Where my concern relates to my line manager or I Have a Voice Joyous Choir contact person, I can report this to another person, including Human Resources and any Leadership Team member.
What if I am uncertain about what to do or have concern about reporting?
If I am:
uncertain about what to do, including whether I must report a matter to the police or a child protection authority and/or
worried about the consequences of making a report for the safety of a child, family and/or I Have a Voice Joyous Choir people and related parties,
I will contact my line manager or nominated I Have a Voice Joyous Choir contact person, my local Child Safety Contact Officer or a Human Resources team member, for support and assistance.
If I am unsure who to speak with, I will call the I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Supporter, so I can be referred to the most appropriate person to speak with.
I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Obligations
Providing child safe environments
We do not permit any person to work with or have contact with children, or have access to records relating to children, if that person poses an unacceptable risk to children’s safety or wellbeing.
In all our programs and services:
we undertake risk assessments that include child protection risks, mitigation activities and monitoring processes
we inform children and their families of:
their rights to feel safe and well, and to be safe and well, at all times
our child protection reporting obligations
our feedback and complaints processes
we include suitable and relevant child protection requirements in contracts, agreements and other arrangements with partners and contractors (including subcontractors and sole traders).
Responding to concerns for children’s safety
In all our activities:
we treat a report of child exploitation, neglect, or abuse, or of a breach of this Policy and the Child Protection Code of Conduct, seriously
we ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the child and their dignity and rights remain the overriding concern at all times
we undertake all required notifications and, where relevant, we conduct an internal investigation and follow-up as required
we work to ensure that all parties are treated fairly.
False or malicious report
Any I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Person who knowingly makes a false report, or makes a malicious report, may be subject to any applicable disciplinary action including dismissal or other appropriate action.
A sole trader, contractor or subcontractor who knowingly makes a false report, or makes a malicious report, may be subject to termination of contract.
Consequences of breach of the Policy or of the Child Protection Code of Conduct
We have the right to dismiss any I Have a Voice Joyous Choir staff member or terminate the services of a volunteer, or suspend or transfer them to other duties or undertake other disciplinary action, if they breach this Policy or the Child Protection Code of Conduct.
A breach of or failure to comply with the Policy may result in a range of actions including:
legal action
criminal investigation and prosecution
dismissal (if a staff member) or termination (if a volunteer or member)
for a contractor who is a sole trader – termination of contract
for personnel of a partner organisation, or other contractor or a subcontractor(“organisation”)
a direction to the organisation requiring cessation of the services of the person concerned, and/or
termination of the contract or other arrangement with the organisation.
Helping to apply the Policy
The attached Annexures provide further detail:
Annexure 1: Child Protection Code of Conduct – the standards of conduct and behaviour expected to protect children and ensure their safety and wellbeing. It applies to everyone within the Scope of the Child Protection Policy.
Review of Policy
This Policy was approved by the Board on _______________ and is due for review every 1 year.
Annexure 1 Standards of Behaviour - Child Protection Code of Conduct
Introduction
The I Have a Voice Orphans Joyous Child Protection Code of Conduct sets out the standards of conduct and behaviour expected by I Have a Voice Joyous Choir in order to protect children and to ensure their safety and wellbeing. It applies to everyone within the scope of the Child Protection Policy.
NOTE: The I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Senior Child Protection Adviser may authorise the application of other Child Protection Code of Conduct terms, if they may be more suitable in the circumstances.
Examples include tailoring the Child Protection Code of Conduct terms for fundraising and community events after a risk assessment has been completed.
I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Child Protection Code of Conduct
The Policy
I have read and understood the I Have a Voice Joyous Choir Child Protection Policy: Keeping Children Safe and Well.
General obligations
I agree and understand that these obligations apply:
while I am working for I Have a Voice Joyous Choir or engaged in activities funded by I Have a Voice Joyous Choir
when I am publicly displaying a connection to I Have a Voice Joyous Choir (for example, wearing a T-shirt)
in situations where I am recognised as a representative of I Have a Voice Joyous Choir
I will:
treat all children with respect
respect cultural, religious and political differences and act in a culturally sensitive way
not use language or behaviour towards children (including on-line behaviour) that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate
not engage children under the age of 18 in any form of sexual intercourse or sexual activity, including paying for sexual services
wherever possible, ensure that another adult is present when I am working near children
not invite unaccompanied children into private residences, unless they are at immediate risk of injury or in physical danger not sleep close to unsupervised children unless absolutely necessary, in which case the supervisor’s permission must be obtained, and ensuring that another adult is present if possible (noting that this does not apply to my own children)
never use any computers, mobile phones, video cameras, cameras or social media to exploit or harass children, or access child exploitation material through any medium
not use physical punishment on children
not hire children for domestic or other labour: which is inappropriate given their age or developmental stage; which interferes with their time available for education and recreational activities; or which places them at significant risk of injury
comply with all relevant Australian and local legislation, including labour laws in relation to child labour
immediately report concerns or allegations of child exploitation, abuse and neglect, and policy non-compliance in accordance with appropriate procedures
immediately disclose all charges, convictions and other outcomes of an offence that relates to child exploitation and abuse, including those under traditional law, which occurred before or occurs during association with I Have a Voice Joyous Choir
be aware of behaviour and avoid actions or behaviours that could be perceived by others as child exploitation and abuse.
When photographing or filming a child or using children’s images for work-related purposes, I must:
take care to ensure local traditions or restrictions for reproducing personal images are adhered to before photographing or filming a child
obtain informed consent from the child and parent or guardian of the child before photographing or filming a child. An explanation of how the photograph or film will be used must be provided
ensure photographs, films, videos and DVDs present children in a dignified and respectful manner and not in a vulnerable or submissive manner. Children should be adequately clothed and not in poses that could be seen as sexually suggestive
ensure images are honest representations of the context and the facts
ensure file labels, meta data or text descriptions do not reveal identifying information about a child when sending images electronically or publishing images in any form.
Acknowledgements
I understand that the onus is on me, as a person associated with I Have a Voice Joyous Choir, to use common sense and avoid actions or behaviours that could be construed as child neglect, child exploitation or child abuse.
I also understand that any breach of the Policy or the Child Protection Code of Conduct is a violation of my obligations and may lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, termination of services, termination of I Have a Voice Joyous Choir membership, legal action, and/or criminal investigation and prosecution.
Signed:
Date:_________________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Position: ______________________________________________