Child Protection Policy
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
In Education Ltd. as an early childcare education reliever provider is committed to tamaiti/child protection and prevention of child abuse and neglect, and its responsibilities under the Children’s Act, 2014. The interest, safety, and well-being of tamariki is paramount, and all adults at In Education have an obligation to ensure the wellbeing of tamariki in our care and community. We provide a safe environment free from physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse, and a culture where employees feel confident to raise issues of concern, keeping the tamaiti at the centre of all decision-making when responding to suspected abuse. We support whanau to protect their children.
Te whäriki
Well-being/ Mana atua – Goal 3: Tamariki experience an environment where they are kept safe from harm.
1.3. Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2022
Health and Safety: Child Protection
HS31: There is a written child protection policy that meets the requirements of the Children’s Act
2014. The policy contains provisions for the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect, and information about how the service will keep children safe from abuse and neglect, and how it will respond to suspected child abuse and neglect. The policy must be reviewed every three years.
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED: 1. A written child protection policy that contains:
provisions for the service’s identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect;
information about the practices the service employs to keep children safe from abuse and neglect; and
information about how the service will respond to suspected child abuse and neglect.
A procedure that sets out how the service will identify and respond to suspected child abuse and/or neglect.
HS32: All practicable steps are taken to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material.
(for example, of an explicitly sexual or violent nature).
HS33: No person on the premises uses, or is under the influence of, alcohol or any other substance that has a detrimental effect on their functioning or behaviour during the service’s hours of operation.
Governance, Management and Administration: Professional Practices
GMA7A: Before a person is employed or engaged as a children’s worker, as defined in the Children’s Act, 2014, a safety check as required by that Act must be completed. A detailed record of each component of the safety check must be kept, and the date of the risk assessment required to be completed after all relevant information is obtained. These records must be kept by, or available to, the service provider as long as the person is employed or engaged. Every children’s worker must be safety checked every three years. Safety checks may be carried out by the employer or another person or organisation acting on their behalf.
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
1. A written procedure for safety checking all children’s workers before they have access to Children that meets the safety checking requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.
2. A record of all safety checks and the results.
1.4. Definition
Abuse: the harming (Whether physically, emotionally or sexually, ill-treatment, neglect or deprivation of any tamaiti (Oranga Tamariki Act, 1989). This policy covers all types of possible abuse: emotional, physical, sexual, cyber and neglect.
2. PROCEDURES
Early Childhood Services Regulations state 1:5 Kaiako/tamaiti ratios for tamariki 0-2 and 1:10 Kaiako/tamaiti ratio for tamariki aged 2-5. In Education requires you as a reliever to maintain kaiako/tamaiti ratios as those specified by the 2008 Regulations and in accordance to the centre you are relieving at.
New kaiako will undergo required safety checks that comply with the Children’s Act, 2014.
This will include: a police vet, identity verification, references where previous employers will be contacted, work history, qualifications check, and an interview. A risk assessment will be completed by an In Education Director and (the principal or centre manager if required). If there is any suspicion that an applicant might pose a risk to a tamaiti, that applicant will not be employed. See Personnel Policy for further details on safety checking in the recruitment and employment procedures.
All employees at In Education Ltd. are made aware of this policy and how to raise issues of concern at the time of their induction. There is a section in the induction checklist for discussion. Each new relief teacher will be provided a “child protection quiz” and supports team members to identify the signs and symptoms of potential abuse and neglect in order to take appropriate action in response. Further training and support will be offered if deemed necessary.
Possible situations of abuse in early childhood education could be: Adult to Adult; Adult to Tamaiti; Tamaiti to Adult; and Tamaiti to Tamaiti.
This policy addresses adult to tamaiti abuse. The police will be contacted where appropriate for adult to adult abuse. If one tamaiti is suspected of abusing another, it may indicate that the abusing tamaiti has been abused. Treat this as an indicator and compile information about the behaviour of this tamaiti over time to look for a pattern.
In Education Ltd. team members have a responsibility to protect not only tamariki enrolled at each centre, but all children in our community. Therefore, this policy relates to all children where team members are concerned for their wellbeing.
We require staff to be observant and if they have any concern regarding a child, to document this concern and pass it onto the centre manager immediately, who will help to decide the appropriate course of action. Written statements will be retained and kept confidential. Early identification and timely action is encouraged.
Staff are encouraged to professionally and constructively challenge poor practice, or raise issues of concern with the centre manager without fear of reprisal.
Touch and physical affection is important for children’s healthy development. If a child initiates physical contact to seek affection, reassurance, or comfort, it is appropriate to respond. Physical contact for changing or cleaning bodies, is also acceptable for that task only. It is not appropriate to force unwanted affection or touching on a child. If any staff member is concerned about ways other team members are interacting with tamariki, they should raise it with the centre manager as above.
Any serious incident or near incident that involves harm to a child, will be fully investigated by the centre manager and/or an In Education Director. Please see Health and Safety Policy for more information on responding to serious incidents procedures.)
Responding to suspected abuse
The following measures will be taken by all kaiako regarding suspected abuse:
All allegations of tamaiti abuse will be taken seriously.
If any staff member sees a tamaiti being abused, observes signs of abuse, or a tamaiti reports being abused, you will follow the reporting process for tamaiti abuse, as detailed at the conclusion of this policy.
If a child makes a verbal disclosure of abuse to a staff member, that staff member will have a conversation with the child to reassure the child, and they will tell the child that they believe them. Team members can use open ended prompts, such as ‘tell me more’ to gather information, but will not interview the child, ask leading questions, put words into their mouths or ask them to give more information than they are willing to share. (More information about responding to and caring for vulnerable children can be found in the “Child Protection Quiz”. At all times, you must follow the procedure of the childcare centre’s “child protection” policy and the Centre Manager’s guidance.
Disclosures can also come in the form of behaviour, or through comments from other children and adults, and in these cases written observations will be recorded in the concerns record and discussed with the centre manager.
Written documentation is kept on any issue or incident of concern kaiako may note about a tamaiti. Full, relevant, contextual factors are recorded in a confidential way and provided to the Centre Manager. Our Guidance on Child Protection in the Induction Checklist will explain what specifically should be recorded in cases of suspected abuse). You will follow the policy and procedures of the centre you are relieving in.
Any person can report suspected abuse to Oranga Tamariki or the Police and will not be prevented from during so. The centre manager, principal or director will be consulted as appropriate.
All suspicions or observed incidents, or reports of incidents, should be reported directly to the centre manager as soon as possible. The centre manager will immediately take steps to protect the child and record the report. If the centre manager feels there is reasonable cause to believe a tamaiti is unsafe, she/he will report it to Oranga Tamariki) – 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459).
The centre manager will take action in the short term to ensure the immediate safety of the tamaiti. This may mean contacting Oranga Tamariki or the police immediately.
If there is no short-term risk, time can be taken to consult thoroughly in order to make a well-informed decision. This decision making will be a priority above other mahi.
If staff members feel they cannot go to the centre manager (for example they have concerns about the centre manager’s practice or wish to make an allegation involving the centre manager), they will report directly to the In Education Limited Director.
If a staff member has told the centre manager about their concerns for the wellbeing of a child, but do not feel that the centre manager has taken appropriate action, they will inform the Director at In Education Limited.
To protect the privacy and dignity of the tamaiti and whänau, information will be kept confidential with the persons concerned.
In Education Ltd. will offer support to all those involved in any abuse allegations.
We realise and accept our own limitations in dealing with issues of abuse. Professional agencies such as the Police and Oranga Tamariki will be involved in suspected cases of abuse. These agencies are sought for their specialised knowledge. If a child’s behaviour affects other children’s health and wellbeing at a centre, inform the centre director. The final decision of future action remains with the centre manager.
Allegations about In Education Limited employees
If there are any allegations of abuse or ill-treatment of a tamaiti by an In Education employee, the authorities will be informed immediately, and the employee will be suspended while the matter is investigated. Procedures to follow will align with the individual’s employment agreement and actions stated in In Education Information Handbook. The child abuse issue and employment issue will be treated separately with different In Education Limited representatives assigned to each.
In Education Limited will make a mandatory report the Teaching Council if required.
Information sharing
The Privacy Act, 2020 and the Oranga Tamariki Act, 1989 allow information to be shared to keep tamariki safe when abuse or suspected abuse is reported or investigated. Any person disclosing information in good faith regarding suspected abuse, will be assured the protection afforded by law that no civil, criminal or disciplinary proceedings may be brought against them.
The Privacy Act, 2020 allows professionals to share information about children and young people with other professionals when they have a serious concern for their wellbeing. Sharing information must contribute to prevention or reduction in harm or contribute to an assessment of risks and needs for the tamaiti.
All information will be kept confidential with the parties concerned and concern records kept secure.
If considered safe to do so (unless it increases the risk to the tamaiti, or places team members in a dangerous situation) then parents will be informed if a report of concern is being made. This is not to gain consent if a report is being made as legislation allows ineducation Limited to share information without the consent of parents. If parents object, facts will be recorded along with reasons for decisions made.
There may be cases where the involvement of statutory agencies is inappropriate and potentially harmful to families. If the centre manager feels there is reasonable concern for the wellbeing of a tamaiti, they will work to respond to the needs of this tamaiti in a manner proportionate to the level or need and risk, working with external agencies and whanau as appropriate. Regulated child welfare and protection agencies are listed in the Oranga Tamariki Act and includes all health services.
2.4. General child protection procedures
If tamariki are picked up by anyone other than their parents or legal guardian, parents or kaiako are required to record this.
A complaints procedure ensures issues of concern are dealt with appropriately. Parents are encouraged to express their feelings and concerns so that the operation of In Education Limited can be constantly improved.
All team members at a centre are responsible for ensuring visitors, students and volunteers, relievers know what health and safety, and child protection behaviour is acceptable.
Any adult who has not had a safety check completed, will not be left alone with tamariki without a permanent employee, or have responsibility for tamariki.
No visiting student or volunteer is to be left alone with any tamaiti or group of tamariki.
Relievers will be allowed to change or toilet tamariki and can be left alone with groups at the discretion of the centre manager. Please check with the Centre Director before starting work about their changing and toileting process and whether they allow relievers to do this.
Relievers will not take photos of Tamariki.
We value the internet as a learning tool. In Education relievers will only access tamaiti appropriate websites when exploring with tamariki by using approved technology in the centre. Kiddle is a safe visual search engine for tamariki powered by Google.
There is a zero tolerance for any In Education Limited employee to be working at any centre under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If any parent arrives to pick up their chid whilst suspected be under the influence of drugs alcohol, kaiako will use their discretion to decide if the child is safe to be driven by the parent. Kaiako can offer to call another family member, but where drivers are non-cooperative, staff should call the police (111).
All practicable steps are taken to protect tamariki from exposure to inappropriate material (for example, of an explicitly sexual or violent nature).
2.5. Taimaiti curious body play
We believe that curiosity about bodies and some sex play among tamariki is healthy and normal. However, kaiako are there to provide guidelines needed to ensure that the physical and emotional wellbeing of tamariki is protected. Ensure you check with the head teacher, teachers or Centre Director and follow the centre policy.
Tamariki keep their underwear or nappies on, unless they are getting their nappy changed, toileting, or changing their clothing. Please follow the centre policy when relieving.
Parents will be notified of any inappropriate sex play involving their tamaiti by a permanent teacher or head teacher.
Reliever’s will ensure all team members know of instances of frequent or inappropriate sex play if they witness this.
We use language that promotes a positive body image and awareness, and how to take care of themselves. Tamariki will be encouraged to have ownership over their bodies and move away from play or say no if they are feeling unsafe and to inform a kaiako.
Kaiako will intervene at any point if curious body play is inappropriate, hidden from adults, if there is any coercion, or if the play is frequent.
Kaiako will consult with external agencies for support if required.
We ensure children develop respect for their own and others’ bodies, minds and spirits. We encourage good self-esteem, awareness of body health and such concepts as ‘my body belongs to me’ and ‘I have the right to say no’. Follow the centre policy and see guidance if unsure from the centre director.
LINKS TO:
Personnel Policy
Privacy Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Children’s Act, 2014
Oranga Tamariki Act, 1989
Family Violence Act, 2018
The Privacy Act 2020 and UNCROC
Date approved: November 2023
Review date: November 2024