Purpose, scope and definitions
Progressify is committed to the well-being of children and young people. The purpose of this policy is to a rm that commitment and ensure that Progressify meets its requirements under the Children's Act 2014 and other relevant legislation, through providing provisions for:
a) the identification and reporting of child abuse or neglect, and
b) appropriate safety checking of staff who have relevant engagement with children within the context of their work.
Child: For the purposes of this policy, a child or young person aged 17 years or younger.
Safety Check: For the purposes of this policy, a screening process to assess the appropriatenessof a person to work with children (i.e. in terms of ensuring child safety).
Staff Member: An employee or contractor of Progressify.
Act: Children's Act 2014
1. Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect
1.1 Types of Information Gathered
a) Staff of Progressify who, in the course of their work, come to believe that a child may have been, or may be at risk of being, abused, neglected or otherwise harmed, should take appropriate action as outlined in clauses 1(c)-(i) below.
b) Staff who carry out part of their work in the context of prescribed State Services, schools, or other providers of children’s services, should be aware of and adhere to any child protection policies in place in those organisations.
c) Where a child discloses abuse or harm, or a concern about abuse or harm is raised, this should be documented, including recording:
i. the disclosure (as close to verbatim as possible) and/or the concern
ii. the date of any disclosure and who was present
iii.any evidence in support of the disclosure or concern
iv. any advice received
v. any action taken, and
vi. any other relevant information.
d) Except where a delay in response is likely to endanger a child, staff are strongly encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have and any potential action to be taken with their manager or CEO.
e) Where a person believes that a current or prospective staff member may pose a risk to children, they should seek further advice from their manager or CEO.
f) Where it is believed that a child is in immediate danger, concerns should be reported to the Police.
g) Where it is believed a child has been, or is likely to be, abused, neglected or harmed, but it is judged that they are not in immediate danger, concerns should be reported to Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Vulnerable Children).
h) Where a concern is raised, and it is subsequently determined that no risk to a child or children exists and that no action is to be taken, this decision and its rationale should be documented.
i) Disclosures of, or concerns about, abuse should be treated as highly sensitive and appropriate standards of confidentiality should be maintained, subject to this Policy and Progressify’s Policy on Access to, and use of, Personal Information.
j) Nothing in this Policy limits the right of any person to report child abuse or neglect in accordance with Section 15 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
2. Safety Checking of Staff who Work with Children
a) For the purposes of this policy, relevant child contact is:
i. regular contact with a child or children in the course of work or research(other than with children of co-workers).
ii. without a parent or guardian of each child being present, and
iii. in the context of a regulated service as specified in the Children's Act 2014.
b) Any staff member who is likely to have relevant child contact in the context of their employment shall be safety checked.
c) Safety checks shall be carried out as prescribed under theVulnerable Children (Requirements for Safety Checks of Children’s Workers) Regulations 2015.
d) Safety checks shall occur:
i. before the staff member commences work with children (or before deadline dates as specified under commencement provisions in clauses 25 and 26 of the Children's Act 2014), and subsequently
ii. at least every three years if the staff member is continuing in a role which involves child contact.
e) Safety checking will involve the following steps:
i.confirm the worker’s identify, by sighting required documents
ii.obtain a Police Vet unless the person is already regularly vetted (at least everythree years) as a requirement of a membership with a professional organisation, or if they have a licence or registration that requires Police vetting.
iii. obtain the name of any relevant professional membership, licence or practice certificate, and confirm from at least one of these organisations or authorities that the person is a current member, or is currently licensed or registered
iv. conduct a risk of assessment to determine whether the persons does or would pose a risk the safety of children, and the extent of that risk, having regard to whether the person is a core or non-core worker
v.collect information about the person’s work history for the previous 5 years
vi. contact a nominated referee
vii. interview the person in order to conduct the risk assessment
f) Progressify shall endeavour to make clear the requirements of this policy toprospective staff who require safety checking, through position descriptions and recruitment processes.
g) Progressify reserves the right to require a full or partial safety check of any staff member who has relevant child contact in the context of their work, regardless of any previous checks carried out.
h) Progressify reserves the right to appropriately restrict a person’s activities where a safety check finds that that person may pose a risk to children and/or is not permitted to work with children under the Children's Act 2014,or where no safety check has been completed.
i) Progressify reserves the right to suspend or terminate a contract with a core worker if that person has been convicted of a specified offence under the Act (unless that person holds an exemption)
j) Nothing in this clause shall limit Progressify’s obligation and right to take all necessary steps to meet legislative requirements.
3.Safety Checking Oversight and Responsibilities
a. Safety checks shall be carried out by management or delegated staff members.
b. Management are responsible for identifying roles involving relevant child contact, and in such cases ensuring appropriate safety checking is carried out.
c. Management shall maintain records of staff safety checks, and advise departments which rechecking (under clause 2(e)ii) may be required.
4.Related policies, procedures and forms
-Children's Act 2014
-Vulnerable Children (Requirements for Safety Checks of Children’s Workers) Regulations 2015
-Oranga Tamariki Act 1989/Children’s and Young People’s Well-being Act 1989
5.Review
This policy will be reviewed within three years of publication.
Publication date: September 2022
Update due: September 2028