Last Updated: 02/02/2025
Young Heroes is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for children and young people. We recognize the importance of promoting the safety, health, and well-being of children and young people in all aspects of our operations and services. This Child Safety Policy outlines our commitment to child protection and defines the expectations for staff, support workers, families, and anyone involved in the delivery of services to children.
1. Our Commitment to Child Safety
We are dedicated to the following principles to ensure the safety and well-being of children:
- We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of child abuse. This includes physical, emotional, sexual, and neglectful abuse.
- We strive to create an environment where children feel safe, supported, and respected, free from any form of harm, abuse, or exploitation.
- We recognize that children have the right to be heard, respected, and involved in decisions that affect them, including decisions about their care and support needs.
- We are committed to providing a service that is inclusive of all children, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance.
2. Child Protection Responsibilities
All staff, support workers, and volunteers involved in our service are required to uphold the safety and welfare of children. This includes:
- All employees and support workers must comply with relevant child protection laws and regulations in Australia, including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
- Any person involved in our service who has concerns about child safety or suspects that a child is being harmed must immediately report their concerns to the relevant authorities.
- We encourage children and their family to express their concerns and seek assistance if they feel unsafe, including the ability to report any concerns about the conduct of a support worker or other adults.
3. Risk Management
We take all reasonable steps to reduce risks to children’s safety, including:
- All support workers and staff who come into contact with children are carefully screened. This includes:
- Working with children checks
- Reference checks to verify suitability to work with children.
- NDIS provider registration checks to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
- Training on child protection, safe practices, and responding to disclosures of abuse or neglect.
- We provide ongoing training and support to ensure all staff, support workers, and volunteers understand their responsibilities in protecting children and maintaining a child-safe environment.
- We ensure that all service delivery environments, whether in the home or another location, are physically and emotionally safe for children. This includes adhering to appropriate ratios, having sufficient supervision, and ensuring that any physical contact with children is respectful and appropriate to the care being provided.
4. Codes of Conduct for Support Workers and Staff
All support workers and staff must adhere to the following code of conduct:
- Treat every child with respect, dignity, and fairness, ensuring that all interactions are appropriate, and that no behaviour or language is used that could be perceived as harmful or inappropriate.
- Any physical interaction with a child (such as assisting with mobility or personal care) should always be respectful, with clear consent and in accordance with the care plan. Support workers must avoid any form of physical punishment or harm.
- Respect the boundaries of children and maintain professional, appropriate relationships with children and their families. This includes avoiding one-on-one meetings or communication with children outside of the professional context.
- Support workers and staff must never exploit or abuse their position for personal gain or engage in any form of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children.
5. Reporting Child Protection Concerns
We are committed to ensuring that any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child are addressed immediately. If a support worker, staff member, or family member suspects that a child is being harmed or at risk, they must follow these steps:
- Concerns should first be reported to our child safety team on our Child Safety Reporting Form
- If necessary, concerns will be reported to relevant authorities, including local police or child protection services.
- We will handle all child protection concerns with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality. However, we are obligated by law to report concerns to the appropriate authorities when required.
We will ensure that no child or family will be penalized for making a complaint or raising a concern.
6. Recruitment and Screening of Support Workers
All support workers must meet strict criteria to ensure they are suitable to work with children, including:
- Working with Children Check: All support workers must hold a valid Working with Children Check or equivalent, depending on the jurisdiction.
- Police checks: These are mandatory as part of the NDIS screening check to ensure they have no criminal history that would make them unsuitable for working with children.
- NDIS provider checks: Support workers must be registered and comply with all requirements set forth by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- Training: All support workers must complete mandatory child safety training, including recognizing the signs of abuse, reporting obligations, and appropriate behaviour when working with children.
7. Child Safety Officer
Young Heroes has appointed a Child Safety Officer to oversee the implementation of this policy and address any child safety concerns. The Child Safety Officer is responsible for:
- Ensuring that this Child Safety Policy is followed.
- Providing training and support to staff and support workers on child safety matters.
- Coordinating reports of child protection concerns and liaising with authorities.
To report your concerns to Young Heroes:
8. Supporting Families and Children
We recognize the importance of involving families in the safety and care of children. As such, we will:
- Ensure that families are fully informed about the support and care their child is receiving, and encourage open communication between families and support workers.
- Children should be encouraged to be involved in decisions about their care and services. We will provide them with opportunities to express their views and preferences.
- We will provide families with information about their rights, as well as how they can raise any concerns about their child’s safety or well-being.
9. Review of This Policy
We are committed to continuously improving our child safety practices. This policy will be reviewed regularly, and at least once every two years, to ensure that it remains relevant and effective in keeping children safe. We will make any necessary updates and communicate them to all stakeholders.
10. Conclusion
Young Heroes is committed to creating and maintaining a child-safe environment. We take the safety of every child seriously and strive to create a positive, safe, and supportive atmosphere in all of our services. This policy is designed to ensure that we meet our duty of care and legal obligations to protect children and young people in our care.
Contact Us
For any questions or concerns about this Child Safety Policy or if you wish to report a child protection concern, please contact us at:
Young Heroes
Admin@youngheroes.com.au
or