The Management and Staff of Riverton Childcare have a commitment to ensuring that children are safe from abuse at all times.

NOTE: This policy refers at all times to physical, verbal, sexual and emotional abuse including neglect.

Guidelines:

EDUCATION

Children: Safety from abuse is part of our education programme. We ensure that 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." Our educational programme is based on the "Safe before 5" video and Freda Briggs "Keep children safe."

Parents and Whanau: Books are available on loan. Supervisors are available to talk with Parents and Caregivers.

Staff: Staff are given basic training annually regarding abuse, including recognising signs of abuse and procedures for reporting these. Local community resource people will be invited to provide this. Staff are given opportunities to attend advanced training courses on child abuse, when available. Preference will be given to senior staff.

CHILD SAFETY TEAM

A Child Safety Team of three staff members is responsible for setting policy and implementing the policy of the Centre. These staff are given initial training in child abuse and are to attend refresher meetings as they become available, and organised by the Supervisor.

The Child Safety Team is to include the Supervisor. The team is to ensure that policy and implementation of policy is culturally sensitive and appropriate. Any member of the team can call a meeting at any time.

ADVICE

Any member of the Child Safety Team may talk unofficially to any health professional in confidence before the referral procedures are implemented.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND RECORD KEEPING

At all stages, confidentiality must be maintained. The child's privacy is to be guarded and sharing of information on history of abuse and discussion of alleged abuse is only to involve those who absolutely need to know. Written record keeping is vital as records may be used later in court.

The Supervisor is responsible for ensuring accurate records are kept. These include:

• dates and times of indication of abuse and reporter

• observations of child's behaviour or appearance

• action taken by staff, including dates of referral to an outside agency.

These records are to be kept confidential.

ONGOING CARE FOR CHILD

Ensure the child's immediate safety - do not alert the suspected abuser.

• If a child tells of abuse; listen; don't question them.

• Say you're glad they told you and you're sorry it happened

• Let them know it's not their fault and that you'll help

• Do not ask further questions

• Do not put words in the child's mouth

• Allow them to tell only as much as they want

• Continue to support the child

• Ignore negative behaviour

If a child's behaviour affects other children's health and well being at the Centre, a parent meeting will be called by the Supervisor to discuss the situation. The final decision of future action will be made by Management and the Child Safety Team, with consideration to the fact that the Supervisor has the right to exclude any child if his/her behaviour is a danger to others.

REFERRAL

Note: "Supervisor" as used below indicates that person employed as Supervisor or that person acting as Supervisor in the absence of the Supervisor. The Acting Supervisor is responsible for reporting to the Supervisor at the earliest possible opportunity.

It is mandatory that any staff noticing indicators of sexual abuse in a child, report this to the Supervisor, in private. The Supervisor then takes the case to the Child Safety Team to discuss appropriate action and referral. Action may first consist of gathering information through observation.

The child's parents or legal caregivers are informed immediately by the Supervisor, of the suspected abuse ONLY IF the child's welfare is not threatened by revealing the details of alleged abuse to the parents or caregivers.

If someone in the child's home is suspected of abuse, the referral procedure is used as follows. The agency referred to, then advises the Supervisor on how to meet the obligation to inform parents and caregivers.

The Supervisor refers the case to the NZ Children and Young Persons Service.

The Supervisor advises Management that a case has been referred. Names are to be kept confidential at all time. If any person suspects that a staff member is abusing a child, it is mandatory that they report it to the Supervisor.

If any person suspects that the Supervisor is committing the abuse, it is mandatory that they report it to Management. The staff member is advised to seek professional support. The staff member is suspended, on pay, immediately. The matter must be handled within three days.

VISITORS TO THE CENTRE

The Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that visitors to the Centre know what touching is deemed appropriate.

Inappropriate touching for visitors is: hugs, kisses, tickling, stroking, sitting child on knee, carrying children, changing children's clothes. Appropriate touching is: holding hands (eg taking children inside), helping children in or out of swing, physical removal from potentially dangerous situations.

The Supervisor arranges with tutors, school teachers etc to inform visiting students of our policy, and speaks personally to the groups where possible before any students arrive. Visitors, trainees etc never toilet or change nappies. This is only done by staff.

PREVENTION OF ABUSE IN THE CENTRE

•  No doors on children's toilets.

•  Toilet/Baby change door to be open at all times when children are in the room.

•  Sleeping room, toilets, office to have glass windows

•  Office door to be kept open if a child is present

•  No child is to be in the storeroom.

•  No child is to accompany one single staff member on any trip outside the Centre

•  Trips to any private home or building are only to be undertaken with more than one staff person and one parent must be present.

PROTECTION OF STAFF

For the protection of staff who through the course of their work are caring for children's bodily needs: All details of care given in respect to children's genital areas must be recorded with date, time and action taken, as soon as possible after the event. This includes: washing genitals (toileting sheet), applying medication to genitals (medicine book), inspection of genital areas if soreness, itching or injury is suspected (accident book). Under-two children have this information recorded on their daily record sheet. Male workers are not to be left alone with children where a situation could arise where allegations of sexual abuse could be substantiated.

Policies: Statement regarding the curriculum; Acceptable use of computer/software; Complaints and grievances; consultation; equipment; monitoring sleeping children; nappy changing procedure; open door; pest and vermin; accidents and illnesses; food and drink; health and safety; laundry; prosocial behaviour; preventing child abuse; shady childcare; smokefree.