Child Protection Policy
Our Commitment
Ensuring the wellbeing and safety of children, including prevention of child abuse or maltreatment, is a paramount goal of this organisation. This policy provides guidance to staff on how to identify and respond to concerns about the protection and wellbeing of a child, including possible abuse or neglect.
The process for responding to a concern about a child is on page 4 of this policy.
The interests of the child will be the paramount consideration when any action is taken in response to suspected abuse or neglect. This organisation commits to support the statutory agencies (Oranga Tamariki and the New Zealand Police) to investigate abuse and will report suspected cases and concerns to these agencies as per the process in this policy.
Our Designated Person for Child Protection is Libby Jones, the Jigsaw North Manager, who will be responsible for the maintenance and annual review of this policy, in addition to carrying out the responsibilities outlined in this policy. If the manager is unavailable an experienced clinical staff member will assume the role of 2IC and become the Designated Person. Staff will not assume responsibility beyond the level of their experience and training. Our organisation commits to ensure staff have access to the training they need.
An electronic copy of this policy can be found on our website at www.jigsawnorth.org.nz/ourservices and internal Staff drive. It is consistent with Oranga Tamariki and Police guidelines and will be updated when any new guidance is issued.
Purpose, scope and principles
Our child protection policy supports our staff to respond appropriately to potential child protection concerns, including suspected abuse or neglect. It is our organisation’s commitment to protect children from abuse and to recognise the important roles all of our staff have in protecting children.
This policy provides a broad framework and expectations to protect children, including (but not limited to) staff behaviours in response to actual or suspected child abuse and neglect. It applies to all staff, including volunteers and part-time or temporary roles and contractors. It is intended to protect all children that staff may encounter, including siblings, the children of adults accessing services and and other children encountered by staff as they provide their service.
In addition to guiding staff to make referrals of suspected child abuse and neglect to the statutory agencies – ie. Oranga Tamariki and the Police – this policy will also help our staff to identify and respond to the needs of the children whose wellbeing is of concern.
We recognise that in many of these cases, the involvement of statutory agencies would be inappropriate and potentially harmful to families/whānau. Throughout New Zealand statutory and non-statutory agencies provide a network of mutually supportive services, and it is important for our organisation to work with these to respond to the needs of vulnerable children and families/whānau in a manner proportionate to the level of need and risk.
To ensure that this organisation demonstrates continual improvement in child protection practice, we will work to maintain a good working relationship with child protection agencies and support our staff to protect children from abuse by consulting with experts with specialist and cultural knowledge and providing the necessary training options.
We also commit to exploring opportunities to work with other providers, including from other sectors, to develop a network of child protection practice in our community.
Definitions
Child – any child or young person aged under 18 years and who is not married or in a civil union.
Child protection – activities carried out to ensure that children are safe in cases where there is suspected abuse or neglect or are at risk of abuse or neglect.
Designated person for child protection – the manager who is the person responsible for providing advice and support to staff where they have a concern about an individual child or who want advice about child protection policy.
Disclosure – information given to a staff member by a child, parent or caregiver or a third party in relation to abuse or neglect.
Oranga Tamariki – the agency responsible for investigating and responding to suspected abuse and neglect and for providing care and protection to children found to be in need.
New Zealand Police – the agency responsible for responding to situations where a child is in immediate danger and for working with Oranga Tamariki in child protection work and investigating cases of abuse or neglect where an offence may have occurred.
Physical abuse – any acts that may result in physical harm of a child or young person. It can be, but is not limited to: bruising, cutting, hitting, beating, biting, burning, causing abrasions, strangulation, suffocation, drowning, poisoning and fabricated or induced illness.
Sexual abuse – any acts that involve forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not they are aware of what is happening. Sexual abuse can be, but is not limited to:
Contact abuse: touching breasts, genital/anal fondling, masturbation, oral sex, penetrative or non-penetrative contact with the anus or genitals, encouraging the child to perform such acts on the perpetrator or another, involvement of the child in activities for the purposes of pornography or prostitution.
Non-contact abuse: exhibitionism, voyeurism, exposure to pornographic or sexual imagery, inappropriate photography or depictions of sexual or suggestive behaviours or comments.
Emotional abuse – any act or omission that results in adverse or impaired psychological, social, intellectual and emotional functioning or development. This can include:Patterns of isolation, degradation, constant criticism or negative comparison to others. Isolating, corrupting, exploiting or terrorising a child can also be emotionalabuse.
Exposure to family/whānau or intimate partner violence.
Neglect – neglect is the most common form of abuse and although the effects may not be as obvious as physical abuse, it is just as serious. Neglect can be:
Physical (not providing the necessities of life like a warm place, food and clothing).
Emotional (not providing comfort, attention and love).
Neglectful supervision (leaving children without someone safe looking after them).
Medical neglect (not taking care of health needs).
Educational neglect (allowing chronic truancy, failure to enrol in education or inattention to education needs).
Safety Checking
Jigsaw North will ensure that all staff, paid and voluntary, are safety checked, including NZ Police Vetting, prior to commencing employment.
Training
We are committed to maintaining and increasing staff awareness of how to prevent, recognise and respond to abuse through appropriate on-going training.
Jigsaw North will ensure that staff are kept up to date with changes in legislation or policies relating to child protection.
As part of their induction, new staff are made aware of the policy on child protection.
Staff involved in cases of suspected child abuse are entitled to have support. We will maintain knowledge of such individuals, agencies and organisations in the community that provide support.
Identifying child abuse and neglect
Our approach to identifying abuse or neglect is guided by the following principles:
We understand that every situation is different and it’s important to consider all available information about the child and their environment before reaching conclusions. For example, behavioural concerns may be the result of life events, such as divorce, accidental injury, the arrival of a new sibling etc.
We understand when we are concerned a child is showing signs of potential abuse or neglect we should talk to someone, either a colleague, manager or supervisor – we shouldn’t act alone.
While there are different definitions of abuse, the important thing is for us to consider overall wellbeing and the risk of harm to the child. It is not so important to be able to categorise the type of abuse or neglect.
It is normal for us to feel uncertain, however, the important thing is that we should be able to recognise when something is wrong, especially if we notice a pattern forming or several signs that make us concerned.
Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of child abuse. There is a high rate of co-occurrence between IPV and the physical abuse of children.
We recognise the signs of potential abuse:
Physical signs (e.g., unexplained injuries, burns, fractures, unusual or excessive itching, genital injuries, sexually transmitted diseases).
Developmental delays (e.g., small for their age, cognitive delays, falling behind in school, poor speech and social skills).
Emotional abuse/neglect (e.g., sleep problems, low self-esteem, obsessive behaviour, inability to cope in social situations, sadness/loneliness and evidence of self-harm).
Behavioural concerns (e.g., age- inappropriate sexual interest or play, fear of a certain person or place, eating disorders/ substance abuse, disengagement/ neediness, aggression).
The child talking about things that indicate abuse (sometimes called an allegation or disclosure).
We are aware of the signs of potential neglect:
Physical signs (e.g., looking rough and uncared for, dirty, without appropriate clothing, underweight).
Developmental delays (e.g., small for their age, cognitive delays, falling behind in school, poor speech and social skills).
Emotional abuse/neglect (e.g., sleep problems, low self-esteem, obsessive behaviour, inability to cope in social situations, sadness/loneliness and evidence of self-harm).
Behavioural concerns (e.g., disengagement/neediness, eating disorders/substance abuse, aggression).
Neglectful supervision (e.g., out and about unsupervised, left alone, no safe home to return to).
Medical neglect (e.g., persistent nappy rash or skin disorders or other untreated medical issues).
This organisation will always act on the recommendations of statutory agencies, including Oranga Tamariki and the Police. If there is disagreement with their recommendation based on professional ethics, this will be discussed with Jigsaw North manager or other senior staff member to determine an appropriate course of action.
When we respond to suspected child abuse or any concerning behaviour we will document our observations, impressions and communications in the confidential client case file.
Reports of Concern (ROC)
After discussion with manager or other senior staff member at Jigsaw North a case consultation can be arranged with the Practice Manager at the relevant Oranga Tamariki site if needed. After consultation, if a decision is made to make a ROC to Oranga Tamariki or NZ Police, the worker will phone Oranga Tamariki on 0508 326 459, with follow up email to contact@ot.govt.nz
They will document this, including a copy of the information sent on the ROC in the child’s case notes and note this in the ROC register as per the Jigsaw North Report of Concern Process. See Appendix I.
If the concern is about child/ren at a school we are working in, the concern will be discussed with the Principal to determine whether a ROC will be made and who will do it. If the school do not wish to submit a ROC, but a care and protection concern remains this will be discussed with the Jigsaw North manager, and the worker may submit the ROC.
A decision to inform the parents/caregivers of the ROC will be made in consultation with the Jigsaw North Manager. If unsure, seek advice from the statutory agency referred to.
Confidentiality and information sharing
We will seek advice from Oranga Tamariki and/or the Police before identifying information about an allegation is shared with anyone, other than the manager or supervisor. Staff should be aware that:
Under sections 15 and 16 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Act 2017 any person who believes that a child has been or is likely to be, harmed physically, emotionally or sexually or ill-treated, abused, neglected or deprived may report the matter to Oranga Tamariki or the Police and provided the report is made in good faith, no civil, criminal or disciplinary proceedings may be brought against them.
When collecting personal information about individuals, it is important to be aware of the requirements of the privacy principles – i.e., the need to collect the information directly from the individual concerned and when doing so to be transparent about: the purposes for collecting the information and how it will be used; who can see the information; where it is held; what is compulsory/voluntary information; and that people have a right to request access to and correction of their information.
Staff may, however, disclose information under the Privacy Act/Health Information Privacy Code where there is good reason to do so – such as where there is a serious risk to individual health and safety. The Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Act 2017 has higher legal authority than the Privacy Act.
Disclosure about ill-treatment or neglect of a child/young person may also be made to the Police or Oranga Tamariki under sections 18 and 19 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017.
Child safe practice guidelines
Staff should be aware of interacting safely and respectfully with children to avoid the possibility of an unsafe situation for the child.
Staff should be aware of where all children are at all times. Visitors should be monitored at all times by staff and volunteers when children are around.
Where a child or young person requires assistance, e.g., if they are intellectually or physically disabled, if possible involve the parents/caregivers and outside agencies to assist. If this assistance is not available, ensure that the staff members are aware of the appropriate procedures when giving assistance.
Staff should ensure they have parental consent before transporting a child or young person, unless an emergency requires it.
Disclosure of abuse or neglect is made
Listen to the child.
Reassure the child.
Ask open-ended prompts – e.g. “What happened next?”
If the child is visibly distressed
Provide appropriate reassurance and re-engage in appropriate activities under supervision until they are able to participate in ordinary activities.
If the child is not in immediate danger – Re-involve the child in ordinary activities and explain what you are going to do next.
If the child is in immediate danger – Contact the Police immediately.
As soon as possible, formally record the disclosure
Document / Record:
Word for word, what the child said.
The date, time, location, and the names of any staff that may be relevant.
The factual concerns or observations that have led to the suspicion of abuse or neglect (e.g., any physical, behavioural, or developmental concerns).
The action taken by your organisation.
Any other information that may be relevant.
Decision-making
Discuss any concern with the manager/supervisor or the designated person for child protection.
Notifying authorities
Notify Oranga Tamariki promptly if there is a belief that a child has been, or is likely to be, abused or neglected.
Phone: 0508 Family (0508 326 459)
Email: contact@ot.govt.nz
When an allegation is made against a member of staff
All matters involving allegations against staff need to be escalated to the manager or board member if the allegation is concerning the manager.
To ensure the child is kept safe, the manager may take steps to remove the staff member against whom an allegation has been made from the environment, subject to the requirements of the applicable individual employment contract and relevant employment law.
Disclosure/allegation of child abuse by a staff member
As per disclosure process, up to ‘decision-making’.
Manager or board member to be notified
Manager to refer to the relevant employment contract
Manager to consult with supervisor, senior staff member of board chair, and depending on seriousness of allegation, with Oranga Tamariki
Manager to advise employee, in conjunction with Oranga Tamariki
(depending on outcomes of discussions with statutory agencies) and seek a response
Employee will be advised of their right to seek support/advice from union or other appropriate representatives
Manager to contemplate removal of employee from the work environment, subject to the employment contract
Manager to maintain close liaison with Oranga Tamariki and/or the Police
APPENDIX I
Report of Concern Process (refer to Jigsaw North Child Protection Policy)
Step 1: Concerned? - Document detailed factual case notes. Do not proceed to interview child.
Step 2: Find out if anyone else is involved. Is there someone else that should/could make the Report of Concern? If so contact this person to discuss. If the responsibility to make Report of concern lies with 'other' professional, record casenote regarding conversation and action that will be taken by them.
Step 3: If still concerned and no one else is making ROC, discuss with manager or experienced colleague in a case consult, to determine the best course of action. Is it safe to inform the parent? (be mindful of collusion).
If still unsure contact Oranga Tamariki practice manager for a case consult.
Step 4: Complete Report of Concern form on the Staff Drive.
Step 5: Record on the Report of Concern Register on the Staff Drive.
Step 6: Email to contact@govt.nz and cc in Manager Libby Jones libby@jigsawnorth.org.nz
Step 7: Upload Report of Concern to EXESS as a case note on clients file titled: Report of Concern.
Step 8: When receipt email is received from Oranga Tamariki, save on EXESS case note title: Report of Concern receipt email from Oranga Tamariki.
