Child Protection Reporting Management Procedure
This reporting procedure is to guide those making reports in who to report to and what to report. It is also to provide information about how ALWS will respond in situations where there are concerns for children’s safety or the conduct of personnel regarding children.
WHO CAN REPORT
Reports concerning the safety of children can be made by anyone, including, but not limited to:
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WHAT CAN BE REPORTED
A) You have concerns that a child may have been abused or exploited or is at risk of abuse or exploitation by an ALWS personnel or personnel of an ALWS partner organisation. B) You have concerns that an ALWS personnel or personnel of an ALWS partner organisation may have not followed the ALWS Child Protection Policy or the ALWS Child Protection Code of Conduct. i.e. issues of policy non-compliance, but not child abuse (which is instead covered by Scenario A above). C) ALWS personnel has concerns that a child may have been abused or exploited or is at risk of abuse or exploitation by someone in the community. This could include disclosure by a child to ALWS personnel during their duties with ALWS. |
HOW TO REPORT
If a child has been abused or exploited or is at risk of abuse or exploitation (Scenario A), IMMEDIATELY notify: Local police: 131 444 Or
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AND FOR ALL REPORTS (Scenario’s A, B & C):
WITHIN 24 Hours Inform Executive Director – Jamie Davies: 02 6021 5329/ 0400 409 177 Or, If the Executive Director is not available, inform Child Protection Focal Person – Anne Fitzpatrick 02 6021 5329/ 0423 192 241 Or, If the report is regarding the Executive Director, contact ALWS Board Chair – Pastor Peter Hage 0466 303 999 |
AND, IF OVERSEAS:
Inform the director of the partner agency and trigger their reporting mechanism. |
WHAT WILL HAPPEN
A) You suspect or are concerned that a child has been abused or exploited or is at risk of abuse or exploitation by an ALWS personnel or personnel of an ALWS partner organisation. |
If the report concerns an ALWS Personnel The reported personnel will be asked to take paid leave from their duties until an investigation has been completed. It should be made clear that such suspension does not imply guilt, but rather protects all parties whilst an investigation is undertaken. The Executive Director will investigate the report in a timely manner while following any police requests for cooperation. The investigation will be carried out respecting the rights of the alleged victim and the alleged offender with the best interests of the child at the heart of the process. Parents or caregivers will be informed if appropriate and in consultation with police or relevant authorities. Where it is established that abuse or exploitation has taken place or there is unacceptable risk to children, the relevant personnel will be dismissed from their post immediately. Where it is established that abuse or exploitation has not occurred and there is no risk to children, steps will be taken to sensitively reinstate the personnel member without delay. If risk to children remains, the personnel’s duties will be reviewed to avoid contact with children. No action will be taken against personnel who report in good faith information indicating perceived misconduct.
If the report concerns ALWS Partner Personnel If abuse or exploitation occurred overseas by partner personnel, ALWS Executive Director will report to partner agency (initially by notifying the program director).
In all cases
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B) You suspect or are concerned that an ALWS personnel or personnel of an ALWS partner organisation does not follow the Child Protection Policy or the Code of Conduct, including possession of child exploitation material (policy non-compliance). |
If the report concerns an ALWS Personnel If there is a risk to children the reported personnel will be asked to take leave from their duties, or duties will be adjusted to prevent contact with children until an investigation has been completed. It should be made clear that such suspension does not imply guilt, but rather protects all parties whilst an investigation is undertaken. The Executive Director will investigate the report in a timely manner. The investigation will be carried out in respect the rights of the alleged victim and the alleged offender with the best interests of the child at the heart of the process. Where it is established that policy non-compliance has taken place, the relevant personnel will (depending on the nature of the non-compliance):
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and may
and
Where it is established that policy non-compliance has not occurred, steps will be taken to sensitively reinstate the personnel member without delay. No action will be taken against personnel who report in good faith information indicating perceived misconduct. The Executive Director will make every effort to keep any such investigation confidential; however, from time to time other members of staff may need to be consulted in conjunction with the investigation. All personal information considered or recorded will respect the privacy of the individuals involved unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. ALWS will have safeguards and practices in place to ensure any personal information is protected. Everyone is entitled to know how the personal information is recorded, what will be done with it, and who will be able to access it.
ALWS Partner Personnel If abuse or exploitation occurred overseas by partner personnel, ALWS Executive Director will report to partner agency (initially by notifying the program director).
In all cases
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C) You suspect or are concerned that a child has been abused or exploited or is at risk of abuse or exploitation by someone in the community and an ALWS personnel becomes aware of this. |
ALWS will cooperate with any police actions. If abuse or exploitation occurred overseas by partner personnel, ALWS Executive Director will report to partner agency (initially by notifying the program director). Support for child/ren and adults involved is available (see below). |
CONFIDENTIALITY
It is important when reporting, that reports are made only to the designated person listed in this procedure and this information is not shared with others inside or outside the organisation. Breaches of confidentiality can have negative effects on the child involved, their family, the complainant and alleged offender. The Executive Director will make every effort to keep any such investigation confidential; however, from time to time other members of staff may need to be consulted in conjunction with the investigation. All personal information considered or recorded will respect the privacy of the individuals involved unless there is a risk to someone’s safety. ALWS will have safeguards and practices in place to ensure any personal information is protected. Everyone is entitled to know how the personal information is recorded, what will be done with it, and who will be able to access it. |
RECEIVING A REPORT
If a report is made to you, try and gather the following information: a. The name and contact details of the child(ren) believed to have been abused. b. Reasons for having concerns for the safety of children. c. Location and date of abuse or exploitation. d. Any other witnesses to the abuse or exploitation (and their contact details). e. The name and contact details of the person believed to have committed the abuse or exploitation. f. Name and details of the person making the report. |
SUPPORT FOR CHILD/REN
What to do and say if a child tells you about actual or potential abuse.
DO NOT:
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SUPPORT FOR ADULTS
Free advice for children and adults from trained counsellors about child abuse is available from: Child Wise 1800 991 099/ +61 3 9645 8911 ALWS staff can access counsellor of their preference and have the invoice sent to ALWS (see Personnel Policy 4.9 “Employee Assistance”). |
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