Child Safe Policy
Notes
1) For the purpose of this policy, a child will be considered to be a person under the age of 18 years.
2) In instances in this policy where the national director is mentioned as having a role it may be assumed that, where appropriate/necessary this role can be taken another person with relevant authority e.g. Chairman of the board
3) It is the responsibility of the appointed Child Protection Officer to monitor, review and coordinate child safe policy procedures
Mission Statement
The purpose of Baptist World Aid Australia’s child safe policy is to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of all children who are involved in Baptist World Aid Australia programs and projects. The intention of this policy is to fulfil all Baptist World Aid's legal obligations as well as promoting a culture of child safety within the organisation. This policy is a working document and as such will be subject to regular review and revision.
Statement of Responsibility
In the adoption of Baptist World Aid Australia Child Safe Policy, August 2003, Baptist World Aid Australia affirms its commitment to the welfare of children and their protection from abuse and exploitation.
Moreover, Baptist World Aid Australia upholds the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989), Article 19, which states “State Parties shall protect the child
[1] from all forms of physical and mental violence, injury or abuse,
neglect, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse.”
We believe that child protection is both a corporate and an individual responsibility. Every person who shares in the work of Baptist World Aid Australia, including staff, volunteers, contractors, sponsors and supporters, also shares in the responsibility to take every precaution to protect the children and families we serve.
How we care for the most vulnerable among us is an outward expression and evidence of our love for God and all his creation.
Baptist World Aid Australia will express its concern for the protection of children by developing policies, practices and guidelines that increase awareness of this issue provide a framework for accountability at the organisational and individual level and seek opportunities for advocacy.
1. Action Statement
Baptist World Aid Australia will:
1.1 Develop, implement and review guidelines and practices that support the protection of children;
1.2 Network with other Non-Government Organisations and domestic agencies for the purpose of increasing awareness and support for the protection of children;
1.3 Develop and deliver staff awareness programs;
1.4 Screen and provide orientation information to all individuals and groups visiting Baptist World Aid Australia projects, including but not limited to staff, volunteers, contractors, Board members, sponsors, supporters and donors;
1.5 Advocate for the protection of children from all forms of exploitation, especially sexual exploitation;
1.6 Be vigilant in protecting confidential information about children and their families in Baptist World Aid Australia projects and;
1.7 Demonstrate our responsibility to and respect for children by being sensitive in our communications that involve them.
2. Baptist World Aid Australia - A Child Safe Organisation
Baptist World Aid Australia is seeking to promote a child safe organisational culture that is open and dynamic. This is a culture where staff and volunteers in Australia, donors, supporters and overseas partners and beneficiaries have a clear understanding and experience of policy and procedures in action.
3. Implementation
Implementation of the policy involves, at the very least, informing staff and all relevant stakeholders that the document exists. However the issue of child protection will be included in all induction sessions for new staff. The key requirements are that all staff and others are clear about their responsibilities to prevent abuse and have access to a detailed process by which they can raise concerns.
4. Child Abuse
4.1 Definitions and terms
Child abuse can be physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect or bullying.
4.1.1 Physical abuse
Physical abuse occurs when a person purposely injures or threatens to injure a child or young person. This may take the form of slapping, punching, shaking, kicking, burning, shoving or grabbing. The injury may take the form of bruises, cuts, burns, or fractures.
4.1.2 Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is a chronic attack on a child or young person’s self esteem.
It can take the form of name calling, threatening, ridiculing, intimidating or isolating the child or young person.
4.1.3 Neglect
Neglect is the ‘intentional withholding’ from a child the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, shelter and supervision to the extent that the child’s health and development are at risk.
4.2 Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is when a child or young person is used by a child, adolescent, or adult for his or her own sexual stimulation or gratification, or economic gain.
5. Baptist World Aid Australia’s Commitment as a Child Safe Organisation
Baptist World Aid Australia commits itself to a number of processes to ensure the safety of the children in its programs. These are:
5.1 Recruitment
Baptist World Aid Australia follows strict guidelines in the recruiting of new staff, contractors and volunteers, especially potential applicants who are likely to be in direct contact with children overseas. The recruitment guidelines are reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they accurately reflect current child safe recruiting and screening standards. Currently they include:
• Behavioural interviewing questions
• Pre-interview screening
• Conducting reference checks
• Conducting national police checks
5.2 Police Check
All employees, contract staff, volunteers and Board members will be asked to sign an Authority for a Police Check to be conducted. A Police Check will be requested for all full-time, part-time and casual employees, contracted staff, volunteers and Board members. Employees and volunteers will be monitored by the managers to whom they are assigned to ensure that proper processes are being maintained in relation to confidential information concerning sponsorship projects and sponsored children. Where there are concerns the National Director must be informed. The National Director will ensure that appropriate counselling and other relevant action is undertaken.
5.3 Training and Development
Employees and volunteers will be trained in issues related to the protection of children from abuse and violation. All employees, contracted staff, volunteers and Board members will be made aware of their individual responsibility to uphold the Baptist World Aid Australia Child Safe policy. Any employee or volunteer who discovers or suspects abusive practices must refer the matter immediately and in confidence to the National Director, who will take all necessary action, including informing the Police.
5.4 Raising and reporting Concerns of child abuse
The possibility of employees, volunteers, donors or partners abusing children is something that Baptist World Aid Australia takes seriously. Baptist World Aid Australia will take all steps possible, within its organisation and network, to prevent abuse and hold accountable those who abuse children.
5.4.1 Incident reporting
Any incident, belief or suspicion of sexual or physical abuse (past or present) by a Baptist World Aid Australia employee, contractor, volunteer, sponsor, donor, board-member or other partner must be reported immediately in writing to the National Director. If the report concerns the National Director then incidents will be reported to the Board Chairman. If a child reports an incident to you, the child/young person must be taken seriously and listened to carefully. At no time should the child be returned to the environment where the abuse occurred.
5.4.2 Distance the alleged perpetrator
The best interests of the child/young person may warrant the standing down of the person complained against while an investigation commences. If this course of action is being considered, the relevant manager must first recommend this course of action in writing to the National Director. If the report concerns the National Director then incidents will be reported to the Board Chairman. Staff members stood down will receive full pay and are entitled to a just process that does not pre-suppose guilt or innocence. The allegations should not be discussed or communicated to other people until all issues have been considered and a decision made by the National Director or other person who is delegated to fulfil the task. The decision made should be documented and filed.
5.4.3 Document the incident
As soon as possible (and no longer than 24 hours after the disclosure of the incident), the staff member receiving the disclosure needs to have fully documented the allegation, including the time, place and witnesses to the incident.
5.4.4 Confidentiality
All cases of child abuse will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. When concerns arise, all participants will be directed through a formal complaints process involving the National Director (or person delegated in the National Directors place) and relevant manager.
5.5 Allegations made in Australia
If the incident is alleged to have occurred in Australia, the National Director or Child Protection Officer may contact the police, depending on the nature of the incident, to investigate the allegation.
5.5.1 Reporting allegations of physical/sexual abuse to police
All allegations of actual physical or sexual assault as defined in this policy must be reported to the police, whether or not the victim has consented to the matter being reported.
5.5.2 Family
The family of the child should be informed of the allegation and action proposed. They should be consulted where possible on the process to be followed.
5.6 Allegations made overseas
If an allegation is made of a staff member, volunteer, supporter, donor or someone else representing Baptist World Aid Australia, the following procedure will apply:
5.6.1 Incident reporting
Any incident which involves an Australian staff member, volunteer or donor must be reported to the National Director / Child Protection Officer in Australia and confirmed in writing. The National Director / Child Protection Officer will also consult with relevant ‘overseas partner’ stakeholders where necessary to ensure due process is followed.
6. Sponsor Visits/Project Visits
In order to ensure all reasonable precautions are taken to protect sponsored children, their families and communities from persons who may wish to exploit them, all sponsor visits, without exception, will be arranged through the Baptist World Aid Australia Project Officer (PO) concerned. All sponsors and visitors will be provided with information concerning procedures relating to visits to the field.
Upon receiving an inquiry to visit a sponsored child, the PO will provide the sponsor/visitor with information which outlines Sponsor Visit procedures including reinforcing Baptist World Aid Australia’s commitment to the protection of children. (Refer to the relevant manual section - Sponsor Visits).
Upon receiving a confirmation of interest to visit a sponsored child, the PO will ensure compliance with all visit requirements, including the necessary forms to enable a complete police background report to be completed, prior to confirming the visit.
Baptist World Aid Australia must refuse or cancel a visit by a sponsor if the background report is not provided, or if it contains information that would disqualify the sponsor from visiting the child. In the event a sponsor visit is cancelled for the above reasons, the overseas partner office should be contacted in case the sponsor attempts to visit the child or arrive at the National Office unannounced.
While visiting projects, visitors must be accompanied by a Baptist World Aid Australia or overseas partner staff person or authorised volunteer at all times. Under no circumstances should a visitor be allowed to visit a child’s home. A visitor should not spend time with the child unsupervised. A visitor must not exchange mailing or contact details with a sponsored child or anyone else in the SAO program where they are visiting.
Inappropriate or otherwise suspicious behaviour on the part of the visitor toward any child must be addressed immediately. The Baptist World Aid Australia or partner staff member accompanying the visitor will seek the assistance of their supervisor and follow the guidelines established by the Baptist World Aid Australia Child safe Policy.
Unauthorised visits are when a sponsor visits the child’s community directly, or arrives at the overseas partner office, requesting access to the child without the required approvals having been obtained. The partner office will be expected to manage the sponsor according to the guidelines established in the Baptist World Aid Australia Child Safe Policy.
Once a child leaves the SAO Child Sponsorship Program, Baptist World Aid Australia will not facilitate any ongoing direct contact between the sponsor and the child.
7. Privacy and Confidentiality – Staff
Personal information related to the children Baptist World Aid Australia sponsors should only be utilised in the course of normal employment and should not be shared with any unauthorised person. Moreover, no material transmitted to sponsors or other people outside Baptist World aid should contain any information indicating the children’s place of residence (temporary or permanent). All staff and volunteers are required to refer and adhere to Baptist World Aid Australia’s Privacy and Confidentiality policies to ensure that the privacy of children is protected.
8. Child Information Security
Baptist World Aid Australia will take every reasonable precaution to protect child information, progress reports, and picture folders from falling into the hands of individuals who do not share Baptist World Aid Australia’s commitment to the protection of children. Baptist World Aid Australia will maintain its picture folders and child information in as secure an environment as is practicable and every caution will be exercised to ensure security.
9. Use of Child Photos and Information
Pictures, images, or other likenesses of children and/or information related to children that could compromise their care and protection will not be made available through any form of communication media without proper protection and understanding of their use. Moreover, any images of children should not be accompanied by any information relating to their place of residence. When using the image/s of a child for publicity purposes, names must be completely changed to protect the child's identity. Images, with corresponding text, which may identify a child should be pixellated or removed.
10. Advocacy
Baptist World Aid Australia is committed to:
10.1 Promoting the rights of children and seeking their protection from all forms of exploitation and abuse through advocacy initiatives at community, national and regional levels.
10.2 Pressing for changes in government policy at State, Territory and Federal level that have an adverse affect on children or do not adequately address their needs.
10.3 Raising awareness among sponsors and donors of issues relating to the exploitation of children and measures being taken to protect them.
10.4 Seeking collaboration with childcare professionals and other agencies, such as Childwise Inc., to ensure that the organisations’ knowledge, policies and practices are kept up to date and staff well-informed on child protection issues.
10.5 Seeking to learn from and share with Baptist World Aid partners any experience gained in and best practice examples of child protection, and to ensure staff knowledge is enhanced in this area.
10.6 Developing and supporting policy and research capacities that seek to change structures and systems that jeopardise the rights of children, especially girls.
Revised 20/06/2007
Lois Parsons
Sponsorship Coordinator &
Child Protection Officer
