Child Protection Policy

A Collaborative Approach

October 2013Nikki Hill

Child Protection Coordinator

WDHB

CHILD PROTECTION

We all have a responsibility

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Education

Sports Clubs

etc

Government

LocalNational

NZ PoliceCYF

Health

PrivateDHBsPrimary Care

Community Services

Churches

ParentsCaregiversFamiliesWhanau

Source: Adapted from Miranda Ritchie (2008), National VIP Manager for DHBs

Four Key Areas:

•Share Responsibility

•Show Leadership

•Child Centred Policy changes

•Child Centred Practice changes

Every Child Thrives, Belongs, AchievesKa whai oranga, ka whai w- ahi, ka whai taumata ia tamaiti

CHILDREN’S ACTION PLANIntroduce compulsory child abuse policies for

agencies working with children_____________________________________________________

Year 1 (by the end of 2013)

LEGISLATION Mandatory CP policies and reporting systems

VETTING & SCREENING “Working with Children Code of Practice”

Year 3 (by the end of 2015)TRAINING PUBLIC SECTOR STAFF i.e. doctors and teachers

Hayden is 7 yrs old and his brother Alex is five. They have loving parents who want the best for them.

One day Hayden took Alex under the house with a box of matches to show him how to make a camp fire. The flames caught on to some junk and the smoke alerted his father who put out the fire.

To teach Hayden a lesson about the danger of fire, he held Hayden’s hand over a lit match until he started to yell. Then he put cream on it.

Is this abuse?Scale 1-5

1= low level / 5= very high level abuse

We ourselves can be a Risk Factor

Factors that affect our assessment:

Ethnicity Ethnic culture of origin Age Family of origin Values / morals Beliefs Gender Religious beliefs Education Personal history of abuse / non-abuse

Guides SupportsProtects

What might our community look like

when all……..

HealthEducationCommunityGovernment / Non-governmentSports Clubs Businesses

ARE SINGING OFF THE SAME SONG SHEET…..?

safe

happyhealthy

Child Protection Policy

WDHB

Sports Clubs

Primary Care

Community Services

CP Policy Template – Key Points Applies to 0-17 year olds, including the unborn

Shared definitions, principles, indicators

Commitment to reporting child abuse

Governmental / community referral pathways

Commitment to staff training/supporting

Approved by WDHB FV Steering Group

Based on the MoH Guidelines (2002)

What else is included

Legal duties/issues Service responsibilities Death of a sibling Family safety and security processes CYF referral form Contact numbers Flow Charts (general/sexual/injury assessment)

To review your existing policy

As a guide to develop a CP policy

As a template ready for implementation

The CP Policy Template can be used:

The Policy…………..

BELONGS TO YOUR SERVICE

TRAING & SUPPORT CAN BE PROVIDED

YOU ADAPT IT TO SUIT YOUR PURPOSES

TRIAL FIRST THEN REVIEW

YOU SIGN IT OFF

Does your service have a Child Protection policy?

If yes,

What guidelines were used?When was it last reviewed?

If no,

What action can you take to get one in place?

SUPPORT OFFERED

CP POLICY TEMPLATE TRAINING RESOURCES CONSULTATION / ADVICE

- Waitemata District Health Board VIP- Local DHB VIP may be able to assist- Child Matters

nikki.hill@waitematadhb.govt.nz

Communities need to work together in developing

child protection policies & procedures

To help ensure SAFE, HAPPYand HEALTHY families