Child Protection Policy A Collaborative Approach October 2013 Nikki 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 Local National NZ Police CYF Health Private DHBs Primary Care Community Services Churches Parents Caregivers Families Whanau Source: Adapted from Miranda Ritchie (2008), National VIP Manager for DHBs

CHILDREN’S ACTION PLAN Introduce 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 Supports Protects

What might our community look like when all……..  Health  Education  Community  Government / Non-government  Sports Clubs  Businesses ARE SINGING OFF THE SAME SONG SHEET…..?

safe happy healthy

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

Communities need to work together in developing child protection policies & procedures To help ensure SAFE, HAPPY and HEALTHY families