Child protection

HS31 Child protection

Criteria

There is a written child protection policy that meets the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014. The policy contains provisions for the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect, and information about how the service will keep children safe from abuse and neglect, and how it will respond to suspected child abuse and neglect.

The policy must be reviewed every 3 years.

Documentation required

1. A written child protection policy that contains:
   1. provisions for the service’s identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect
   2. information about the practices the service employs to keep children safe from abuse and neglect and
   3. information about how the service will respond to suspected child abuse and neglect.
2. A procedure that sets out how the service will identify and respond to suspected child abuse and/or neglect.

Intent

Child protection policies support children’s workers to identify and respond to vulnerability, including possible abuse and neglect.

Amended 26 February 2016.

Guidance

Child protection policy

Centres must have a child protection policy that meets the Children's Act's requirements.

The policy must:

• contain provisions on the identification and reporting of neglect and abuse and
• be written and
• be reviewed every 3 years.

To be helpful, the policy should contain definitions of neglect and abuse so that staff can apply these consistently when needed.

Centres must make the policy and information about its practices available to parents as required by criterion GMA2 Parent access to information.

GMA2 Parent access to information

We have published a guide to the help you navigate the child protection policy requirements set out in the Children’s Act 2014.

Documentation guidance

Safer organisations, Safer children

The Safer organisations, Safer children publication provides advice on good practice to help organisations draft high quality child protection policies and review their procedures.

The guidelines include a review tool to help services identify gaps in current policies, information about what to include in a new policy, as well as example policies including a policy used in an early childhood education setting.

Working together guide

The policy needs to be consistent with advice provided by Oranga Tamariki that can be found in the Working together guide – "Working together to support tamariki, rangatahi and their family/whānau".

Working together seminars – Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children

Educators and coordinators require guidelines and opportunities for training to further develop their knowledge and understanding of:

• the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect
• roles and responsibilities around record keeping and reporting
• responsibilities to children
• limitations of their role.

Digital child protection resource

The Ministry of Education, alongside Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand and Safeguarding Children, have developed a digital child protection resource specifically for the early learning sector. See the instructions below to access the resource:

1. Go to Education Learning Management System at
   training.education.govt.nz
2. Select 'Login with ESL'
3. Select 'Catalogue' from the top menu
4. Search for 'Child Protection'.

In order to access child protection training you are required to have an Education Sector Logon (ESL) as there is a formal acknowledgment of completion. To get an ESL account, please contact your organisation’s ESL Delegated Authoriser.

If you would like to know more about having an Education Sector Login (ESL) to access the Education Learning Management System.

Education Sector Logon (ESL) – Applications and Online Systems

If you need assistance creating an ESL account, ring the Education Service Desk on 0800 422 599 or email them on [email protected].

HS32 Inappropriate material

Criteria

All practicable steps are taken to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material (for example, of an explicitly sexual or violent nature).

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the safety and wellbeing of children by ensuring that pornographic or violent material (electronic games, DVDs, websites, magazines and so on) is not available to children.

Guidance

Censor classifications can be used as a guide, however material should be listened to or previewed to check for suitability before sharing it with children.

What may be regarded as not objectionable under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act may, nevertheless, be inappropriate and harmful to young children given the impact of the medium in which the publication is presented and the age of the children to whom the publication is available.

Supervising children using computers at the service is essential. If a centre has access to the internet (either for use with the children or in the office) consider password protection and the use of parental locks.

Exposure to objectionable material may occur inadvertently through normal and legitimate searching activities or by unsolicited email delivery.

Educators should be aware of safe searching techniques and provide information to children on how to react and deal with unsolicited, inappropriate material.

Netsafe has developed acceptable use policy templates for schools and kura that providers can adapt for early learning services.

Kete Education Hub – Netsafe

Things to consider

• What can children see or hear when they are at the service? Consider areas designated for adults as well (for example offices and staffrooms), as children may have access to them at times.
• What kinds of images can children see in magazines and other print materials available for collage activities (for example ‘sealed sections’ and photo spreads appearing in some women’s magazines)?
• How would staff respond when children bring inappropriate material from home?
• Do children have access to the internet when at the centre? How can their learning be supported while keeping them safe?

Consider the use of software programmes available to support safe searching techniques.

HS33 Alcohol and other substances

Criteria

No person on the premises uses, or is under the influence of, alcohol or any other substance that has a detrimental effect on their functioning or behaviour during the service's hours of operation.

Rationale/intent

The criterion aims to uphold the safety and wellbeing of children.

Guidance

Centres should have a policy and procedure in regard to alcohol and other substances for staff, volunteers, parents and visitors to the centre.

This should be developed in conjunction with parents so there is a shared understanding of what actions staff may take.

This policy should cover:

• What would staff do if a parent or caregiver arrived to drop off or collect a child and they were under the influence of alcohol or any other substance?
• When is it more appropriate to inform the police rather than trying to prevent an adult from removing a child from the premises?
• If a member of staff is under the influence of alcohol or any other substance, consider what action you will take. This is an employment issue and appropriate procedures would need to be followed.
• No alcohol is to be consumed on the premises when children are present.
• Any alcohol is to be stored in a locked cupboard.