Child Abuse Policy

Rationale:

The Cottage Educare is committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect and to the protection of all children. The safety and wellbeing of the child will always be given priority when investigating suspected or alleged abuse.

We support the roles of the Police and Child, Youth and Family in the investigation of suspected abuse and will report suspected/alleged abuse to these agencies.

We support families to protect their children.

We provide a safe environment, free from physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse.

Objective:

Child abuse and neglect is not acceptable. Children need our protection. Where protection is not adequately provided by the adults responsible for the child, others need to step in to ensure the child receives adequate protection.

Definitions

Child Abuseis defined in the Children Young Persons and their Families Act as “the harming (whether physically, emotionally, or sexually), ill-treatment, abuse, neglect or deprivation of any child or young person.”

Neglect “is a pattern of behaviour which occurs over a period of time and results in impaired functioning or development of a child. It is the failure to provide for a child’s basic needs.

Neglect may be:

• Physical - failure to provide necessary basic needs of food, shelter or warmth

• Medical - failure to seek, obtain or follow through with medical care for the child

• Abandonment - leaving a child young person in any situation without arranging necessary care for them and with no intention of returning

• Neglectful supervision – failure to provide developmentally appropriate or legally required supervision

• Refusal to assume parental responsibility - unwillingness or inability to provide appropriate care for a child.”

   

  Protected Disclosure

  When a staff member or associate brings a case of child abuse to the attention of the center or the authorities, our centre will not disclose the name of the person without their permission unless it is to CYF or the Police and is necessary to do so in the interests of the child.                                                            

    

  Legislation/regulation

  Licensing Criteria 2008, Health and Safety, Child Protection documentation required:

• HS31: A process for the prevention of child abuse and a procedure for responding to suspected child abuse. Documents are consistent with Child, Youth and Family or New Zealand Police guidelines.

• HS32: all practicable steps are taken to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material (for example, of an explicitly sexual or violent nature).

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