Child Safe Environment
Policies and Procedures
Children’s safety and wellbeing are paramount at Green Door Counselling service and will be fostered through responsive relationships, engaging experiences and a safe and healthy environment.
This Child Safe Policy was approved on 3 March 2023. It’s due to be reviewed on February 2028.
Purpose
This policy will provide a clear set of guidelines and procedures to ensure:
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All children and young people attending Green Door Counselling are provided with a safe environment
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All reasonable steps are taken by myself at Green Door Counselling to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children and young people attending Green Door Counselling.
Commitment to the safety of children and young people
With accordance of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, Green Door Counselling has a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that all children and young people are safe in their care are valued, respected and encouraged to participate with the first priority being their safety and protection.
Children and young people ’s participation
At Green Door Counselling I, Lisa Gale, must at all times be committed to:
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Treat children and young people with respect, equity, and dignity.
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That children and young people are embraced regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social economic or cultural background and equity is upheld.
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Ensure children and young people are protected from any form of harm or discrimination.
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Ensure the environment is safe for children and young people – that includes protection from violence, bullying, teasing, threatening and sexist or racist remarks. Any form of bullying or harassment will not be tolerated.
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Role model positive behaviours, for example:
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Encourage children and young people to participate in decision making processes
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Give constructive feedback to children and young people
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Ensure children and young people are aware of their rights, including their rights to respect, fairness and safety and their responsibilities to treat others in the same way.
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Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to myself; Lisa Gale, Sole Trader of Green Door Counselling, children and young people and their families/carers.
Communication
In line with The Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 requirement, Green Door Counselling will make its Child Safe Environments Policy and Procedures available on the website and/or on request and given along with the contract prior to the first initial appointment.
Participation of families, children and young people
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At Green Door Counselling, I will use clear communication, using age and developmentally appropriate language.
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Educate children and young people on their rights including their right to safety and right to be listened to.
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I will invite formal or informal feedback from children and young people about their experiences with Green Door Counselling by regularly checking in with them and providing emailed feedback forms.
Code Of Conduct
Green Door Counselling’s code of conduct includes but is not limited to the following:
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I am responsible to promote and protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by
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Adhere to the Child Safe Environment Policy and Procedures at all times and take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people.
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Treating everyone, including children, young people, parents/guardian, regardless of their gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age social class, physical ability or attributes and religious beliefs with respect and honesty and ensure equity is upheld.
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Being a positive role model to children and young people in all conduct with them
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setting clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between yourself and the children and young people – boundaries help everyone to understand their roles.
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listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people.
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being alert to bullying behaviours and responding promptly and appropriately.
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being alert to children and young people who have been harmed, or may be at risk of harm and reporting this quickly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78).
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responding quickly, fairly and transparently to any complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian.
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encouraging children and young people to ‘have a say’ on issues that are important to them.
I must not:
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discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality or any other grounds.
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Hit or physically assault a child or young person
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Use language that is offensive, abusive, or otherwise inappropriate
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Show preferential treatment to one child or young person over others
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Shout, yell or speak to a child or young person in an angry, intimidating, or threatening
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manner.
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Engage in rough physical play with children or young people.
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Condone or participate in illegal or unsafe behaviours when working with children or young people.
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develop any ‘special’ relationships with children and young people that could be seen as favouritism such as the offering of gifts or special treatment
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do things of a personal nature that a child or young person can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes
Reporting a Breach of the Code of conduct and the Consequences.
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To report a breach of the code of Conduct, contact the Department for Child Protection on 8124 4185 or make a complaint to the ACA (Australian Counselling Association) by completing an online form. The ACA’s complaints policy can be viewed here. All breaches of this code of conduct will result in investigation and may lead to disciplinary action in accordance with the ACA’s discipline and grievance policy.
I Lisa Gale, agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.
1st February 2023
Other Policy & Procedures
Supervision, Training and Support
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At Green Door Counselling, I am aware of my obligations under the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 to maintain a current, not prohibited Working with Children Check and renew this every 5 years through the Department of Human Services Screening Unit. I will continue to have regular, mandatory supervision, peer support and will always seek to extend my knowledge through ongoing training. My supervision sessions prioritise and included focus on child safety and wellbeing.
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I have read and understood the mandatory notification booklet, am clear of my responsibilities and have access to printed copies.
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I have attended the RRHAN-EC training and will continue to keep my certificate current along with furthering my knowledge of safety with continued training.
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SNAICC - National Voice for our Children- Keeping our kids safe is a great resource for helping to keep children and young people safe.
Risk Management
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At Green Door Counselling, I will conduct Risk Management plans in the event of any high-risk activities. This is completed by the myself, being the owner of Green Door Counselling.
Feedback and general complaints
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Any feedback or complaint can be reported to me face to face during a consultation, by phone to 0418 496 665 or via the Feedback and Complaint form. All complaints will be taken seriously. The feedback and complaint form will be filled in regardless of where the complaint has come from (parents, or children and young people) and given to them at regular intervals during their therapy.
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We will:
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listen to the complaint/feedback and make a record of it
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advise the time expected for an outcome
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respond to the complainant with an outcome
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clearly document and securely store decisions and actions taken in response to complaints and feedback
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make sure that procedural fairness is followed at all times.
Communication
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When new customers are welcomed to Green Door Counselling, they receive an introduction pack with the Child Safe Environment Policies and Procedures.
Reporting and responding to a suspicion that a child or young person may be at risk
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At Green Door Counselling, I, Lisa Gale, have a legal obligation, as a mandated notifier, under the Child and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, to report all concerns of harm or risk of harm to a child or young person to the Department of Child Protection’s Child Abuse report Line (CARL) 13 14 78 or SA Police on 000 if a child or young person is at risk right now.
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In cases involving Aboriginal children and young people, support is provided by Yaitya Tirramangkotti - an Aboriginal team, via the CARL number.
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I will be guided by the relevant authority (CARL/SAPOL) about whether an internal investigation is appropriate.
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I have access to a Mandated Notifiers Checklist to enable appropriate preparation for a report with CARL (Child Abuse Report Line). Where appropriate, support is offered to the family and the child or young person that is at risk of harm, to the best of Green Door Counselling trained abilities. All other support that is needed that is above my knowledge and skills, will be referred to other lines of support where applicable. For example Communities of Children and young people, Anglicare, Police and other medical professionals. I will continue to provide a counselling service, if appropriate or within my capacity, whilst monitoring their circumstances.
Risk Assessment
Identified risk
Actions to minimise risk
Culture of organisation is not child-safe focussed
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child focused Code of Conduct is in place that sets the behavioural standards expected including what happens when a breach occurs
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culture of management reflects our strong commitment to the safety of children and young people
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the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations are embedded in policies and procedures
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we meet the requirements of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (which mandates child safe environments) and the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (which mandates Working with Children Checks)
Physical contact
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any physical contact must be appropriate to the delivery of services being provided
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where physical contact is required, this is undertaken in a safe way by explaining why contact is required and what will happen, and asking the child/young person for their permission (or their family if this is more appropriate) before proceeding
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unnecessary physical contact is not allowed
Online communications
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no communication with children or young people via social media
Supervision
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Signed consent is to be given for myself to counsel the child/young person.
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if child/young person not collected by parent/guardian at the time when the session ends, I will supervise the child/young person until they are collected by either the parent/guardian or person they have provided as their emergency contact.
Taking images of children and young people
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in the unlikely event, consent of child young person and their parent/guardian required
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disclosure will be made as to how the image is to be used and consent must be provided by the child, young person and parent/guardian
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images must be presented in a way that de-identifies the child or young person
Physical environment
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maintain a risk register that is reviewed annually to ensure effectiveness
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conduct risk assessments for all activities
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ensure all equipment is in good working order
Privacy and confidentiality
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all documents containing confidential information will be stored privately in a locked, metal, fire safe filing cabinet.
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digital files containing confidential information shall be protected electronically by restricting the access to only Lisa Gale.
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I must not disclose information regarding any child or young person without written consent of the child, young person and their parent/guardian unless I feel they are at risk of harm to themselves or others.
Evaluation and review
Even though the minimum term for reviewing the policies and procedures required by the Children and young people and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 is 5 years, at Green Door Counselling these policies will be reviewed after any reports have been made.
Each time this policy is reviewed and updated, I will lodge a new compliance statement with the Department of Human Resources.
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I agree to abide by this Child Safe Environment Policies and Procedures and the Code of Conduct within.
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Lisa Gale
2nd February 2023