Children’s Action Plan and Vulnerable Children Act 2014

Working togetherA better future for vulnerable children

September 2015

Our collective vision:

A better future for vulnerable children

New Zealanders want a wider, stronger

safety net

Sometimes we fail to keep children safe

Working together for change

Children’s Action Plan

• children at the centre

• core competencies

• code of practice

Vulnerable Children Act 2014

• new accountabilities

• safety checking

• child protection policies

Fostering a safe and competent workforceA powerful force for change

Changes are being phased in

ASAP Child protection polices in place for the Ministry of Education, ECE and their funded services

Mid May Core competencies, targeted consultation with peak bodies

Fm 1 July 15 All NEW appointees to core worker roles must be safety checked before starting, including those changing roles

Fm 1 July 15 Workforce restrictions: teachers convicted of specified offences cannot be registered unless they have an exemption

Fm 1 July 16 All new non-core workers safety checked

By 1 July 16 Child protection policies in place for schools and their funded services

By 1 July 18 All existing core workers safety checked

By 1 July 19 All existing non-core workers safety checked

Child protection policies

A child protection culture helps us

• Understand our child protection roles

• Recognise when things aren’t right

• Know what to do

A child protection policy must

• Contain provisions on the identification and reporting of neglect and abuse, and

• be written, and

• be reviewed every three years.

ECE: Required ASAP School/Kura: By 1 July 2016

Children’s Workers

Someone who works in or provides a regulated service, and their work may or does involve regular or overnight contact with a child or children.

This work takes place without a parent or guardian present.

Children's workers are classed as either:

•core workers

•non-core workers

It is the employer’s responsibility to determine whether the role is a core children’s worker or a non-core worker.

Safety checking

All paid children’s workers must be safety checked.

A safety check includes:

•verification of identity

•an interview

•information about work history

•referee information

•information from any relevant professional organisation or registration body

•Police vetting

•a risk assessment.

Safety checking – phasing

1. From 1 July 2015 new core workers must be safety checked prior to employment commencing.

2. By 1 July 2016 new non-core workers must be safety checked prior to employment commencing.

3. By 1 July 2018 all existing core workers must have been safety checked.

4. By 1 July 2019 existing non-core workers must be safety checked.

Periodic re-checking must be completed every three years while employment or engagement continues

Workforce restriction and the Core Worker ExemptionProhibits employing or engaging people with certain serious criminal convictions as core workers, unless they hold a Core Worker Exemption.

Core Worker Exemptions are administered by MSD.

If an individual holds a Core Worker Exemption it is no longer against the law to employ that person.

From 1 July 2015 the workforce restriction applies to new core workers.

From 1 July 2016 the workforce restriction applies to all existing core workers.

Core competencies

Complement specialist and professional standards

Children’s Teams – educators are key playersCurrent: Rotorua, Whangarei, Horowhenua/Otaki, Marlborough and Hamilton

In development: Eastern Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti, Whanganui, Christchurch, South Auckland

Children’s Teams – lead professionals

Front line practitioners (such as Psychologists and RTLBs)

Coordinate the Child Action Network to assess the child’s situation, set goals and create an action plan.

Educators are not likely to be Lead Professionals, but are likely to be members of Child Action Networks.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any enquiries

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SSCI.Programme@education.govt.nz