Saanich Child Saanich Child Protection Protection Policy and ProtocolsPolicy and Protocols

GoalsGoals

To prevent child abuse and to protect the children in our careTo prevent child abuse and to protect the children in our care

To create safe play environmentsTo create safe play environments

To attract motivated, high quality staff/volunteersTo attract motivated, high quality staff/volunteers

To build public confidence in the safety of our programsTo build public confidence in the safety of our programs

What do we do?What do we do?

Police Information Checks for all employees, Police Information Checks for all employees, contractors and volunteerscontractors and volunteers

Diligent screening of applicants’ resumes and Diligent screening of applicants’ resumes and referencesreferences

Training and supportTraining and support

Employee Code of Employee Code of ConductConduct

Respect the dignity and spirit of childrenRespect the dignity and spirit of children Avoid behaviours that could be questioned by others:Avoid behaviours that could be questioned by others:

Physical or verbal contact that may be interpreted as Physical or verbal contact that may be interpreted as sexualsexual

Being alone in a room or washroomBeing alone in a room or washroom

Shouting, swearing, teasingShouting, swearing, teasing

Lending or Borrowing moneyLending or Borrowing money

Talking about drug, alcohol useTalking about drug, alcohol use Do not permit others to exhibit questionableDo not permit others to exhibit questionable

behaviourbehaviour Treat aggressive actions seriouslyTreat aggressive actions seriously

Dress appropriatelyDress appropriately

Be appropriately affectionateBe appropriately affectionate

NB Detailed protocols in sections 3-10 of the manual should be reviewed by appropriate staff.

Recognizing the Signs of Recognizing the Signs of Abuse and NeglectAbuse and Neglect

EmotionaEmotionall

SexualSexual

PhysicalPhysical

NeglectNeglect

Physical IndicatorsPhysical Indicators BruisesBruises WeltsWelts ScarsScars BurnsBurns Unexplained Unexplained

fracturesfractures

Inappropriate ClothingInappropriate Clothing

Difficulty walking/sittingDifficulty walking/sitting

Pain in genital areaPain in genital area

Poor hygienePoor hygiene

Behavioural IndicatorsBehavioural Indicators AnxietyAnxiety DepressionDepression WithdrawalWithdrawal Self-destructiveSelf-destructive AggressiveAggressive Listlessness/fatigueListlessness/fatigue

Fear of contact/going homeFear of contact/going home

Inconsistent explanationsInconsistent explanations

Attention-getting behavioursAttention-getting behaviours

Unexplained change in behaviourUnexplained change in behaviour

Unusual sexual knowledge/languageUnusual sexual knowledge/language

Parental indifferenceParental indifference

Responding to DisclosureResponding to Disclosure Keep the child in aKeep the child in a safesafe environment environment..

ListenListen calmly and supportively. Try not to ask questions. calmly and supportively. Try not to ask questions.

AcknowledgeAcknowledge the disclosure. Let them know you are there the disclosure. Let them know you are there to help.to help.

ReassureReassure the child that it is not their fault. Emphasize that the child that it is not their fault. Emphasize that talking is the right thing to do.talking is the right thing to do.

InformInform the child that you can’t keep this a the child that you can’t keep this a secret and that it is your responsibility to secret and that it is your responsibility to get help.get help.

DocumentDocument exactly what the child said to exactly what the child said to you, not your interpretation of the you, not your interpretation of the disclosure.disclosure. ReportReport the disclosure immediately the disclosure immediately

Duty to ReportDuty to Report

Child abuse is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada.Child abuse is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada.

In British Columbia, Section 13 of the Family and Child In British Columbia, Section 13 of the Family and Child Services Act outlines that a child is in need of protection if Services Act outlines that a child is in need of protection if they are or likely to be abused by a parent or by another they are or likely to be abused by a parent or by another person and the parent is unwilling or unable to protect the person and the parent is unwilling or unable to protect the child.child.

Section 14 of the Act states that a person Section 14 of the Act states that a person who has reason to believe that a child needs who has reason to believe that a child needs protection under Section 13protection under Section 13 MUST MUST promptly promptly report the matter. People reporting abuse, report the matter. People reporting abuse, unless they know the report is false, are unless they know the report is false, are protected by civil immunity and cannot be protected by civil immunity and cannot be sued. Anyone not reporting suspected sued. Anyone not reporting suspected abuse commits an offence.abuse commits an offence.

The duty to report child abuse is more important than the The duty to report child abuse is more important than the confidentiality of any profession (except lawyer/client). confidentiality of any profession (except lawyer/client).

Reporting DisclosureReporting Disclosure

Immediately discuss the situation in confidence with the first available supervisor.Immediately discuss the situation in confidence with the first available supervisor. You or your supervisor need to make the following determination: Is there a You or your supervisor need to make the following determination: Is there a

possibility/evidence of a criminal offence (i.e.: physical or sexual abuse), or is the possibility/evidence of a criminal offence (i.e.: physical or sexual abuse), or is the child exposed to inappropriate parenting?child exposed to inappropriate parenting?

If there is an If there is an assault in progress call 9-1-1.assault in progress call 9-1-1.

For suspected For suspected criminal abusecriminal abuse call the call the Saanich Police at 250 475-4321.Saanich Police at 250 475-4321.

For For neglect, inappropriate parentingneglect, inappropriate parenting, , call call Child Protection at 250 952-6062. Child Protection at 250 952-6062. 24 hr hot line at 310-1234 after 24 hr hot line at 310-1234 after 4:30 pm and all day Saturday, 4:30 pm and all day Saturday, Sunday and holidaysSunday and holidays.. Do not contact the parent or guardian. Do not discuss the Do not contact the parent or guardian. Do not discuss the situation with anyone other than your supervisor or other staff situation with anyone other than your supervisor or other staff involved in the child’s care.involved in the child’s care. Complete the post-incident report provided by your supervisor.Complete the post-incident report provided by your supervisor.

GuidelinesGuidelines for stafffor staff

Show affection in the presence of other staff or publicShow affection in the presence of other staff or public Avoid having children climb on you or sit on your lapAvoid having children climb on you or sit on your lap Avoid giving special attention to any single childAvoid giving special attention to any single child Have a second staff member or child assist you if you Have a second staff member or child assist you if you

need to help a child with toileting or changing.need to help a child with toileting or changing. Provide 1Provide 1stst aid in the presence of another staff or child aid in the presence of another staff or child Follow any custody agreements provided by the parentFollow any custody agreements provided by the parent Do not transport children in your car unless an Do not transport children in your car unless an

emergency. Follow Saanich protocol when this is a emergency. Follow Saanich protocol when this is a necessitynecessity

Guidelines for Guidelines for SupervisorsSupervisors

Be sure that front line and supervisory staff know where the Be sure that front line and supervisory staff know where the post-incident reporting packages are kept.post-incident reporting packages are kept.

Protect the identity of the staff who report an alleged Protect the identity of the staff who report an alleged abuse.abuse. Supervise the completion of all reporting forms and keep Supervise the completion of all reporting forms and keep these documents strictly confidential and locked.these documents strictly confidential and locked.

Debrief staff and arrange for relief workers and/or Debrief staff and arrange for relief workers and/or counseling for those who request it.counseling for those who request it.

Keep staff informed of your Keep staff informed of your actions and any information actions and any information back from the police or the back from the police or the Ministry.Ministry. Forward completed documents Forward completed documents to the Centre Manager, to the Centre Manager, Community Services Manager, Community Services Manager, the Director of Recreation the Director of Recreation Services, and Risk Management Services, and Risk Management office at the Hall.office at the Hall.

Responding to Disclosure of AbuseResponding to Disclosure of AbuseWhere the Abuser is a Staff Where the Abuser is a Staff

MemberMember Contact the police and ask how they wish to contact this Contact the police and ask how they wish to contact this

individual.individual. Immediately remove the accused person from the position Immediately remove the accused person from the position

of trust. The Family and Child Services Act allows you to of trust. The Family and Child Services Act allows you to do this. do this.

Reporting protocols for incidents involving Reporting protocols for incidents involving staff members are the same as all other staff members are the same as all other incidents involving alleged abuses.incidents involving alleged abuses.

After the employee has spoken to the police, inform After the employee has spoken to the police, inform him/her that he/she may be suspended with pay during the him/her that he/she may be suspended with pay during the investigation.investigation.

Child Protection Policy and ProtocolsChild Protection Policy and Protocols