New Working with Children Checkand Child Safe procedures

Working with Children Check

• Child related workers• Child related

volunteers Who needs a check?

• Face to face contact with children in a child related sector

• Work in a child related role

What is child related work?

• April 2015 to March 2016• But you can start applying nowWhen does it start?

Find out if you need a check by taking this quiz -

http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/Do-you-need-a-check

Managers Coaches Regular event

volunteers Exec who deal with

children 1-2-1

Examples include:

Exemptions

Under 18’s

Parent of a direct team

member

Administrative roles not

requiring contact with children for extended periods

Visitors or contractors for one off

events

Interstate visitors if at a

one off event or event that does not exceed 30

days

Umpires

Must be supervised and not left alone with children for

prolonged periods

Examples of Exemptions to the checkIf you are in child related work BUT you qualify for one of the following example exemptions you DO NOT need to apply for a WWCC

Refer to the WWCC Factsheet4: Exemptions for all conditions of

these examples –http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/Resources

Go to http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/apply to complete the

application. You can call (02) 9286 7219 for assistance.

Click on Start Here blue box

Select the Apply for Your Check box and complete all sections of the form

ensuring that:

You insert your full name as stated on your Driver’s Licence or the

Proof of ID you intend to use.

In the Purpose for Check section ensure you select the correct

category: ‘paid’ or ‘volunteer worker’.

In the Child Related Sector section – select ‘Clubs’ or ‘other bodies

providing services to children’

When completed, click NEXT in the lower right hand corner

You will receive an email with an application number similar to this:

APP1234567E

Print out the email with the application number

Individual responsibilities

For help with this process an online tutorial is available

http://youtu.be/HmfvQWrqMZk

STEP 1: Complete the Application form On-line

Find a location at www.service.nsw.gov.au/service-centre.

Attend a Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) office and take with you:

Your Application Number

Proof of your identity (i.e. NSW Drivers Licence or other ID as stated on your application).

$80 fee IF you are in paid work (Paid workers pay $80 for a 5 year clearance)

STEP 2: Attend an RMS Office, Government Access Centre, or Service NSW office.

Note: if you volunteer for more than one you will need to be verified by each

You should receive your WWC Number by email within 10 days or by post if

you do not have email. If you have not received your results within four

weeks, please email your details and application number to

check@kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au.

Note: Volunteer numbers will have a V at the end and paid workers E

Provide your WWC Number to your Club or Association

STEP 3: Provide your WWC Number to the Club or Association

Go to http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/Working-with-children/working-with-children-check

Click on Start Here blue box In the Employer Registration section click on the

Register button

Complete the Organisation details (remember to update details for main contacts following any changes in the committee)

Click Submit

Association and Club responsibilities

For help with this process an online tutorial is available http://youtu.be/1pVxHDQ9yBs

STEP 1: Create an employer account

Click Start here button

Choose Employer log in and verify from the Verify section and enter login

details. (If you have not already registered as an employer you will need to

register first)

Select Verify Working With Children status tab

Enter the worker’s:

Surname

Date of birth

Working With Children Check number (or application number)

Click Verify

For help with this process an online tutorial is available http://youtu.be/2qUq_59Zmzc

STEP 2: Verify the Check

Understanding the verification results

Once you have submitted these details, a brief report will appear on-screen. The table below provides the possible results and their meaning:

Status Meaning

Application in progress

A WWCC application is being processed and the applicant may work with children. If the applicant becomes barred, the OCG will contact you and advise you of what to do next.

Cleared This applicant has a WWCC clearance that is valid until the listed expiry date.

Barred The applicant has been barred from working with children and it is an offence to engage this person in child-related work or child-related roles.

Interim barred The applicant has been barred from working with children during the course of a risk assessment. It is an offence to engage this person in child-related work or child-related roles

Not found The database cannot find a matching WWCC for any one of these reasons:• The data entered for verification (name, date of birth or WWCC number) has errors• The person’s application has been withdrawn or terminated without an outcome• The person has not completed an application for a WWCC

It is an offence to engage this person in child-related work or child-related roles.

Association and Club responsibilities

Individuals are sent a renewal reminder three months before it expires but employers do not receive this notification. Workers are responsible for applying and renewing their own WWCC, employers only have the responsibility to verify.

Clubs and Associations MUST keep a separate record of child-related workers to include as a minimum:

Once the number has been verified you CANNOT access the information again.These records may be electronic or in hard copy format, but must be made available if required for audit by the Office of Children’s Guardian and your own monitoring purposes.

Netball NSW have a template (via www.nsw.netball.com.au) which organisations can use:

Record keeping

Full name

Date of birth

WWCC number (or application number)

Outcome of online verification

Expiry date

Verification date

The Working with Children Check is one small part of becoming child safe. While a criminal record check can be an important tool, they can’t identify people who have not previously been caught or are yet to offend.

Beyond the WWCC - Being a child safe organisation

Involves a large number of people under 18Sport… Can involve overnight and away trips

Usually involves close trusting relationships between adults and children

Children are most vulnerable between 8 - 12The facts…

One in three girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused in some way before the age of 18 years. (Australian Institute of Criminology, 1993)

70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; 20% have 10 to 40 victims (Elliott & Kilcoyne, 1995)

Around 80 per cent of the time, the offender is known to the child. (Bagley, 1995)

In excess of 95 per cent of perpetrators are male against male and female children. (Bagley, 1995)

Office of the Children’s Guardian 5 C’s framework

Commitment: Child safe policy

Risk management strategyChild participation considerations

Capability: Code of conduct

Recruitment and staff management

Information management

Built environment

Concerns: Child protection reporting

Employment proceedings, Managing complaints

Community: Community engagement

In-service activities

Compliance: Organisational compliance

The Office of the Children’s Guardian has developed a framework of five standards called the “5 C’s”. Meeting all of the standards helps organisations to be child safe.

Simple ways to be child safe

Minimise/prevent

situations where an adult

may be alone with a child

(eg Club house procedures)

Transporting children?

Always 2 children in a car

and in the back. The last

child you drop off should be

your own.

Residential setting / Camps? – adults never sleeping in the same room

Have codes of conduct for all your staff, volunteers etc.

Develop child safe

guidelines for your Club /

Association

Provide first aid in Open

areas – not behind closed

doors.

If sending a text – add in DO NOT REPLY.

If sending an email – always cc in another member of the ClubOnly send emails / texts

addressed to parents

Talk to your juniors to

understand their needs and

concerns

Support and additional resources

Netball NSW have a number of guidelines, policies and checklists which can support in becoming a child safe organisation.These can be found via www.nsw.netball.com.au and Library via Policies and Forms or Fact Sheets and Resources.

Some other ideas and external websites that can help: MPIO child protection online training

Child Safe Club training

Getti ng started check list

Child Safe policy template

Developing codes of conduct

Recruitment checklists

Identifying risks and risk management planning

Privacy considerations and social media

Complaint handling

Training tips

Injury management

Interactive scenarios

For questions on the Working with Children Check please contact the OCG directly on the details below:

Office of the Children’s Guardian

Working With Children Check

(02) 9286 7219 http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au

Please refer to <insert web link page> for more detail.

If you cannot find the answer contact Netball NSW on

(02) 99515000