Child Protection Training Package

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Child Protection Training Package

• Module 1
• Child Protection overview

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Child protection

• Complex and sensitive issues
• Society has increased expectations
• Increased awareness of range of abuse and risk
  situations
• 1998 - significant reform of Child Protection
  legislation
• Initial focus on sexual abuse expanded to include
  physical abuse, psychological abuse, neglect
  domestic violence

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Child Protection is a shared responsibility

• Parents
• Professionals in child-related organisations
• Wider community

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Our mission .

• Our system of schools in the Diocese of
  Parramatta seeks to be
• inviting,
• inclusive and
• just
• Vision Statement

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How do we make schools safe?
Counselling support
Supervision/ duty of care
Adhere to gospel values
Good classroom practice
Professional personal skills
Good student management
Inviting, inclusive and just
Building positive relationships
OHS
Skilled and responsive leadership
School policies e.g. Student management bullying
policy Harassment policy Pastoral care
Child protection legislative reform package
Custom and practice
Ongoing professional development
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Schools as safe (inviting, inclusive and just)
places

• Discussion - focus questions
• - what about our school makes it safe, inviting,
  inclusive, just?
• - what are our strengths?
• - what might we do better?

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Prevention of child abuse recognises

• Risk factors
• Protective factors
• Schools as safe places

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Risk factors in the school context

• Research identifies several factors in the school
  that may increase the risk of child abuse
• - bullying
• - peer rejection
• - poor attachment to school
• - inadequate behaviour management
• - deviant peer group
• - school failure

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Protective factors in the school context

• Schools can prevent abuse by developing
• - positive school climate
• - pro-social peer group
• - responsibility and required helpfulness
• - sense of belonging/bonding
• - opportunities for success/recognition of
  achievement
• - school norms concerning violence

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Schools as safe places .

• With appropriate -
• polices
• practices
• site facilities
• our schools can be protective, positive and safe
  places where children sense they belong and can
  succeed

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Child Protection in our schools

• All adults involved in our schools have a
  responsibility to
• - care for
• - protect, and
• - promote the safety, welfare and well-being of
  students

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3 levels of prevention of child abuse

• Abuse prevention strategies can be allocated to 3
  levels (categories) depending on purpose/focus
  
• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary

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Primary level of prevention of child abuse

• Targets whole community aiming to stop abuse
  before it occurs
• School curriculum, e.g., PD/H/PE
• School policy and procedures, e.g., bullying,
  pastoral care, classroom management
• Involvement of community, e.g., participation in
  church or other community groups, access to
  support services

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Secondary level of prevention of child abuse

• Seeks to identify and intervene in situations
  where children are at high risk of abuse
• Programs for children and young people who are at
  risk, e.g. peer support, Rainbows, counselling,
  management plan for student with challenging
  behaviour or special needs

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Tertiary level of prevention of child abuse

• Targets families, groups and individuals where
  abuse has occurred and attempts to stop it
  recurring
• Child Protection legislation
• Community services
• Interagency support

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NSW Child Protection legislative reform package

• The Acts
• Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection)
  Act 1998
• Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998
• Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998
• Ombudsman Act 1974
• Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000

• What are the Acts about?
• Reporting to DoCS children at risk of harm
• Prohibited Employment Declaration
• Employment Screening
• Investigation allegations against employees
• registered persons not to work in child-related
  employment

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Key agencies involved in Child Protection in NSW

• DoCS (NSW Department of Community Services)
• CCYP (Commission for Children and Young People)
• NSW Ombudsman
• CCER (Catholic Commission for Employment
  Relations)
• Child-related organisations (e.g. schools)

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• Ongoing Child Protection training is important so
  schools are safe places for - children and
  young people, and - employees

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This Child Protection training package .

• is one means of practical support for persons
  working with children and young people
• comprises a number of modules covering a range of
  Child Protection issues

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• Each module has material sufficient for a 30 45
  minute session
• Module 1- Child Protection overview is
  essential information for all new employees and
  volunteers
• Schools may choose the most appropriate modules
  to suit local needs and circumstances

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Child Protection Training Package modules

• Child Protection overview
• Allegations involving employees
• Scenarios about allegations against employees
• Risk management potential risky situations in
  schools
• Risk management managing challenging behaviour
  situations
• Risk management offsite activities
• Risk management site and facilities
• Child Protection Curriculum perspectives
• Reporting risk of harm to DoCS
• Prohibited Employment Declarations
• Employment Screening (currently being updated)
• Child Protection briefing for volunteers
• Protective Practices for School Staff in their
  relationships with students