Blue Bay

Early Learning Centre

Evidence of link to

Child Protection Policy

Child
Protection
Policy

Regulations (ECSNR):
Part 4.2 Div. 1
R84 ( a, b)

Evidence of link to NQS::

QA2, St2.3, E2.3.4

Child Protection Policy

Blue Bay Early Learning Centre

Blue Bay Early Learning Centre

Policy Objective
To identify and respond to children and young people at risk of significant harm.

Child Protection Policy

Rationale

Blue Bay
Early the
Learning
Centre
Keep them Safe legislation
reinforces
principle that
care and protection of
children and young people is a shared responsibility. This responsibility rests
firmly with parents, families, members of the community and those who work with
children.

Child Protection Policy

The goal of a shared approach to child wellbeing is for all children in NSW to be
healthy, happy and safe and to be able to grow up belonging in families and
communities where they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Blue Bay
Early who
Learning
Centre
It is therefore important
that children
are considered
at risk of significant
harm receive early intervention and support to achieve positive outcomes. This
support also extends to families.
Relevant Legislation:
Education and Care Services National Regulation, 2012

Child Protection Policy

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 NSW

Blue
Bay Early
Centre Legislation. If
NOTE: This policy
was written
using Learning
NSW Child Protection
you are in a different state/territory the basic principles and intent
would still apply, but the notification procedures/systems will differ in
each state/territory.
Strategies and practices

Child Protection Policy

The Act: Refers to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act
1998

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Bay
Learning
Centre
Child: According to
the Act,
is aEarly
person who
is under the
age of 16 years.
Young Person: Under the Act, a young person is defined as a person aged 16
years or above, but under the age of 18 years

Child Protection Policy

Parent or Carer: Parent is defined in Section 3 of the Act as a person having

the parental responsibility for the child or young person. This may therefore apply
to persons other than the biological parent such as persons exercising parental
responsibility within the kinship group of the child or young person.

Bluepsychological
Bay Earlydamage
Learning
Centre
Harm: Physical and/or
or injury
experienced by a child or
young person as a consequence of one or more of physical, psychological or
sexual abuse, ill-treatment or neglect. The current and future impact of the harm
needs to be considered in making the decision about substantiation of harm.
Risk of Significant Harm

Child Protection Policy

What is meant by "significant" in the phrase "to a significant extent" is that which
is sufficiently serious to warrant a response by a statutory authority, irrespective
of a family's consent.

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Bay
Early
Learning
What is significant
is not
minor
or trivial
and may Centre
reasonably be expected to
produce a substantial and demonstrably adverse impact on the child's or young
person's safety, welfare or wellbeing.
In the case of an unborn child, what is significant is not minor or trivial and may
reasonably be expected to produce a substantial and demonstrably adverse
impact on the child.
Mandatory reporters

Child Protection Policy

A mandatory reporter is an individual required by law to report to Community

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Early
Learning
Centre
Services when they
have Bay
reasonable
grounds
to suspect
that a child, is at risk of
significant harm from abuse or neglect and that those grounds are identified
during the course of a persons work.
All staff members working in education and care services are mandatory
reporters.

Child Protection Policy

While it is mandatory to report children aged 0-15 years at risk of significant

harm, it is not mandatory to report young people aged 16-17 years or unborn
children.

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BaybeEarly
Centre
Professional judgment
should
used in Learning
deciding whether
concerns about the
safety, welfare or wellbeing of an unborn child or a young person warrants a
report to Community Services.
When to make report
The NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide has been developed to assist reporters to
decide if any of the following conditions are present to a significant extent:

Child Protection Policy

11

physical abuse
neglect

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12

Blue Bay Early

- supervision
- physical shelter/environment
- food
- medical care
- mental health care
- education
sexual abuse
problematic sexual behaviour

Learning Centre

Child Protection Policy

13

Blue Bay Early Learning Centre

psychological harm
relinquishing care
carer concerns
- parent / carer substance abuse
- parent / carer mental health
- parent / carer domestic violence
unborn child.

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Early
Learning
Centre
A series of acts orBlue
omissions
that
when viewed
together
may establish a pattern
of risk of significant harm (cumulative impact) may also be an indicator that a
child is at risk of significant harm.
Where a staff member has reasonable grounds to suspect risk of significant harm,
they should:
1. Report their concerns to the Nominated Supervisor or the Room Supervisor

Child Protection Policy

2. Document their concerns

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Bay Early
Learning
Centre
3. Use the NSW
Mandatory
Reporter
Guide (MRG)
to assess whether their
concerns meet the threshold of risk of significant harm.
The MRG will assist mandatory reporters to determine whether they should:

Make a report to the NSW Community Services Child Protection Helpline or

Make a referral to other professionals and/or support agencies

Document and continue the relationship.

Child Protection Policy

However, if there is an immediate danger to the child or young person the Police

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Early Learning
and/or the Helpline
shouldBay
be contacted
directly.

Centre

Reasonable grounds refers to the need to have an objective basis for

suspecting that a child or young person may be at risk of significant harm, based
on:

first hand observations of the child, young person or family

what the child, young person, parent or another person has disclosed

Child Protection Policy

How to make a report

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Bay Early
Learning
If the NSW Mandatory
Guide instructs
a staffCentre
member to make a report
staff need to contact Community Services. The NSW Child Protection Helpline is
the contact for mandatory and non-mandatory reporters who have concerns about
a childs safety, welfare and wellbeing.
Phone 133627
132111

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17

for mandatory reporters

for non-mandatory reporters

Reports to the Child Protection Helpline are confidential.

Any person who makes a report is afforded protection by law if they make a

Blue
report in good
faith.Bay Early Learning Centre
The Child Protection Hotline will tell mandatory reporters whether the report
they have made meets the threshold of significant harm or not.

Staff Procedure for Reporting Children at Risk of Significant Harm.

Child Protection Policy

18

Staff will document any concerns, observations, or disclosures made to

them.
Staff will notify the Director if it is thought that a child is at risk of significant

Child Protection Policy

19

Blue
Early
Learning
Centre
harm or if the
staff Bay
member
has any
concerns that
the child may be at risk
of harm.
The Director/ staff member will use the online Mandatory Reporter Guide
(MRG) to establish if a report should be made. The MRG report will be
printed and filed on the childs file in the office.
The Director/staff member will take the action recommended by the MRG.
This may include making a report to the Child Protection Hotline.
When the MRG advises that the report does not meet the statutory

Child Protection Policy

20

Blue
Early
Learning
threshold, staff
willBay
continue
to offer
referrals Centre
to local services and work
collaboratively with other organisations to help keep children safe.
All staff will note that they are mandatory reporters and are responsible for
reporting children at risk of significant harm.
All information will remain confidential, and be filed in the office.

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Talking to Parent/s

Bay Early Learning Centre

It is not the role of staff to confront the parent/s where there are concerns about
the welfare of the child.
Where such concerns exist the Director will be
responsible for determining what, if any communication is initiated with the
parent/s.
Communication with the parent will be determined after consulting the MRG.

Child Protection Policy

The safety, welfare and wellbeing of the child must always be the first
consideration.

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Documentation

Blue Bay Early Learning Centre

Complete NSW Mandatory Reporter Guide and print off the final decision
Document and Record the information
- as soon as possible in your own hand writing
- if mistakes are made simply cross them out and initial ( do not write
multiple drafts)
- Document facts only (avoid opinions/judgement)

Child Protection Policy

- include date, time, circumstance

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- what you
see

Bay Early Learning Centre

- what you hear

- exactly what the child says (do not rephrase or replace any words such
as slang or swearing)

Child Protection Policy

- describe any gestures or sound effects made by the child

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Bay(eg
Early
Learning
- describeBlue
the size
size of
a 10 cent Centre
piece), shape (eg round,
elongated), colour (purple, red, yellow etc) and location on the body
of any injury such as bruises, marks, burns
- Sign and date your documentation

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Hand your report to the Director if not available hand your report to your
supervisor
The report must be filed in a secure location

BlueContact
Bay Early
Learning
Centre
Important Telephone
Numbers
and Websites

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25

NSW Community Services Child Protection Helpline for mandatory reporters

133627
NSW Mandatory Reporters Guide
www.sdm.community.nsw.gov.au/mrg/app/summary.page
NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet Keep Them Safe Website
www.keepthemsafe.nsw.gov.au/home

References

Blue Bay Early Learning Centre

Education and Care Services National Regulation, 2011

New South Wales Interagency Guidelines for Child Wellbeing and Child Protection
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (Care Act).
Children Legislation Amendment (Wood Inquiry recommendations) Act 2009

Child Protection Policy

NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. Keep Them Safe website:

www.keepthemsafe.gov.au

Resources

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Child Protection Policy

Staff Sign:

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Blue Bay Early Learning Centre