Lopa Speech Pathology believes it also has a responsibility to its staff to protect their right to confidentiality unless allegations against them are substantiated. This policy will outline the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in the organisation. Commitment to the safety of children and young people Lopa Speech Pathology understands it has a duty of care to act immediately to protect and preserve the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in its care. Lopa Speech Pathology is committed to diversity and values all children and young people equally, regardless of their abilities, sex, gender or social-economic or cultural background. Lopa Speech Pathology believes that the best way to ensure children and young people’s protection at Lopa Speech Pathology is to establish an environment that minimises risks and sets out clear safeguards for staff to follow. It is for this reason and the commitment to being a part of a community that takes responsibility for children and young people’s safety that Lopa Speech Pathology has developed this policy. This policy complies with the child safe environment provisions of the following: Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 Child Safe (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations Scope of policy All staff will be fully informed about their responsibilities to implement and adhere to Lopa Speech Pathology’s child protection policies and procedures. All staff includes permanent employees, contractors, volunteers and students who perform duties during Lopa Speech Pathology’s hours of operation (paid or unpaid). Communication All child safe environments policies are made available to staff on a shared access drive. All staff are required to sign an agreement that they accept and act in accordance with this policy. This policy is publicly available on the Lopa Speech Pathology website. This policy is viewable as a digital copy that will be available when clinicians provide mobile services to clients and families. Participation Lopa Speech Pathology will encourage children and young people who access our services to tell us how they think we’re doing and how we can better support them. Code of Conduct All staff are required to uphold the values of Lopa Speech Pathology and agree and act in accordance with the following Codes of Conduct: Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics The NDIS Code of Conduct Code of Conduct for Certain Health Care Workers Lopa Speech Pathology Child-centred Code of Conduct Lopa Speech Pathology Child-centred Code of Conduct Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for staff and volunteers of our organisation. All Lopa Speech Pathology staff and volunteers are responsible for promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by: complying to this child safe policy at all times and taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people treating everyone (this includes staff, volunteers, students, children, young people and parents) including those of different race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes and religious beliefs with respect and honesty and ensure equity is upheld being a positive role model to children and young people in all your conduct with them foster children’s self-esteem and positive self-image setting clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between yourself and the children and young people who access services at Lopa Speech Pathology – boundaries help everyone to understand their roles listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people being alert to bullying behaviours and responding promptly and appropriately being alert to children and young people who are, or may be at risk of harm, and reporting this quickly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78) responding quickly, fairly and transparently to any serious complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian encouraging children and young people to ‘have a say’ on issues that are important to them. Employees and volunteers must not: engage in rough physical games develop any ‘special’ relationships with children and young people that could be seen as favouritism such as the offering of gifts or special treatment do things of a personal nature that a child or young person can do for themselves or that their parent/guardian assists them with, such as toileting or changing clothes discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality. Any suspected breaches of any of these Codes of Conduct must be immediately raised with Amanda Gabrielle Lopa for further investigation. If a volunteer is found to have breached a Code of Conduct, Amanda Gabrielle Lopa will commence performance management proceedings. Depending on the seriousness of the breach, these actions may include: coaching, mentoring, and role-modelling of appropriate behaviour with children and young people, professional development, including repeated RRHAN-EC training or ’Through their eyes’ training, and/or summary dismissal for gross misconduct. Recruitment Lopa Speech Pathology meets the requirements of the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and ensures that all staff provide a valid Working with Children Check from the Screening Unit of the Department of Human Services. Amanda Gabrielle Lopa of Lopa Speech Pathology will ensure a new working with children check is obtained every 5 years prior to expiry, or as required by the Department of Human Services. I will immediately contact the Department of Human Services Screening Unit when I become aware of certain information regarding any person involved with our organisation, including any serious criminal offence, child protection information, or disciplinary or misconduct information. As this business structure is currently operated as “sole trader” no form of formal employment of others will occur. Supervision, training and support for volunteers Lopa Speech Pathology requires current staff to participate in training on child protection organised by relevant child protection authorities or support agencies. Lopa Speech Pathology will: ensure that staff are knowledgeable about current legislation and reporting requirements related to child protection and maltreatment and that a system for reporting and recording suspicious incidents is in place ensure staff understand their responsibility as mandated reporters provide access to current information about the procedures to be taken in relation to allegations of the harm or risk of harm to children and young people ensure a guidebook to recognising signs of harm or risk of harm including abuse or neglect will be made available to all staff to remind them of the possible signs of harm, and the procedures they should follow if a child or young person in their care displays behaviour or physical signs that could indicate harm has taken place (Reporting Abuse and Neglect – Participants Handbook) regularly remind staff about Lopa Speech Pathology’s policies, procedures and confidentiality requirements in regard to child protection ensure staff complete masterclass RRHAN-EC training followed by refresher training every 3 years or as required by the Department for Education. Reporting and responding to harm or risk of harm Mandated notifiers have a legal obligation to notify the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) as soon as practicable if it is suspected on reasonable grounds that a child or young person is or may be at risk of harm. Reporting concerns In the course of work hours, if I form the view that a child or young person has been or is at risk of harm I must report to CARL on 13 14 78 or if a child or young person is at immediate risk, I will report to South Australia Police (SAPOL) on 000. The person who identifies the harm is the person to make the report to CARL/SAPOL. I have a right to take any action to ensure that children and staff are safe at all times. This may involve contacting the police if any person or family makes threats against staff. As part of the standard procedure, I will make careful documentation of concerns and any action taken. This report will be securely stored. Following a report Following a report to CARL, clinical sessions with Amanda Gabrielle Lopa of Lopa Speech Pathology will remain in place with the child or young person and Lopa Speech Pathology staff will continue to monitor their circumstances. I will continue to support the child or young person ensuring that they know they are believed and are being listened to. Referrals to other relevant agencies will be made to ensure the child or young person and their family have access to specialised support. Internal clinical reporting will be maintained to ensure actions and referrals are documented. Services that can assist children, young people and their families including the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 are visible in clinical areas. Concerns about a member of Lopa Speech Pathology In the event of a reasonable belief that a child or young person is, or may be, at risk of harm by a member of the organisation, I will respond quickly and thoroughly to ensure children and young people are safeguarded. All actions taken will be relevant to the offence and I will be guided by authorities. If the offence is serious and warrants dismissal, the Lopa Speech Pathology staff member will be summarily dismissed and I will fully comply with all required actions from authorities. Reporting and responding to complaints or feedback Client feedback, both positive and constructive, is an essential part of helping us to continuously improve our service quality. Clients and staff can lodge a complaint in person, over the phone, by email or in writing with Gabrielle Lopa. Lopa Speech Pathology will: acknowledge receiving it in writing; investigate complaints by reviewing what happened; discuss the complaint with the complainant until a mutual agreement is reached. communicate the outcome of investigations to the complainant and ensure that any recommended improvements or changes are implemented effectively; and respond appropriately to the complaint. Resolving complaints amicably gives Lopa Speech Pathology the opportunity to improve services and to learn from our mistakes. I take complaints very seriously and will work hard to address and resolve them efficiently and effectively. Risk Management Identified risks for current service provision are identified through ongoing clinical discussion and review. Identified risk Likelihood Action to mitigate risk One-to-one speech pathology sessions with a child or young person High SP to include parent, guardian or primary support person at all times in sessions unless there is a compelling reason not to do this. One-to-one speech pathology sessions with a child or young person without a guardian in the same room High If a support person has a compelling reason not to be in the room, the SP will ensure visual and/or at minimum auditory monitoring by other adults at the facility. Video and/or images of a child or young person taken during allied health sessions Medium When there is a clinical reason to take an image or video of a child or young person (for example assessing progress or for mentoring purposes with the clinical lead), the SP will do so using their Amanda Gabrielle Lopa Speech Pathology supplied device only. As soon as the SP has wifi service, the image and/or video will be uploaded to the client’s file on the secure Amanda Gabrielle Lopa Speech Pathology server and the SP will delete the image and/or video from their device. Written permission is gained from client, parent/guardian to film assessment sessions when sessions first begin. This is reiterated on the day filming occurs.