Child Safety Code Of Conduct

INTRODUCTION

Caring about the welfare of children and young people is a serious consideration and the Church is committed to protecting children and young people.

Any form of abusive, derogatory, discriminatory, offensive or intimidating behaviour or language by adults towards children and young people, or children towards other children and young people, is not acceptable.

SCOPE

Employees, volunteers, contractors and Board Members (the workers) at FAITHLIFE CHURCH (the Church) are required to abide by this Code.

A person must not engage in any action that is, or may be perceived by a reasonable observer as, grooming behaviour.

Comments or actions that are negatively and unreasonably critical of a person’s culture, ethnicity, language, gender identity, disability, sexuality or age, are unacceptable.

The following list of behaviours includes examples of what is acceptable and not acceptable behaviour.

ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOURS

All people involved in the care of children on behalf of the Church must:

• Work towards the achievement of the aims and purposes of the Church.
• Be responsible for relevant administration of programs and activities in their area.
• Conduct themselves in a manner consistent with their position as workers of the Church and as a role model to children and young people.
• Maintain a duty of care towards others involved in the Church’s programs and activities.
• Establish and maintain a child-safe environment in the course of their work.
• Act consistently with the Church’s policies, procedures and this Code of Conduct.
• Treat all people with respect and be open to and accepting of diversity and difference in people’s backgrounds, work style and personal preferences.
• Promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children and young people (for example, by never questioning an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island child or young person’s self-identification).
• Promote the safety, participation and empowerment of children and young people with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds (for example, by having a zero tolerance of discrimination).
• Promote the safety, participation and empowerment of children and young people with a disability.
• Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they are telling you that they are or another child has been abused or that they are worried about their safety/the safety of another child.
• Raise concerns, issues or problems about the suspected risk to a child with a Child Safety Officer (CSO) and /or Executive Minister.
• Record and act upon all allegations or suspicions of abuse, discrimination or harassment.
• Respect confidentiality when sharing information about children and young people in accordance with the Child Protection Policy and their reporting obligations.
• Establish and maintain a child-safe environment in the course of their work.
• Be professional in their actions.
• Maintain strict impartiality.
• Contact the police if a child is at immediate risk of abuse (telephone 000).

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOURS

All people involved in the care of children on behalf of the Church must not:

• Unlawfully discriminate against any child.
• Spend time alone with a child or young person unnecessarily or where there is risk, particularly overnight.
• Take a child or young person to their home or encourage meetings outside the Church’s program activities.
• Engage in rough physical games, hold, massage, kiss, cuddle or touch children in an inappropriate and or/culturally insensitive way.
• Practice favouritism when building relationships with children.
• Photograph or video a child or young person without the consent of the child and his/her parents or guardians.
• Use course, violent or sexual language in the presence of children.
• Speak to a child or young person in a way that is or could be construed by any observer as harsh, threatening, intimidating, shaming, derogatory, demeaning, or humiliating. Some examples are:
  • swearing in the presence of a child;
  • yelling at a child or young person, except in an emergency situation where the child’s safety may be in danger;
  • dealing with a child while the adult is angry with the child; and
  • use of hurtful sarcasm.
• Use, possess, or being under the influence of illegal drugs while in the presence of a child.
• Use, possess, or being under the influence of alcohol while supervising a child.
• Provide or allow a child to consume alcohol or illegal drugs.
• Engage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of children.
• Engage in any sexually oriented conversations with a child unless the conversations are part of a legitimately arranged instructional activity dealing with human sexuality issues.
• Discuss sexual activities with a child unless it is a specific job requirement and the person is trained to discuss these matters.
• Be naked in the presence of a child.
• Possess sexually oriented or morally inappropriate printed materials (magazines, cards, videos, films, clothing, etc.)
• Sleep in the same beds, sleeping bags or small tents with a child or young person.
• Engage in sexual contact with a child.
• Do anything in contravention of the Church’s policies, procedures or this Code of Conduct.

For the purposes of this Code, sexual contact includes but is not limited to any form of the following contact to or in front of a child: intercourse, undressing, touching the thighs, genitals, lips, buttocks, pubic region or chest.

Physical Contact / Touching

Workers are prohibited from using physical discipline in any way for behaviour management of children and young people. This prohibition includes spanking, slapping, pinching, hitting, or any other physical force as retaliation or correction for inappropriate behaviours by children and young people.

Physical contact may be required in an emergency situation to remove children and young people quickly from danger or threat of danger.

Appropriate contact between workers and children is part of normal human relationships. Some considerations and guidelines include the following:

• Consider the child or young person’s age, developmental level, maturity and level of care required, for example, touching a child to gain their attention, guiding or comforting a distressed child or young person.
• Work in an open environment; for example, in confidential interviews or a one-to-one meeting, the door should be open with visual access (NB: exceptions apply for professions with strict confidentiality requirements).
• Be alert to cues from children about how comfortable they are in your proximity and respect their need for personal space.
• Be sensitive when interacting with children who may misinterpret your actions, such as those who may have been traumatised by abuse or adolescents seeking attention from a member of the opposite sex.
• Be aware of cultural norms that may influence the interpretation of your behaviour.
• Be cautious about physical contact in games or practical instruction. If you need to make physical contact for demonstrations, explain the activity and what you will do, maintain a safe and appropriate distance.
• Physical contact should be made in a way that makes children people feel comfortable, for example, shaking hands, a congratulatory pat on the back or rub on the side of their arm for reassurance. Massaging a child or allowing a child to massage you is inappropriate physical contact.
• The use of images of children as screen savers or backgrounds on personal electronic devices is not appropriate. The collection and storage of photographs or images of children must be consistent with the Church’s Privacy Policy and Child Protection Policy.
• Be aware that the giving and receiving of gifts, giving extra attention, accepting a different standard of behaviour from a child or young person or having ‘special time’ with a child or young person must be appropriate and justified as a strategy to meet religious teaching and learning outcomes.
• Obtain permission from the Church and parents when meeting with children for activities outside of the Church environment.
• The provision of your personal contact details should be justified in terms of religious educational or professional purpose.
• It is not appropriate for workers to initiate out of hours contact with a child unless it is in the context of an emergency or where the child is unavailable during the Church group/service hours.
• All forms of physical contact should therefore be avoided where possible.

TRANSPORTATION AND OFFSITE EVENTS

Other than in an emergency or other abnormal situation where no other option could be reasonably foreseen, it is not acceptable to transport children or young people without prior written permission of their parent, carer or guardian.

Note: take notes of parent’s/guardian’s consent:

• take notes of discussions with parents/guardians as to consent via text/verbal, such as time, place, relationship to child, provision of verbal or written consent details
• Create form for parents to give written consent for transportation if regular arrangements are agreed

It is prohibited to have physical contact with children or young people while in vehicles unless absolutely necessary.

Children and young people should be transported directly to their destination. No stops should be made other than those that are reasonably scheduled for meals or comfort stops.

It is prohibited to have children or young people spend the night at the residence of a worker without parental/guardian prior approval.

Changing and showering facilities or arrangements for adults must be separate from facilities or arrangements for children and young people.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Disclosing Information to Workers:

When children or young people are having a written or verbal interaction with workers of the Church, that interaction is confidential to the organisation not to the individual. This means that workers are able to talk with other workers in a way that identifies the child or young person. That said, where possible, the privacy of the child or young person should be respected at all times. When considering breaching their privacy who and how many people are told should be based on what is believed to be in the best interests of the child or young person. In all cases, the advice of CEO should be sought before discussing with other personnel.

Disclosing Information to People External to the Organisation

Workers should not discuss confidential matters about children or young people with people outside the Church in a way that identifies that child or young person except when they have the express permission of the child or young person or it complies with the Child Protection Procedure. In circumstances where workers believe that there is not enough knowledge within the Church to provide the best possible assistance to a child or young person, they are able to seek expertise external to the Church. When communicating with people outside the Church the child or young person’s identity should be protected.

Informing Children

It is the responsibility of the Church to communicate the limits of confidentiality in the Church to children and young people who are likely to have an ongoing relationship with the Church. These guidelines should be published in an accessible place for children and young people.

RELATED LEGISLATION AND CONTACTS

• Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic);
• Children Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic)
• Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)
• Department of Health and Human Services Child Protection – After hours 131 278
• Child Protection Crisis Line – 24 Hours, seven days a week. Telephone: 13 12 78

BREACH OF THE CODE

A breach of this Code of Conduct will lead to disciplinary action, including and up to termination of employment or cessation of engagement with the organisation, and limitations on a person’s ability to attend or participate in Church activities.

AUTHORISATION
Solveig Fabiyanic
Executive Minister
FAITHLIFE CHURCH INC