Child Protection Policy
A Collaborative Approach
October 2013
Nikki Hill
Child Protection Coordinator
WDHB
CHILD PROTECTION
We all have a responsibility
The whole is greater than the
sum of the parts
Parents
Caregivers
Families
Whanau
Government
Education
Community Health
Services
Churches
Private
DHBs
Primary Care
Local
National
CYF
Sports
Clubs
etc
NZ
Police
Source: Adapted from Miranda Ritchie (2008), National VIP Manager for DHBs
Every Child Thrives, Belongs, Achieves
Ka whai oranga, ka whai w- ahi, ka whai taumata ia tamaiti
Four Key Areas:
•Share Responsibility
•Show Leadership
•Child Centred Policy changes
•Child Centred Practice changes
CHILDREN’S ACTION PLAN
Introduce compulsory child abuse policies for
agencies working with children
_____________________________________________________
Year 1 (by the end of 2013)
 LEGISLATION
Mandatory CP policies and reporting systems
 VETTING & SCREENING
“Working with Children Code of Practice”
Year 3 (by the end of 2015)
 TRAINING PUBLIC SECTOR STAFF
i.e. doctors and teachers
Is this abuse?
Scale 1-5
1= low level / 5= very high level abuse
Hayden is 7 yrs old and his brother Alex is five.
They have loving parents who want the best for
them.
One day Hayden took Alex under the house with a
box of matches to show him how to make a camp
fire. The flames caught on to some junk and the
smoke alerted his father who put out the fire.
To teach Hayden a lesson about the danger of
fire, he held Hayden’s hand over a lit match until
he started to yell. Then he put cream on it.
We ourselves can be a Risk Factor
Factors that affect our assessment:
 Ethnicity
 Ethnic culture of origin
 Age
 Family of origin
 Values / morals
 Beliefs
 Gender
 Religious beliefs
 Education
 Personal history of abuse / non-abuse
What might our
community look like
when all……..
 Health
 Education
 Community
 Government / Non-government
 Sports Clubs
 Businesses
ARE SINGING OFF THE
SAME SONG SHEET…..?
Child Protection Policy
WDHB
Sports Clubs
Primary Care
Community Services
CP Policy Template – Key Points
 Applies to 0-17 year olds, including the unborn
 Shared definitions, principles, indicators
 Commitment to reporting child abuse
 Governmental / community referral pathways
 Commitment to staff training/supporting
 Approved by WDHB FV Steering Group
 Based on the MoH Guidelines (2002)
What else is included
 Legal duties/issues
 Service responsibilities
 Death of a sibling
 Family safety and security processes
 CYF referral form
 Contact numbers
 Flow Charts
(general/sexual/injury assessment)
The CP Policy Template can be used:
 To review your existing policy
 As a guide to develop a CP policy
 As a template ready for implementation
The Policy…………..
 BELONGS TO YOUR SERVICE
 TRAING & SUPPORT CAN BE PROVIDED
 YOU ADAPT IT TO SUIT YOUR PURPOSES
 TRIAL FIRST THEN REVIEW
 YOU SIGN IT OFF
Does your service have a
Child Protection policy?
If yes,
What guidelines were used?
When was it last reviewed?
If no,
What action can you take to get
one in place?
SUPPORT OFFERED
 CP POLICY TEMPLATE
 TRAINING
 RESOURCES
 CONSULTATION / ADVICE
- Waitemata District Health Board VIP
- Local DHB VIP may be able to assist
- Child Matters
nikki.hill@waitematadhb.govt.nz
Communities need to work
together in developing
child protection policies & procedures
To help ensure SAFE, HAPPY
and HEALTHY families