The Child Safe Standards require organisations that provide services for children to have a Code of Conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children. All staff of the centre are required to observe the below child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour towards and in the company of children. The following Code of Conduct outlines appropriate standards of behaviour by staff towards children. It aims to protect children and reduce opportunities for abuse or harm to occur. It also helps staff by providing them with guidance on how to best support children and how to avoid or better manage difficult situations. Everyone in the centre has a role to play – the Secretary, executive, leadership group, staff, volunteers, students and contractors – they need to understand their roles and be supported to take action. Standards and Obligations All staff of the Playhouse and Occasional Care Centre are responsible for the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children who engage with the centre. All staff are expected to act in accordance with all relevant legislation, this Code of Conduct and the centre’s policies. Staff will:
uphold the rights of children \who come into contact with the centre to feel heard on matters relevant to their safety.
provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment that supports and values the ideas and opinions of children and treats them with respect regardless of their race, colour, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, culture, property, disability or other status.
actively promote and consider the cultural safety and inclusion of all children. There is a zero tolerance for discrimination or racism in any form.
empower children by providing an environment where they can actively participate.
listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, including where it relates to concerns that they feel unsafe.
abide by the centre’s commitment and obligation to be a child safe organisation.
identify and mitigate risks to the safety and wellbeing of children.
take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse.
challenge unacceptable behaviour and report all allegations or suspicions of abuse to the Child Safety Officer.
report any concerns, allegations, disclosures or observations of child abuse in line with the centre’s policies and processes, mandatory reporting and reportable conduct reporting requirements.
report all child safety concerns to the Child Safety Officer, or other relevant person.
work with children in an open and transparent way. For example, by ensuring that where appropriate, interactions with children can be observed by other adults.
respect the privacy of children and their families and only disclose information to people on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with privacy legislation.
observe professional boundaries with children at all times.
disclose any information of charges, convictions of abuse and all other offence history in accordance with the centre’s Criminal Record Check policy.
Staff of the centre must not:
condone or participate in behaviour that is illegal, unsafe or abusive to children.
ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse.
exaggerate or trivialise allegations or issues relating to child abuse or the safety and wellbeing of children.
discriminate against children on the basis of their age, gender identity, sex, race, cultural or sexual orientation.
develop inappropriate relationships with children, including relationships that show favouritism.
display violent or inappropriate behaviour towards a child.
initiate unnecessary physical contact with children or exhibit behaviours with children which may be construed as inappropriate.
put children at risk of abuse (for example, by allowing unnecessary one-adult/one-child encounters to occur).
conduct a sexual relationship with a child or indulge in any form of sexual contact with a child.
engage in open discussions of a mature nature in the presence of children.
use inappropriate, offensive, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning, culturally inappropriate or discriminatory language when speaking with, or in the presence of, a child.
discriminate against any child, including because of age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality, ethnicity or disability.
use any computer, mobile phone, or video and digital camera to exploit or harass children or expose them to offensive or sexualised content.
exchange personal contact details with a child such as phone number, social networking sites or email address, unless necessary.
have unauthorised contact with a child or their family outside of the centre, including online, on social media or by phone.