Sample - Code of conduct



0000Sample: Code of conduct Child Safe Standards toolkit: Resource 3AThe Child Safe Standards require organisations that provide services or facilities for children to have a code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for staff and volunteers regarding appropriate behaviour with children. Your organisation may already have an existing code of conduct. This resource is designed to assist organisation to develop or review their code of conduct for staff and volunteers. Please note: This sample is provided as an example only. Your organisation should adapt and expand this code of conduct as required. Once finalised, your code of conduct should be signed by staff and volunteers to ensure that all members of the organisation are aware of the standards for appropriate behaviour. Code of conductAll board members, staff and volunteers of [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION] are required to observe child safe principles and expectations for appropriate behaviour by adults towards and in the company of children, as noted below.All board members, staff and volunteers of [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION] are responsible for supporting and promoting the safety, participation, wellbeing and empowerment of children by:adhering to [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION]’s child safe policy at all times/upholding [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION]’s statement of commitment to child safety at all timestaking all reasonable steps to protect children from abuselistening and responding to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they have stated that they or another child have been abused and/or are worried about their safety or the safety of another childtreating everyone with dignity and respectpromoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal children promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgroundspromoting the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability modelling appropriate adult behaviour in an open and transparent wayrespecting the privacy of parents and children by only disclosing personal information when necessarywhere child abuse is suspected, ensuring that children are safe and protected from harm as quickly as possiblereporting any allegations of child abuse to [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION]’s child safety officer/management and ensuring that any allegation is reported to the Victoria Police or Child Protectionunderstanding and complying with all reporting and/or disclosure obligations, including mandatory reporting and reportable conductencouraging children to ‘have a say’ and participate in all relevant organisational activities where possible, especially on issues that are important to them[Note: Every organisation should develop examples that address risks of child abuse that are specific to the services provided. For example, a youth support service may include ‘All staff and volunteers must work in pairs if visiting a young person who is at home by themselves’. Please refer to the Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse factsheet <; for a list of risk considerations.]Board members, staff and volunteers must not:develop any ‘special’ relationships with children that may be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour including through the provision of gifts or inappropriate attentionexhibit behaviours or engage in activities with children that may be construed as unnecessarily physicalput children at risk of abusedo things of a personal nature that a child can do for themselves such as toileting or changing clothesengage in open discussions of a mature or adult nature in the presence of childrenuse inappropriate language in the presence of childrenexpress personal views on cultures, race or sexuality in the presence of childrendiscriminate against any child, including on the basis of age, gender, sexuality, race, cultural or disabilityhave any contact (including online or via telephone) with a child or their family outside of our organisation without the knowledge and/or consent of [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION]’s child safety officer/managementignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse[Note: Every organisation should develop examples that address risks of child abuse that are specific to the services provided. For example, an out-of-home care service may include ‘Staff and volunteers must not be alone with a child while they are changing’. Please refer to the Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse factsheet <; for a list of risk considerations.]By observing these standards, you acknowledge your responsibility to immediately report any breach of this code of conduct to [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION]’s child safety officer/management. Failure to comply with this code of conduct will be investigated by [INSERT NAME OF ORGANISATION] and may result in disciplinary action under the [INSERT RELEVANT ORGANISATIONAL POLICY].If you believe a child is at immediate risk of abuse, you will phone 000.I agree to adhere to this code of conduct:Name: ……………………………….............Signature: ……………………………………Date: ……………………………………........Further information Further information about the Child Safe Standards < child-safe-standards> can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services (the department) website. This includes additional resources that have been designed for organisations that are funded and/or regulated by the department. In particular, an overview of the Victoria Child Safe Standards <; has information to help organisations to understand the requirements of each of the Child Safe Standards.All organisations may also refer to the information and resources available on the Commission for Children and Young People website <;. DisclaimerThis resource provides general guidance only on the Child Safe Standards. The department does not guarantee that the examples provided in this document are sufficient for the purposes of an organisation’s compliance with the Child Safe Standards.To receive this publication in an accessible format, email Child Safe Orgs <childsafeorgs@dhhs..au>.Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.? State of Victoria, Australia, Department of Health and Human Services, September 2018.In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Koori/Koorie’ is retained when part of the title of a report, program or quotation.ISBN 978-1-76069-579-8 (online/pdf/MS word)Available at <; ................
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