FOSTER FOOTBALL & NETBALL CLUB
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
COMPLAINTS & REPORTING PROCEDURE
- Purpose
This Safeguarding Children and Young People Complaints and Reporting Procedure (Complaints and Reporting Procedure) sets out the procedure that FFNC people must follow to meet their responsibilities in relation to identifying, reporting, and responding to any concerns about, or incidents of, Child Abuse or other inappropriate behavior towards Children or Young People.
- Immediate Response
Overriding any practical requirements outlined through this procedure, if a Child or Young Person is at imminent risk of harm or in immediate danger, all FFNC people are required to report the situation directly to the Police - CALL ‘000’ (within Australia).
- What is to be reported
The following types of behaviors, including observed or suspected abuse, in relation to any Child or Young Person involved in FFNC activities, programs or services must be reported in the manner described in this Complaints and Reporting Procedure:
- Child Abuse, Harm, Neglect or any other form of inappropriate behavior such as Grooming or Bullying to a Child or Young Person (Emotional or Psychological, Physical or Sexual); and
- any breaches of the Policy or Code of Conduct.
- Minimum requirements when responding to disclosures of child abuse
The following points are to be considered and utilised when a reporting person is receiving a disclosure of Child Abuse from a Child or Young Person.
DO
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DO NOT
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Actively listen to the Child or Young Person
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Ask leading questions
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Reassure the Child or Young Person that they have done the correct thing by reporting
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Make your own judgement or assessment
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Respect the Child or Young Person may only reveal some details
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Press for detail, a minimal account will suffice
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Let the Child or Young Person use their own words in their own time - be patient
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Make promises you cannot keep
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Ask open ended questions
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Make your own enquiries/investigations in relation to the allegations made
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Explain to the Child or Young Person that other people may need to be told
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Share information with others
*Excl. Police, Child Protection, AFL ISD, Manager
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- How to make a report & obligations
FFNC People must report Child Abuse or other inappropriate behavior in relation to a Child or Young Person that they are informed of, observe or suspect. A summary of the Incident Reporting Process that all AFL People must follow is set out at Appendix 1 to this Complaints and Reporting Procedure.
Reporting Person’s Obligations
- Step 1: If the Child or Young Person is in imminent risk of harm or immediate danger, the reporting person is required to report the situation directly to the police - CALL ‘000’.
- Step 2: Regardless of whether the matter is reported to the police, it is imperative that the reporting person immediately contacts FFNC Child Safeguarding Officer.
- Step 3: When practical, the reporting person must make a formal report to the FFNC Child Safeguarding Officer.
All FFNC People retain the right to report directly to relevant authorities, such as police or child protection, any concerns they may have in relation to the safety and welfare of a Child or Young Person, regardless of whether or not they have also reported that matter internally.
Child Safety Officer’s Reporting Obligations
When the FFNC Child Safeguarding Officer is notified by a reporting person (subject to Step 2 of section 5.2) of an incident, they are to:
- ensure the reporting person makes a formal report as per Step 3 above;
- provide advice and guidance as per the step by step process detailed above and in Appendix 1;
- provide general advice and guidance on ‘what’ to report and the Policy’s purpose;
- notify the FFNC Committee by email of the notification as soon as possible to ensure the report is received; and
- In taking a report or disclosure of an incident from others, the reporting person or Child Safety Officer is not to assess the validity of such allegations or concerns, but to report all allegations as described in the step by step process outlined above and in Appendix 1.
- Timeframes and What Happens Next
All reports will be handled as soon as possible once a report is received.
All reports will be assessed on a case by case basis as per Appendix 1 with the appropriate process determined at that point.
- Who Investigates the report?
Complying with legislative and policy requirements, the Child Safeguarding Officer are bound to ensure that one (1) or more of the following entities will investigate the report or disclosure:
- State or Federal Law Enforcement Agency (i.e. Police) *Where Required
- Child Protections Services or State equivalent *Where Required
NOTE: At no stage will the Child Safeguarding Officer investigate in parallel to a State or Federal Law Enforcement Agency (i.e. Police) investigation. The Child Safeguarding Officer, will only investigate once they have received confirmation and permission in writing from the relevant Law Enforcement Agency (i.e. Police) that their investigation is completed.
- Confidentiality and Privacy
The Child Safeguarding Officer maintains the confidentiality and privacy of all concerned (including the alleged perpetrator), except if doing so would compromise the welfare of the Child or Young Person and/or investigation of the allegation.
Appendix 1: Incident Reporting Process