Child protection and safeguarding policy

At CFCECAS, we prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants, especially children who may be accompanied by caregivers. This child protection and safeguarding policy articulates our unwavering commitment to protecting children from all forms of abuse, harm and misconduct, including sexual, physical, emotional, neglect and harassment.

CFCECAS maintains a policy of zero tolerance towards any form of abuse, including abuse committed by staff members against children. Any form of abuse is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental values and principles of CFCECAS.

Upon receipt of a report or suspicion of personal abuse of a child, CFCECAS will immediately suspend the accused staff member from all duties involving interactions with children pending a thorough investigation. The investigation will be conducted promptly, impartially and with the utmost sensitivity to protect the rights and welfare of both the child and the accused staff member.

CFCECAS prioritizes the support and well-being of child victims of staff abuse. Immediate steps will be taken to ensure the child’s safety, provide access to necessary medical and psychological support services, and provide ongoing assistance to address any resulting trauma or emotional distress.

CFCECAS ensures a fair and transparent process for both the child victim(s) and the accused staff member during the investigation and resolution of allegations of personal child abuse. All parties involved will be treated with dignity, respect and procedural fairness.

COMMITMENT TO PROTECT CHILDREN

CFCECAS is dedicated to creating a safe and secure environment where children can participate in training and assessment activities without harm or abuse. We recognize our responsibility to protect children and uphold their rights to protection.

SPECIFIC ISSUES REGARDING CHILD ABUSE

CFCECAS recognizes the following issues related to child abuse:

Sexual Abuse: Any form of sexual activity or behavior with a child, including touching, exposure, or exploitation, is strictly prohibited.

If sexual abuse is suspected or reported, CFCECAS staff must take immediate action to ensure the child’s safety. This includes separating the child from the alleged perpetrator and providing appropriate support and reassurance. The designated safeguarding officer should be notified immediately and the incident reported to the relevant authorities, such as child protective services or law enforcement, for further investigation and intervention.

Physical Abuse: Inflicting physical harm or injury on a child, including hitting, punching, or shaking, is unacceptable.

In cases of suspected physical abuse, CFCECAS staff should prioritize the child’s immediate safety and well-being. This may involve providing first aid or medical assistance if necessary. The designated safeguarding officer must be informed promptly and the incident must be documented and reported to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and intervention.

Emotional Abuse: Verbal or psychological harm that affects a child’s emotional well-being, such as belittling, humiliating, or threatening behavior, will not be tolerated.

When emotional abuse is suspected or reported, CFCECAS staff should provide support and reassurance to the child. The designated safeguarding officer must be notified and efforts must be made to ensure the child feels safe and heard. Depending on the severity of the emotional abuse, additional interventions such as counseling or therapy may be necessary. The incident must be documented and reported to the appropriate authorities for further action.

Neglect: Failing to provide for a child’s basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision, constitutes neglect and must be reported.

If neglect is suspected, CFCECAS staff should assess the child’s immediate needs and take steps to address any deficiencies, such as providing food, clothing, or medical care. The designated safeguarding officer should be notified and the incident should be documented and reported to the appropriate authorities, such as child protective services, for further investigation and support services.

Bullying: Any form of bullying, including verbal, physical, or cyberbullying, is considered harmful behavior and will be addressed promptly.

In cases of bullying, CFCECAS staff should intervene immediately to stop the harmful behavior and ensure the safety of the victim. The child who has been bullied should be given support and appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against the perpetrators. The designated safeguarding officer should be informed and steps should be taken to prevent further incidents of assault. If necessary, parents or caregivers should be notified and support services should be provided to both the victim and the perpetrator.

In every response, it is essential that CFCECAS staff prioritize the safety and well-being of the child, follow established policies and procedures, maintain confidentiality and work with relevant authorities and organizations to ensure that appropriate interventions and support services are provided.

SUPERVISION AND MONITORING

Carer’s responsibility:

Carers who accompany children to CFCECAS activities have the primary responsibility to supervise their children throughout the sessions. This includes ensuring the child’s safety, well-being and appropriate behavior during activities.

Caregiver Expectations:

Caregivers must remain alert and present with their children, actively supervising them to prevent any accidents, incidents or disruptive behavior. They should be available to intervene or address any concerns about their child’s needs or behaviour.

CFCECAS staff monitoring:

CFCECAS staff members are also responsible for monitoring sessions to ensure a safe and secure environment for all participants, including children. Staff members will be present during activities to oversee proceedings, provide assistance when needed and intervene in the event of any safety issues or inappropriate behaviour.

Role of CFCECAS staff:

CFCECAS staff members will be trained to recognize signs of distress, discomfort or potential safety risks to children. They will actively engage in supervision, walking around the session area, maintaining visibility and being attentive to interactions and dynamics between participants, including children.

Immediate intervention:

In the event of any safety issues or incidents involving children, CFCECAS staff will promptly intervene to resolve the situation. This may include offering assistance, resolving conflicts or seeking additional support from carers or authorities if needed.

Collaboration with caregivers:

CFCECAS staff will maintain open communication with caregivers to ensure mutual understanding and cooperation regarding supervision expectations and any specific needs or concerns related to their children’s participation in activities.

Continuous monitoring:

Oversight and monitoring will be ongoing throughout CFCECAS sessions to adapt to changing circumstances, address emerging issues and maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all participants, especially children.

Documentation and reporting:

Any incidents, concerns or observations related to the safety or welfare of children during CFCECAS activities will be documented and reported according to established policies and procedures. This includes recording any interventions, communications with carers or follow-up actions undertaken by CFCECAS staff.

Emphasizing both caregiver responsibility and CFCECAS staff monitoring, this approach provides a comprehensive system of supervision and monitoring to protect children’s well-being and maintain a safe environment during CFCECAS activities.

CONFORMITY

Scope of compliance:

CFCECAS emphasizes that all staff, volunteers and participants, regardless of their role or affiliation with the organization, are required to strictly adhere to its child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures. This applies to anyone involved in CFCECAS activities, including training sessions, assessments, events and any other interactions with children.

Clear expectations:

CFCECAS communicates clear and explicit expectations to all staff members, volunteers and participants regarding compliance with its child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures. This includes understanding the principles, guidelines and specific actions outlined in the policies, as well as the consequences of non-compliance.

Everyone’s responsibility:

Ensuring compliance with child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures is a shared responsibility that extends to everyone involved in CFCECAS. Each individual has a duty to uphold the highest standards of conduct and behavior to protect the welfare of children and maintain a safe environment.

Training and Education:

CFCECAS provides training and education on its child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures to all staff, volunteers and participants. This includes initial orientation sessions, ongoing training opportunities and resources to support understanding and implementation.

Responsibility:

CFCECAS is accountable to all individuals for their actions and behavior in relation to child protection and protection. This includes ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, promptly reporting concerns and fully cooperating with any investigations or interventions related to the safety and welfare of children.

Disciplinary measures:

Failure to comply with CFCECAS child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, disciplinary measures may include warnings, reprimands, suspension of participation or involvement, or termination of employment or affiliation with CFCECAS.

Non-Retaliation Policy:

CFCECAS maintains a strict non-retaliation policy to protect individuals who report concerns or violations of child protection and safeguarding policies. Any form of retaliation against individuals who report concerns in good faith is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly.

Continuous monitoring and evaluation:

CFCECAS carries out regular monitoring and assessment of compliance with its child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures. This includes reviewing incident reports, conducting audits and soliciting feedback from staff, volunteers and participants to identify areas for improvement and strengthen policy compliance.

REVIEW AND REVISION

CFCECAS is committed to regularly reviewing and updating our child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure they remain effective and reflect best practice in child protection.

COLLABORATION

Cooperation with authorities: CFCECAS cooperates fully with relevant authorities, such as child protective services and law enforcement agencies in the investigation of allegations of personal child abuse. CFCECAS will provide all necessary cooperation, information and support to ensure a comprehensive investigation and appropriate legal action if warranted.

CONCLUSION

By implementing robust policies and procedures, CFCECAS aims to create a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive and reach their full potential without fear of harm or abuse.

CFCECAS maintains a policy of zero tolerance towards any form of abuse, including abuse committed by staff members against children. Any form of abuse is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental values and principles of CFCECAS.

CFCECAS prioritizes the support and well-being of child victims of staff abuse. Immediate steps will be taken to ensure the child’s safety, provide access to necessary medical and psychological support services, and provide ongoing assistance to address any resulting trauma or emotional distress.

CFCECAS ensures a fair and transparent process for both the child victim(s) and the accused staff member during the investigation and resolution of allegations of personal child abuse. All parties involved will be treated with dignity, respect and procedural fairness.

COMMITMENT TO PROTECT CHILDREN

CFCECAS is dedicated to creating a safe and secure environment where children can participate in training and assessment activities without harm or abuse. We recognize our responsibility to protect children and uphold their rights to protection.

SPECIFIC ISSUES REGARDING CHILD ABUSE

CFCECAS recognizes the following issues related to child abuse:

Sexual Abuse: Any form of sexual activity or behavior with a child, including touching, exposure, or exploitation, is strictly prohibited.

Physical Abuse: Inflicting physical harm or injury on a child, including hitting, punching, or shaking, is unacceptable.

Emotional Abuse: Verbal or psychological harm that affects a child’s emotional well-being, such as belittling, humiliating, or threatening behavior, will not be tolerated.

Neglect: Failing to provide for a child’s basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, medical care, or supervision, constitutes neglect and must be reported.

Bullying: Any form of bullying, including verbal, physical, or cyberbullying, is considered harmful behavior and will be addressed promptly.

SUPERVISION AND MONITORING

Carer’s responsibility:

Carers who accompany children to CFCECAS activities have the primary responsibility to supervise their children throughout the sessions. This includes ensuring the child’s safety, well-being and appropriate behavior during activities.

Caregiver Expectations:

Caregivers must remain alert and present with their children, actively supervising them to prevent any accidents, incidents or disruptive behavior. They should be available to intervene or address any concerns about their child’s needs or behaviour.

CFCECAS staff monitoring:

Role of CFCECAS staff:

Immediate intervention:

In the event of any safety issues or incidents involving children, CFCECAS staff will promptly intervene to resolve the situation. This may include offering assistance, resolving conflicts or seeking additional support from carers or authorities if needed.

Collaboration with caregivers:

CFCECAS staff will maintain open communication with caregivers to ensure mutual understanding and cooperation regarding supervision expectations and any specific needs or concerns related to their children’s participation in activities.

Continuous monitoring:

Oversight and monitoring will be ongoing throughout CFCECAS sessions to adapt to changing circumstances, address emerging issues and maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all participants, especially children.

Documentation and reporting:

Emphasizing both caregiver responsibility and CFCECAS staff monitoring, this approach provides a comprehensive system of supervision and monitoring to protect children’s well-being and maintain a safe environment during CFCECAS activities.

CONFORMITY

Scope of compliance:

Clear expectations:

Everyone’s responsibility:

Training and Education:

CFCECAS provides training and education on its child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures to all staff, volunteers and participants. This includes initial orientation sessions, ongoing training opportunities and resources to support understanding and implementation.

Responsibility:

Disciplinary measures:

Non-Retaliation Policy:

CFCECAS maintains a strict non-retaliation policy to protect individuals who report concerns or violations of child protection and safeguarding policies. Any form of retaliation against individuals who report concerns in good faith is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly.

Continuous monitoring and evaluation:

REVIEW AND REVISION

CFCECAS is committed to regularly reviewing and updating our child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure they remain effective and reflect best practice in child protection.

COLLABORATION

CONCLUSION

By implementing robust policies and procedures, CFCECAS aims to create a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive and reach their full potential without fear of harm or abuse.