040 Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy
1. Statement of Commitment
Proactive Support is dedicated to providing services to children and young people to assist them to access the community, participate in activities, and develop the skills and confidence needed to engage fully in social, recreational and educational opportunities.
Our organisation is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and young people and will provide a safe and supportive service environment for children and young people by:
- Implementing rigorous risk management procedures to identify and mitigate potential risks.
- Conducting background checks and providing regular training for all staff.
- Establishing clear policies and procedures for reporting and responding to incidents or concerns.
- Encouraging open communication and ensuring that children and young people feel heard and supported.
- Promoting a culture of respect, inclusion, and empowerment for all participants.
Our organisation values integrity, respect, inclusivity, accountability, and continuous improvement, which reflects the culture that we are committed to promoting and achieving.
The following values reflect the culture that we are committed to promoting within our organisation:
- Integrity: Acting with honesty and transparency in all our dealings.
- Respect: Valuing the dignity and rights of every individual.
- Inclusivity: Ensuring that all children and young people have equal opportunities to participate and thrive.
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for our actions and their impact on others.
- Continuous Improvement: Striving for excellence by regularly evaluating and enhancing our services and practices.
2. Code of Conduct
Proactive Support is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior and professionalism in all interactions with children and young people. The Code of Conduct outlines the expected behaviors and responsibilities of all staff to ensure a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.
- Respect and Dignity: All Proactive Support staff must treat children and young people with respect, dignity, and fairness, regardless of their background, abilities, or circumstances. Discriminatory, bullying, or harassing behavior is prohibited.
- Safe Boundaries: Staff must maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times. This includes avoiding any actions or behaviours that could be misinterpreted as inappropriate or harmful. Appropriate contact examples include injury or illness management or demonstrating a skill or for instructional purposes as part of an activity. Inappropriate contact examples include violent or aggressive behaviour such as hitting, kicking, slapping or pushing, and kissing or touching of a sexual nature
- Confidentiality: Staff are required to respect the privacy of children and young people by maintaining the confidentiality of their personal information, unless disclosure is required by law or is necessary to protect the child or young person from harm.
- Positive Role Modelling: Staff are expected to act as positive role models by demonstrating appropriate behaviour, language, and attitudes. They should encourage and support the development of healthy, respectful relationships among children and young people.
- Supervision: Staff must ensure that children and young people are adequately supervised at all times during activities or interactions. This includes being vigilant, attentive, and responsive to their needs and behaviours to prevent any risk of harm.
- General Safety: Staff must consider the general safety of children and young people within the service environment. This includes assessing and mitigating risks posed by the physical environment, ensuring secure premises, providing access to safe play spaces and equipment, and adhering to policies on sun safety, medication administration, and the management of allergies and medical conditions. Regular monitoring of the environment to identify hazards and reminders for safety practices are also essential.
- Mandatory Reporting: Staff must be aware of and comply with all mandatory reporting obligations related to child protection. Any suspicion or knowledge of abuse, neglect, or exploitation must be reported immediately in accordance with Proactive Support’s procedures.
- Professional Integrity: Staff should uphold the values of Proactive Support and the NDIS Code of Conduct by performing their duties with honesty, accountability, and a commitment to the well-being of the children and young people in their care.
- Continuous Development: Staff are encouraged to engage in ongoing training and professional development to enhance their skills and knowledge in working with children and young people, ensuring that they can provide the highest level of care and support.
3. Recruitment, Selection, Training and Management
Proactive Support is dedicated to recruiting, selecting, training, and managing support workers who are committed to the safety, well-being, and development of children and young people. Our approach ensures that all staff and volunteers are thoroughly vetted, equipped with the necessary skills, and consistently supported to uphold the highest standards of care.
3.1 Recruitment and Selection
- All candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, including background checks, reference checks, and interviews focused on assessing their suitability for working with participants, including children and young people.
- Candidates must possess relevant qualifications, experience, and a commitment to participant safety and protection.
- Proactive Support recruits individuals whose values align with the organisation's commitment to respect, integrity, and inclusivity.
3.2 Training
- All new support workers participate in an induction that covers participant protection policies, risk management, and the Code of Conduct, ensuring they understand their responsibilities from the outset.
- Training opportunities are provided to enhance the skills and knowledge of support workers
3.3 Management and Supervision
- Support workers receive ongoing supervision and performance evaluations to ensure they are meeting the organisation's standards and to provide feedback for continuous improvement.
- Proactive Support fosters a supportive work environment where staff have access to mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals.
- A structured management system is in place to ensure that support workers have clear reporting lines and know who to approach with concerns or for assistance.
4. Reporting Disclosures and Suspicions of Harm
4.1 Harm
Harm is defined as ‘any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing’ (Section 9 of the Child Protection Act 1999). Harm may arise from the following types of abusive behaviors:
- Physical Abuse (e.g., hitting, shaking, giving children alcohol, drugs or inappropriate medication)
- Emotional or Psychological Abuse (e.g., persistent rejection or hostility, constant yelling, insults, exposure to domestic and family violence)
- Neglect (e.g., insufficient food, unhygienic living conditions, leaving children unattended, failure to provide health care)
- Sexual Abuse or Exploitation (e.g., kissing or touching a child in a sexual manner, exposure to pornography, engaging in sexual relations with a child or youth under 16 years of age)
Harm can be caused by a single act or omission or a series of acts or omissions.
4.2 Disclosure of Harm
A disclosure of harm occurs when someone, including a child, tells you about harm that has happened, is happening, or is likely to happen to a child.
- Disclosures of harm may start with ‘I think I saw…’ ; ‘Somebody told me that…’; ‘Just think you should know…’ ; ‘I’m not sure what I want you to do, but…’
- It is important to act quickly and in the best interests of the child or young person after a disclosure of harm is received, irrespective of the alleged source of harm.
- Managing and recording a disclosure
1. by remaining calm and listen attentively, actively and non-judgementally
2. ensure there is a private place to talk
3. encourage the person to talk in their own words and ensure just enough open-ended questions are asked to act protectively (e.g. ‘Can you tell me what happened’…or ‘Can you tell me more about that’); Don’t ask leading questions which tend to suggest an answer. Ensure the person is advised that the disclosure cannot remain a secret, and it is necessary to tell someone in order to get help
4. reassure the person they have done the right thing by telling you
5. advise the child that you need to tell someone else who can help the child
6. document the disclosure clearly and accurately on the PS #106 Incident Report, including a detailed description of:
- the relevant dates, times, locations and who was present
- exactly what the person disclosing said, using “I said,” “they said,” statements
- the questions you asked
- any comments you made, and
- your actions following the disclosure
7. do not attempt to investigate or mediate an outcome, and
8. follow the relevant process for reporting a disclosure of harm by contact the Community Access Co-ordinator or Proactive Support Director
- Disclosures of harm will be reported on following mandatory and non-mandatory reporting requirements, including contacting Queensland Police as appropriate
4.3 Suspicion of Harm
A suspicion of harm is when someone has a reasonable suspicion that a participant has suffered, is suffering, or is at an unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm.
- This includes circumstances which relate to an unborn child who may need protection after he or she is born.
- A child who has been, or may be experiencing, abuse may show behavioural, emotional or physical signs of stress and abuse.
- There may also be other circumstances where there is concern for a child’s welfare, but it does not reach the threshold to be considered a disclosure or suspicion of harm.
You have a duty of care to follow up any suspicions of harm or potential risk of harm to children and young
people in your care.
- You can do this by observing and recording the actions of children who might be at risk, and reporting your concerns to the relevant authority.
- You can suspect harm if:
1. a child or young person tells you they have been harmed
2. someone else, for example, another child, a parent, or an employee, tells you that harm has occurred or is likely to occur
3. a child or young person tells you they know someone who has been harmed (it is possible that they may be referring to themselves)
4. you are concerned about significant changes in the behaviour of a child or young person, or the presence of new, unexplained and suspicious injuries, or
5. you see the harm happening.
If there is suspicion of harm or other concern for a child’s welfare:
- remain alert to any warning signs or indicators
- pay close attention to changes in the child’s behaviour, ideas, feelings and the words they use
- make written notes of observations in a non-judgemental and accurate manner
- assure a child that they can come to talk when they need to, and listen to them and believe them when they do, and
- follow the relevant process for reporting a disclosure of harm by contact the Community Access Co-ordinator or Proactive Support Director (Suspicions of harm and other concerns for a child’s welfare will be reported on following mandatory and non-mandatory reporting requirements, including contacting Queensland Police as appropriate)
4.4 Some general indicators of child abuse include:
- showing wariness and distrust of adults
- rocking, sucking or biting excessively
- bedwetting or soiling
- demanding or aggressive behaviour
- sleeping difficulties, often being tired and falling asleep
- low self-esteem
- difficulty relating to adults and peers
- abusing alcohol or drugs
- being seemingly accident prone
- having broken bones or unexplained bruising, burns or welts in different stages of healing
- being unable to explain an injury, or providing explanations that are inconsistent, vague or unbelievable
- feeling suicidal or attempting suicide
- having difficulty concentrating
- being withdrawn or overly obedient
- being reluctant to go home
- creating stories, poems or artwork about abuse
4.5 Some indicators of neglect include:
- malnutrition, begging, stealing or hoarding food
- poor hygiene, matted hair, dirty skin or body odour
- unattended physical or medical problems
- comments from a child that no one is home to provide care
- being constantly tired
- frequent lateness or absence from school
- inappropriate clothing, especially inadequate clothing in winter
- frequent illness, infections or sores
- being left unsupervised for long periods.
5. Managing Breaches
5.1 Reporting Breaches
- Any suspected or actual breach of conduct or policy must be reported immediately to the Community Access Co-ordinator or Proactive Support Director
- Reports of breaches will be managed with strict confidentiality to protect the privacy of all individuals involved
5.2 Investigation
- Once a breach is reported, Proactive Support will initiate a prompt and thorough investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
- The investigation will be conducted impartially, ensuring that all parties have an opportunity to provide their account of events.
5.3 Consequences of Breaches
- Depending on the severity and nature of the breach, disciplinary actions may range from additional training or supervision to suspension, termination of employment, or legal action.
- All breaches and the actions taken in response will be fully documented and recorded in the Incident Register and staff files.
5.4 Support and Remediation
- Proactive Support will provide appropriate support to any individuals affected by the breach, including counselling or access to external support services if necessary.
- If a breach reveals systemic issues, Proactive Support will take steps to address these, including reviewing and revising policies, procedures, or training programs to prevent future occurrences.
5.5 Continuous Monitoring and Improvement
- Regular reviews of reported breaches and their outcomes will be conducted to identify trends or areas for improvement in Proactive Support’s risk management strategies.
- Lessons learned from breaches will be used to inform ongoing staff training and policy development, ensuring that Proactive Support continuously improves its practices and maintains a safe environment for children and young people.
6. Risk Management Plan for High-Risk Activities
Forward planning to identify risks and implement strategies can assist to reduce the possibility of children being harmed. It is important to recognise that in order for a child to suffer harm, there must be an opportunity for harm to arise. These opportunities can be reduced by developing specific policies to manage high risk activities and special events.
6.1 Risk Management Process
The following steps are adapted from the Standards Australia’s AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management -
Principles and Guidelines:
Step 1 - Describe the activity
- What is the activity?
- What is the purpose of the activity?
- What are your objectives in undertaking the activity?
- What are the elements of the activity from start to finish?
- Where is the activity taking place?
- What environmental factors need to be considered?
- Who is involved in the activity? Parents? Staff? Children? People external to the organisation?
Step 2 - Identify the risks
- Examples of risks include:
- Will children need to be transported?
- Is it possible that a child could be injured or become ill?
- What would happen if an emergency occurred?
- Are there any risks presented by the physical environment or location of the activity?
- Will there be people external to your organisation involved in the activity?
- Are there accommodation requirements?
Step 3 - Analyse the risks
- The purpose of risk evaluation is to make decisions, based on the outcomes of risk analysis. The level of risk will determine whether the high risk activity or special event is practical.
- Consider How likely is it that the harm will occur? (Likelihood)
- Consider what would happen if harm did occur? (Consequence)
Step 4 - Evaluate the risks
- Evaluate the level of risk, which will depend on the answers to the questions asked at Step 3.
- Use the Risk Matrix below:
- For use analysing and evaluating risks in organisational activities. To determine the likelihood of risk using this matrix, refer to the left-hand column of the risk analysis matrix. Then use the impact information to determine the level of consequence. Finally, combine the consequence and likelihood rating to arrive at the risk level.
Step 5 - Manage the risks and reassess
- Standards Australia’s AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management - Principles and Guidelines describes risk treatment as –
“a cyclical process of:
- assessing a risk treatment;
- deciding whether residual risk levels are tolerable;
- if not tolerable, generating a new risk treatment; and
- assessing the effectiveness of that treatment.”
- Risk management options should consider the values and perceptions of people involved with Proactive Support and the most appropriate way to communicate with them.
- Proactive Support will then consider how likely it is for the risk to occur after control measures have been put in place, and how bad the outcome would be if the risk was to occur. If Proactive Support assesses that a risk is still highly likely to occur and the outcome could result in harm to a child, then Proactive Support may reconsider the activity.
Step 6 – Review
Proactive Support’s ongoing review process is essential to ensure that the risk management plan developed for each high risk activity or special event is effective.
Please see 039a ‘High Risk Activities and Special Events – Risk Management Plan’ for template
7. Managing Compliance with the Blue Card System
It is necessary to ensure compliance with the blue card system requirements under the Child Protection Act, as well as any other pertinent legislation.
It is mandatory that staff have a ‘Working with Children’ or Blue Card before they start working with a Proactive Support participant who is under the age of 18.
A copy of a staff member’s card will be kept in their personnel file as well as on ShiftCare.
Details of the card, including expiry dates are documented in the Staff Register, with alerts sent out 30 days before, 7 days before and 7 days after a card expires.
Follow-up is managed by Proactive Support’s administration staff/business manager.
8. Communication and Support
This strategy will be made available to all staff members, as well as any participant, carer or advocate that requests a copy. This ensures that all staff members are:
- aware of their responsibilities
- understand what is acceptable behaviour for interacting with children
- comfortable addressing issues of concern
- aware of Proactive Support’s commitment to protecting the safety and wellbeing of children in the service environment
- able to reduce the risk of breaches to the Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy
This Strategy adheres to the Zero Tolerance approach by Proactive Support, in relation to children and youth.
Proactive Support offers support to staff dealing with issues such as behaviour management, stress, conflict, bullying, child protection concerns, breaches of the risk management strategy and dealing with disclosures or suspicions of harm.
Proactive Support also offers support to their participants, carers and advocates to assist with managing concerns.
9. Related Documentation
Proactive Support
001 Participant’s Rights Policy
002 Misconduct Policy
003 Participant’s Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality Policy
004 Risk Management Framework
005 Risk Management Policy
006 Work Health and Safety Policy
008 Incident Management Policy
011 Human Resource Management Policy
014 Complaints Procedures
015 Managing an Incident Procedure
016 Reporting an Incident Procedure
018 Risk Management Procedure
095 Training and Resources Manual June 2024
096 Proactive Support Staff Induction Training
#106 Incident Report
#133 High Risk and Special Events - Risk Management Plan
PS Incident Register
ShiftCare
Staff Register
Participant Charter of Rights
External
NDIS Code of Conduct
Child Protection Act 1999 Qld
Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 – NT
Children and Community Services Act 2004 – WA
Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 – SA
Children and Young People Act 2008 – ACT
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 – NSW
Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 – TAS
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 – VIC
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the “Privacy Act”)
Standards Australia’s AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management -
Principles and Guidelines:
Child and youth risk management strategy toolkit (publications.qld.gov.au)
