Principle 5: Staff and Volunteers are suitable and supported

This chapter focuses on the need for your organisation to recruit suitable people and support them to value child safety and wellbeing.

In this chapter you will learn

• What are the steps for appointing and screening suitable Safe People like you

• What policies relate to working with children in your jurisdiction

• What is the appropriate behaviour of a Safe Team

Your organization is responsible for:

• Recruitment

• Staff development

• Screening

• Training and supervision of staff and volunteers  

 You, as a child facing team member are responsible for;

• Understanding the child safety policies and procedures of your organisation, which include screening

• Submitting to screening and induction to your role

• Responsibilities to children including appropriate information sharing and secure record keeping

Safe People

Great care must be taken in the appointment of Team Members by following child-safe procedures.

Recruiting suitable leaders is a major responsibility as some people are unsuitable for work with children or other vulnerable people. 

A robust appointment process

A robust appointment process should be implemented to navigate people through appropriate checks. All leaders should be subject to it.

And it should include these five elements within it:

Application

An organisation's application provides personal details, and can consolidate all the 5 screening elements.

Working With Children Check

A check conducted by a statutory body and required by legislation in your jurisdiction. These vary by state and territory and by country. They generally involve criminal history checking conducted by a government body or police.

References

Referees should know the applicant well and be able to vouch for their suitability to work with vulnerable people, and as part of a team. They should generally not be family.

Sign Policy

Part of the application should include an applicant reading, understanding, and signing off on the child safety policy and code of conduct, affirming their commitment to these key safety drivers.

Interview

An interview with the organisation is appropriate to discover an applicants suitability, skills and motivations.

Working with Children checks around Australia

A review of someone’s prosecution history is vital.

Working With Children Check card or a police check, according to jurisdiction requirements, is required.

However, the WWCC card or police check does not in itself qualify someone’s suitability for working with children.

Each state has its own WWCC system.

Note: State Screening systems are NOT interconnected. It should not be relied on as a sole screening tool. 

How does a Safe Team behave?

• Are accountable to the leader and to each other, but is prepared to speak up if necessary.

• Has clearly defined and manageable roles.

• Commits to regular training

• Puts the needs of the children and vulnerable people first.

• Holds each other accountable consistent with the Code of Practice.

• Is accountable to the organisation, caregivers and the community.

• And would ideally have at least two responsible appointed leaders.