Alan Holy/trading as "Boppa the Clown"

and working as a Clown Doctor

Child Safe Environment Policy

Commitment to the safety of children and young people

I am committed to providing a safe environment to all children and young people. My policy complies with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and aligns with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

I value and respect children and young people and welcome them regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social economic or cultural background. Bullying and harassment won’t be tolerated.

Scope of policy

This policy applies to all business and activities undertaken by me trading as an Actor/Entertainer, clown and Clown Doctor.

Communication

This child safe policy and related documents are available to children, young people and their families on my website.

I encourage and respect the views of children and young people and involve them in decision making as appropriate.  I provide clear age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate explanations to children and young people including their right to safety, their right to be listened to and that they can provide feedback or make a complaint if they have a concern or ask their parent/guardian to do this on their behalf. I will listen to and act upon any complaints or concerns that a child or young person raises with me.

Code of Conduct

Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for myself. I am responsible for promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by:

• sticking to the organisation’s child safe policy at all times and taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people
• treating everyone including those of different race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes and religious beliefs with respect and honesty and ensure equity is upheld
• being a positive role model to children and young people in all conduct with them
• setting clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between myself and children and young people – boundaries help everyone to understand their roles
• listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people
• being alert to bullying behaviours and responding promptly and appropriately
• ensuring another adult is always present or in sight when conducting one to one consulting, coaching, instruction or other activity
• being alert to children and young people who have been harmed, or may be at risk of harm and reporting this quickly to the Child Abuse Report Line (13 14 78)
• responding quickly, fairly and transparently to any complaints made by a child, young person or their parent/guardian
• encouraging children and young people to ‘have a say’ on issues that are important to them.

I must not:

• engage in rough physical games
• develop any ‘special’ relationships with children and young people that could be seen as favouritism such as the offering of gifts or special treatment
• do things of a personal nature that a child or young person can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes
• discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, cultural background, religion, vulnerability or sexuality.

• Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct can be reported as soon as practicable to me either in person, or via email at info@alanholy.com.

  Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and dealt with quickly, fairly and transparently.

  Recruitment

  I am a sole trader with no employees or volunteers. In accordance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016, I hold a current, ‘not prohibited’ Working with Children Check (WWCC) issued by the Screening Unit of the Department of Human Services which permits me to work with children and young people in South Australia and I will renew this every 5 years.

  Training

  To maintain my knowledge regarding child safe environments I:

• have read and understand the Mandatory notification information booklet available at https://dhs.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/103179/CSE-Mandatory-notification-information-booklet.PDF
• complete training courses and updates(3 years) required by SA Health and The Humour Foundation

• Reporting and responding to harm or risk of harm

  I aim to ensure that children and young people are safe from harm and risk of harm. Section 17 of the Safety Act defines ‘harm’ to mean physical or psychological harm (whether caused by an act or omission), including harm caused by sexual, physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect.

  I am a mandated notifier under Section 30 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. I understand my legal obligation to notify the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) on 13 14 78 as soon as practicable if I have a reasonable belief that a child or young person is or may be at risk of harm. If the child or young person is at immediate risk, I will report to South Australia Police (SAPOL) on 000.

  Information about making appropriate reports of harm or risk of harm is available from the South Australian Department of Child Protection website: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse.

  I understand as an adult worker, I have a legal obligation to report child sexual abuse to the police and to protect a child from sexual abuse. Failure to meet these obligations may be considered a criminal offence.

  I will be guided by the Department for Child Protection and/or SAPOL after making a report.

  Following a report to CARL or SAPOL I will support the child or young person by:

• referring the child, young person or their family to other appropriate services if required, or
• continuing to provide a service to the child, young person and their family and monitor their circumstances.

• I will document all information received regarding the report and store this securely in a separate file.

  Reporting and responding to general complaints or feedback

  Providing opportunities for complaints and feedback ensures that children, young people and their parents/guardians feel valued and respected and enables me to improve the quality of my service. Children, young people and their families are informed that they can provide feedback or make a complaint on my website.

  Compliments, complaints or feedback should be directed to me, either in person, via email at info@alanholy.com.

  I will manage all complaints and feedback received from children, young people or their families promptly, sensitively and fairly and will:

• listen to the complaint/feedback
• respond to the complainant with an outcome in a timely manner
• clearly document and securely store decisions and actions taken in response to complaints and feedback
• make sure that procedural fairness is followed at all times.

• Where my response about a complaint is not considered sufficient or appropriate, further advice/support can be obtaining through the following agencies:

• Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner 8226 8666
• Australian Human Rights Commission Online: www.humanrights.gov.au Tel: 1300 656 419
• South Australian Equal Opportunities Commission (for complaints relating to discrimination) Online: www.eoc.sa.gov.au Tel: 08 8207 1977.

• Risk management

  Identified risk	Actions to minimise risk
  Culture of organisation is not child-safe focussed	child focused Code of Conduct is in place that sets the behavioural standards expected including what happens when a breach occurs I have a strong commitment to the safety of children and young people the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations are embedded in this policy I meet the requirements of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (which mandates child safe environments) and the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 and maintain a current, not prohibited Working with Children Check
  I do understand my obligations to report harm and risk of harm to the Child Abuse Report Line (or SA Police if child/young person is at immediate risk)	I regularly complete mandated training in child safety, disability awareness, aboriginal cultural learning, bullying and harassment and sexual harassment provided by SA Health and The Humour Foundation and the Australian Childhood Foundation I abide by the child safe environments policy and Code of Conduct
  Physical contact	any physical contact must be appropriate to the delivery of services being provided where physical contact is required, this is undertaken in a safe way by explaining why contact is required and what will happen, and asking the child/young person for their permission (or their family if this is more appropriate) before proceeding unnecessary physical contact is not allowed
  Online communications	I will not communicate with children or young people via social media
  Supervision	children and young people are to be supervised by parents/guardians at all times when providing one to one consultation with a child or young person, it will be in line of sight of another adult
  Taking images of children and young people	consent of child young person and their parent/guardian required disclosure will be made as to how the image is to be used and consent must be provided by the child, young person and parent/guardian images must be presented in a way that de-identifies the child or young person
  Physical environment	conduct risk assessments for all activities ensure all equipment is in good working order
  Privacy and confidentiality	all documents containing confidential information will be stored privately in a locked filing cabinet (or similar place with restricted access) digital files containing confidential information shall be protected electronically I will not disclose information regarding any child or young person without written consent of the child, young person and their parent/guardian

  Policy review

  I will, at a minimum, review this policy and the related procedures once every 5 years as required by the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017.  I will also review this policy when:

• new or added risks are identified for children or young people, which may require a change in the policy or procedures
• a critical incident where a child or young person has experienced harm through involvement in the organisation
• concerns are raised by anyone involved in your organisation about child safety or welfare in the organisation
• awareness or compliance to the child safe policy and/or procedures is low
• legislative changes/requirements.

• I will lodge a new child safe environments compliance statement with the Department of Human Services each time I/we review and update this policy.

  Policy Date:        24/11/2023

  Review Date:     24/11/2028