Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards are a set of principles designed to make organisations safer for children and young people.  There are 10 Child Safe Standards that help organisations like Caddens Care ensure the safety, welfare, equality and protection of the children and young people we work with.

Caddens Care believe children and young people should feel safe and live free from harm. Our agency have zero tolerance of any abuse, neglect of exploitation of children and young people. 

 The organisation publicly commits to child safety and leaders champion a child safe culture

1. Child safety is a shared responsibility at all levels of the organisation
2. Risk management strategies focus on preventing, identifying and mitigating risks to children
3. Staff and volunteers comply with a code of conduct that sets clear behavioural standards towards children
4. Staff and volunteers understand their obligations on information sharing and record keeping

1. Children are able to express their views and are provided opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives
2. The importance of friendships is recognised and support from peers is encouraged, helping children feel safe and be less isolated
3. Children can access abuse prevention programs and information
4. Staff and volunteers are attuned to signs of harm and facilitate child-friendly ways for children to communicate and raise their concerns

1. Families have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child and participate in decisions affecting their child
2. The organisation engages in open, two-way communication with families and communities about its child safety approach and relevant information is accessible
3. Families and communities have a say in the organisation’s policies and practices
4. Families and communities are informed about the organisation’s operations and governance

1. The organisation actively anticipates children’s diverse circumstances and responds effectively to those with more vulnerabilities
2. All children have access to information, support and complaints processes
3. The organisation pays particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disability, and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

1. Recruitment, including advertising and screening, emphasises child safety
2. Relevant staff and volunteers have Working With Children Checks
3. All staff and volunteers receive an appropriate induction and are aware of their child safety responsibilities, including reporting obligations
4. Supervision and people management have a child safety focus

1. The organisation has a child-focused complaint-handling system that is understood by children, staff, volunteers and families
2. The organisation has an effective complaint-handling policy and procedure which clearly outline roles and responsibilities, approaches to dealing with different types of complaints and obligations to act and report
3. Complaints are taken seriously, responded to promptly and thoroughly, and reporting, privacy and employment law obligations are met

1. Relevant staff and volunteers receive training on the nature and indicators of child maltreatment, particularly organisational child abuse
2. Staff and volunteers receive training on the organisation’s child safe practices and child protection
3. Relevant staff and volunteers are supported to develop practical skills in protecting children and responding to disclosures

1. Risks in the online and physical environments are identified and mitigated without compromising a child’s right to privacy and healthy development
2. The online environment is used in line with the organisation’s code of conduct and relevant policies

1. The organisation regularly reviews and improves child safe practices
2. The organisation analyses complaints to identify causes and systemic failures to inform continuous improvement

1. Policies and procedures address all Child Safe Standards
2. Policies and procedures are accessible and easy to understand
3. Best practice models and stakeholder consultation inform the development of policies and procedures
4. Leaders champion and model compliance with policies and procedures
5. Staff understand and apply the policies and procedures