Purpose:
To provide a framework of principles, standards and guidelines to recognise vulnerable children in our care, recognise and respond to abuse and neglect, ensure safe recruitment of staff and training in our responsibilities and accountabilities. Under the Children’s Act 2014 Waihopai Health Services has a responsibility to safeguard children from harm and clearly define what is required in relation to the protection of children. This shows Waihopai Health Services takes its duty and responsibility of care seriously.
Parties:
This policy applies to all employees of and contractors to Waihopai Health Services.
This policy covers but is not limited to physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect:
Waihopai Health Services
Will ensure that the safety of the child is always of prime consideration
Is committed to the prevention of abuse and neglect, and to the well-being of children and young people and acting in their best interest.
- Is committed to dealing with abuse and/or neglect, suspected abuse and/or neglect or the disclosure of abuse and/or neglect in a timely fashion.
- Acknowledges that in a case of suspected abuse and/or neglect, support for families is important
- Recognises that the family’s primary role in caring and protecting the child should be valued and maintained, however the child’s well-being takes priority.
- Will provide training and support for their staff
- Is committed to complying with all relevant legislation- see Children’s Act 2014. As per The National Child Protection Policy (January 2026), reporting to Oranga Tamariki is mandatory for all staff of Health NZ and contracted providers and services who suspect child abuse or neglect (“Report of Concern”
- Will ensure that disclosure of alleged abuse and/or neglect to appropriate authorities is acknowledged and action is taken to ensure the safety of the child or children who make disclosures.
If a complaint of abuse and/or neglect is made, or there is a suspicion of abuse and/or neglect, Waihopai Health Services will:
- Ensure the safety of the child
- Ensure all suspicions and information will be recorded factually and held confidentially. Opinions or personal concerns will be recorded as such.
- A ‘Report of Concern’ will be submitted for any child/young person being harmed or at risk of harm (abuse or neglect). The Report of Concern goes to Oranga Tamariki and the Health NZ Southern Violence Intervention Programme Child Protection Service.
- If there is immediate safety concerns for the child/young person then the police may need to be contacted. Urgent concerns which need immediate Oranga Tamariki involvement – contact the call centre, and submit a written ROC.
- If non-urgent concern them email Report of Concern to VIP team + Oranga Tamariki.
- If appropriate, notify the parents or caregiver.
- Discuss with local Paediatrician on call if requiring referral to the hospital.
If a complaint of alleged abuse is made against an employee of or contractor to Waihopai Health Services, we will:
- Respond to suspicions and allegations with the same seriousness as suspicions or allegations made against any other person and ensure the child’s safety.
- Any suspicions/allegations of abuse will be notified to the Principal Operations Officer or the Directors.
- WHS will not act alone and will refer all suspected situations of child abuse to the Police or Oranga Tamariki Vulnerable Children within 24 hours of the notification of suspicion of abuse.
- Ensure the safety of the child.
- Enable the staff member to seek legal and professional advice and be informed fully of their rights.
- Abide by the employer obligations under the Employment Relations Act.
- Provide separation of the roles, so that the person managing child abuse allegation will not be managing the employment issue.
- Ensure the suspected staff member will be prevented from having unsupervised access to children during the investigation.
- In the case where a criminal investigation is undertaken, the staff member may be suspended, without prejudice, as a precautionary measure. It is important that no internal investigation is undertaken, and no evidence is gathered that might prejudice the criminal investigation.
- If there is insufficient evidence to pursue a criminal prosecution, then a disciplinary investigation may still be undertaken if there is still “reasonable cause to suspect” that abuse may have occurred. The allegation may represent inappropriate behaviour or poor practice.
