Child Safety Policies

Our Mission:

Adelaide Hills Health is dedicated to working with children and adolescents who need support to overcome fears, cope with challenges, and develop their skills so they can reach their full potential. Our staff provide warm, caring, and professional support to children, adolescents, and families. All are committed to evidence-based practice.

Adelaide Hills Health is committed to providing a safe space for children and young people. Children and young people are valued and respected, and the safety and protection of children and young people is always the first priority of all staff.

Adelaide Hills Health is committed to supporting diversity. All children and young people are embraced regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social, economic, or cultural background.

 

What are child safe environments?

Children and young people have a right to be safe and protected at all times, including when accessing services in the community. 

Child safe environments are safe and friendly settings where children and young people are protected, respected, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. Here at Adelaide Hills Health, we provide a child safe environment and ensure that we:

·        Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach on child wellbeing and safety issues.

·        Value and embrace the opinions and views of children and young people.

·        Assist children and young people to build skills that will assist them to participate in society.

·        Take action on the protection of children and young people from harm or risk of harm.

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The commitment to protect and support children and young people is embedded in Adelaide Hills Health culture. This policy was developed so that everyone (including our health practitioners, staff, clients and families) are aware of their responsibilities and the shared commitment to keep children and young people safe and protected. This policy applies to each of our health practitioners, our staff, and our clients and families.

 

How to access Adelaide Hills Health’s Child Safe Environments Policy

The directors of Adelaide Hills Health have created this child safe environments policy through careful consideration, and with a child-centred focus. All staff and health practitioners at Adelaide Hills Health have been directly consulted about and signed an agreement to adhere to this policy.

This policy is communicated to clients and families during the intake process and further information is available on our website at: www.ahhealth.com.au/childsafety.  A copy of the full policy document may be requested and will be provided via email. Families are welcome to inspect the policy and discuss any aspects of the policy with our health providers. 

Here at Adelaide Hills Health we value all feedback about this policy and our practice in general, in order to give all clients and families the best possible service and create a safe and welcoming child safe environment.

 

Code of Conduct for Working With Children and Young People

Adelaide Hills Health has a Code of Conduct for working with children and young people that applies for everyone working in our organisation. It covers matters such as:

·        Standards of behaviour when working with children and young people in physical and online environments.

·        A commitment that all children and young people are embraced regardless of their abilities, sex, gender, or social, economic or cultural background, and equity is upheld.

·        What is unacceptable conduct and the consequences of behaving outside expectations.

A full copy of the code may be requested and will be provided via email. Clients and their families are welcome to inspect the Code and can contact their treating health provider, or the Co-director of Adelaide Hills Health, Ben Congedi, to discuss or ask questions about it. Ben Congedi can be contacted on 0435 186 136 or admin@ahhealth.com.au

Clients and families are encouraged to report a breach of the Code of Conduct through any of the feedback options above.

Full details regarding our feedback and complaints policy and procedures can be found at: www.ahhealth.com.au/feedback