Abuse Prevention
Definitions
Definitions are quoted from the Province of British Columbia Inter-Ministry Child Abuse Handbook. The following are working definitions to be used to determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred.
STAFF - means all those individuals on the payroll, who are either full time, part time or volunteer employees.
CHILD - means all those individuals under the age of 19 years of age who are either full time or part time employees or customers, guests, or program participants.
ABUSE means physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
PHYSICAL abuse means any physical force or action, which results in or may potentially result in a non-accidental injury to a child and which exceeds that which could be considered reasonable discipline.
SEXUAL abuse means any sexual exploitation of a child whether consensual or not. It includes touching of a sexual nature and sexual intercourse, and may include any behavior of a sexual nature toward a child. In determining whether behavior is of sexual nature, one should ask whether a reasonable observer, looking at the behavior in its context, would conclude that it is. This would exclude normal affectionate behavior towards children and normal health or hygiene care. Sexual activity between children may constitute sexual abuse if the difference in age or power between the children is so significant that the older or more powerful child is clearly taking sexual advantage of the younger or less powerful child. This would exclude consensual, developmental appropriate sexual activity between children where there is no significant difference in age or power between the children.
EMOTIONAL abuse means acts or omissions of those responsible for the care of a child which are likely to produce long term and serious emotional disorder. This might include effects such as non-organic failure to thrive; developmental retardation; serious anxiety, depression or withdrawal; or serious behavioral disturbance.
NEGLECT means “the failure of those responsible for the care of the child to meet the physical, emotional or medical needs of a child to an extent that the child’s health, development or safety is endangered.”
Staff recruitment, training and supervision
Whenever possible, a minimum of two reference checks on all prospective employees will be conducted, preferably with previous employers, and these references will be documented and filed prior to employment. All new staff and, where possible, volunteers may be screened for records or information of criminal convictions for sexual abuse. Staff/volunteers will be asked to provide 2 pieces of ID and sign a background check consent form. Job offers may be subject to a successful background check. The only persons exempt from this policy are those hired for a one day or less period, e.g. workshop instructors.
Any personal information gained during the background check will be treated as confidential and viewed by the Manager of Human Resources, General Manager, or Controller only.
All new staff/volunteers must participate in an orientation program including written materials explaining Cypress’ policies, procedures and regulations on Child Abuse prevention. Staff and volunteers should be aware of legal requirements and, by their signature, acknowledge having received this Child Abuse Policy, the Staff Orientation and other material outlining emergency procedures, appropriate policies and codes of conduct.
Administrative Staff supervising programs involving the care of children will make periodic visits to each program site to assure that standards, policies, program quality and performance of Staff are being maintained.
Staff relationship with children
Young children should be supervised by regular patrols by staff in washroom.
Cypress staff or volunteer should avoid any situation that may be interpreted as leading to potential abuse. Cypress will provide material with respect in inappropriate behavior.
Adult Cypress staff and volunteer are discouraged from socializing with program participants under the age of 19 outside of Cypress program activities.
Cypress staff and volunteers shall not discipline children by use of physical punishment or by failing to provide the necessities of care, such as food and shelter. If uncertain as to the correct action, reference should be made to the appropriate Supervisor.
Cypress staff or volunteers shall not abuse or punish children verbally or emotionally.
Staff and volunteers providing direct care for young children will be identified by a badge/name tag or uniform that is familiar to children with whom they work.
Staff and Volunteers should be alert to the physical and emotional state of all children each time attend a program and report immediately any signs of injury or suspected child abuse (See I. REPORTING PROCEDURES, below).
Responsibility to parents
Parents should be advised by the program Supervisors if the program leader has a concern about their child’s program participation or general health. EXCEPT in those situations of suspected abuse, in which case the Reporting Procedures must be followed (See REPORTING PROCEDURES below, obtaining information from a child).
During advertised program times, Cypress Staff shall NOT, under any circumstances, release a child to anyone other than the parent(s)/guardian(s) having legal custody of that child, or to an individual authorized by parents, including relatives of children. However, at the completion of a program, once the child has left the mountains premises, the responsibility for that child reverts back to the parent.
Cypress’ response to staff / volunteers
Any allegation of child abuse against a Cypress staff/volunteer even at a time when this person is not working will be considered as “work related”.
If there is an allegation of Child Abuse against a Cypress staff/volunteer, the responsible Supervisor will, wherever possible, remove the staff/volunteer from the activities involving supervision of children until such time as any allegation is proved to be false or shall ensure that a second staff person is in attendance throughout the program activities.
All staff and volunteers must be sensitive to the need for confidentiality in the handling of information in this area and are instructed to discuss matters pertaining to alleged abuse only with the appropriate Cypress Supervisor.
Reporting Procedures:
Obligation to report: When there is any suspicion of child abuse, the staff or volunteer, who becomes aware of the situation, is required legally by Section 7 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act to report directly such suspicions to the Director of Family and Child Service or his/her delegate;
Ministry of Children and Families Department North Shore at 604-981-0008 – Business hours M-F 8:30am - 4:30pm.
The after-hours contact is Helpline for Children at 604-310-1234 and is in operation 24 hours a day.
If the child is in immediate danger, the West Vancouver Police should be contacted at 911.
The Staff Member is required to inform his/her Supervisor of this action and may wish to have the Supervisor’s support at the time of contracting the Ministry. It is the responsibility of the Supervisor to inform the General Manager immediately that such a report has been made. It must be noted that if a report has been made to the Police, this does not discharge the duty of the staff member/volunteer to report the matter to the Ministry of Social Services and Housing.
Obtaining information from a child - When a staff member/volunteer suspects child abuse, or when a child discloses information concerning abuse or neglect, the person having the suspicion or receiving the disclosure should bear in mind that the child will be formally interviewed for investigative purposes once a report is made to the Superintendent of Family and Child Service. Thus, the staff or volunteers, who receive a disclosure, should refrain from interviewing the child after receiving the child’s initial disclosure. Statements made by a child should be recorded in the child’s own words. A report must be made to Ministry of Social Services and Housing Social Worker immediately following any suspicion of abuse or following any disclosure by assumes responsibility for this. If the child appears to be in danger, the Social Worker will decide what immediate steps are to be taken.
Liability and protection of the person making the report (the “Complainant”) - staff and volunteers should be aware that in British Columbia, persons making a report to the Ministry are protected from liability and no action lies against a person making a report unless such report is made maliciously or without reasonable grounds for belief. However, the protection of the child must be everyone’s paramount concern and, if in doubt, it is better to err on the side of protecting the child. The identity of the Complainant is privileged and is not disclosed to anyone except the Police without the Complainant’s consent. It may be disclosed to the Police if it is relevant to a criminal investigation.
Confidentiality - If a staff member/volunteer has cause to report suspected child abuse, all information relevant to the matter must be held in the strictest confidence, other than the making of a report to the Ministry of Social Services and Housing and to his/her immediate Supervisor.