Erina Fair Medical Centre / Urgent Care Clinic Erina
Our commitment to child safety
ERINA FAIR MEDICAL CENTRE / URGENT CARE CLINIC ERINA is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for every child and young person who accesses our services.
We recognise that children and young people have the right to feel safe, be safe, be treated with dignity and respect, have their views heard and taken seriously, and receive healthcare free from abuse, neglect, discrimination and harm.
We have zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour and believe that protecting children is the responsibility of everyone working within our organisation.
Our approach is based on the 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and applicable Australian and NSW child protection, healthcare, privacy and professional requirements.
Children and young people are respected and heard
We recognise that children and young people are active participants in their healthcare.
Where appropriate to their age, development and circumstances, we will:
- explain healthcare and treatment in language children can understand;
- encourage children to ask questions and express their views;
- involve children in decisions about their healthcare where clinically and legally appropriate;
- respect their privacy, dignity and personal boundaries;
- take concerns raised by children seriously; and
- provide appropriate support for children with communication or accessibility needs.
A child who tells a staff member that they feel unsafe, frightened, uncomfortable or at risk will be listened to and treated with respect.
Families and carers
We recognise parents, guardians and carers as important partners in children’s healthcare.
Where appropriate, we will involve families in healthcare decisions, provide information about our services and child safety practices, and encourage feedback and concerns.
However, the safety and wellbeing of the child remains our primary consideration. Staff may take appropriate action where there are concerns about a child’s safety, including where this involves reporting to relevant authorities.
Inclusion, equity and cultural safety
We are committed to providing a child-safe environment for all children, including children who may be particularly vulnerable to harm.
We respect and support:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families;
- children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
- children with disability or additional needs;
- children experiencing disadvantage;
- children in out-of-home care; and
- children experiencing family or domestic violence or other circumstances that may increase vulnerability.
We do not tolerate racism, discrimination, bullying, harassment or exclusion.
Safe and professional behaviour
All doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, reception staff, contractors, students, volunteers and other people working within our organisation are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children and young people.
Staff must:
- treat children respectfully;
- communicate in an age-appropriate and professional manner;
- maintain appropriate physical and emotional boundaries;
- provide privacy and dignity during examinations and treatment;
- explain examinations and procedures appropriately;
- use appropriate chaperone arrangements where required or appropriate;
- maintain professional clinical records; and
- immediately raise concerns about inappropriate conduct.
Staff must not engage in inappropriate, sexualised, threatening, humiliating or discriminatory behaviour towards children, establish inappropriate personal relationships, communicate with children through personal social media accounts, or use personal devices to photograph or record children for non-authorised purposes.
Safe recruitment and training
We take reasonable steps to ensure that people working with children are suitable for their roles.
Depending on the position, this may include verifying qualifications and professional registration, obtaining references, undertaking required background checks and ensuring Working with Children Check requirements are met where applicable.
Staff receive information and training appropriate to their roles, including recognising signs of abuse and neglect, responding to disclosures, professional boundaries, mandatory reporting, complaints and child-safe practices.
Responding to concerns and disclosures
Everyone working within our organisation has a responsibility to respond to concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.
Concerns may arise from something a child says, an injury or clinical presentation, observed behaviour, suspected abuse or neglect, family violence, inappropriate conduct by an adult, or any other circumstance that causes concern.
If a child makes a disclosure, staff will listen calmly, take the child seriously, avoid leading questions, avoid making promises of secrecy, document the concern appropriately and ensure it is escalated and reported where required.
Staff will not attempt to investigate allegations themselves.
Where a staff member is a mandatory reporter, they must comply with their legal reporting obligations. The organisation will support appropriate reporting to relevant authorities and will cooperate with government agencies and law enforcement where required.
Where there is an immediate risk to a child’s safety, immediate protective action will be taken.
Privacy and confidentiality
We respect the privacy of children and families and handle personal and health information in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and professional obligations.
However, confidentiality does not prevent information from being disclosed where required or authorised by law, including where necessary to protect a child from harm.
Staff will never promise absolute confidentiality to a child who discloses a safety concern.
Safe physical and online environments
We regularly consider child safety in our physical environment, including waiting rooms, consultation rooms, treatment areas, access to restricted areas, privacy, security and emergency procedures.
Our electronic communications must remain professional, appropriate and relevant to the legitimate clinical or administrative purpose of the organisation. Staff must not use personal social media or inappropriate electronic communication to interact with children.
Continuous improvement
Child safety is an ongoing responsibility. We regularly review our policies, procedures, incidents, complaints, risks and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
Our child safety practices will be reviewed at least annually and updated when legislation, regulatory requirements or identified risks change.
Our commitment
We are committed to embedding child safety into our leadership, governance, clinical practice and organisational culture.
Every child has the right to feel safe, be safe and be heard. Child safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Relevant framework
This policy is informed by the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, NSW Child Safe Standards and applicable NSW child protection, reportable conduct, Working with Children Check, privacy and professional obligations.