Policy: Counseling for Associates working with Children and Vulnerable Groups: Difference between revisions

[[Category:Policies]]

Future Worlds Center (hereafter “The organization”)

• All staff (paid/ unpaid) working in the organization have a responsibility to report concerns to (their supervisor/head of their department).  

While one would expect that the majority of adults seeking to work with children and youth is out of pure care one needs to be aware and cautious of those adults who seek to find themselves closer to youth and children for their own ulterior motives.  All concerns regarding individuals’ practice should be reported to your supervisor or head of you department/organization.  

The organization’s staff, associates, and moderators, do not have responsibility or contact with children on a regular basis. However, the organization wishes to have a policy to cover those situations where its members do have contact with children. This contact may be direct, such as a telephone call to the Helpline or indirect, for example through an email report where the child asks for help.

The organization’s staff, associates should never be left on their own with children and will withdraw their services rather than find themselves in this situation. It is the responsibility of the centre to provide an environment where the organization’s staff or representatives can carry out their duties without the likelihood of finding themselves left unsupervised with children.  Additionally, staff and associates will have occasional contact with children in schools or on work placements and may be privy to information or situations which give cause for concern.  

• Associates/staff should not undertake any investigations itself, referring evidence instead to the appropriate authorities, such as Social Services, the Police

• Associates/staff may make preliminary enquiries, where work experience placements are involved, in consultation with the child’s school. The school has principal responsibility for dealing with child protection issues and will involve the appropriate authorities.