Child Protection Policy

HEALTH & SAFETY HS2.0 CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto is determined, as far as reasonably possible, to protect the well-being and safety of children.

We will take active steps:

• to prevent child abuse
• to identify cases of actual or potential child abuse, and take appropriate action to deal with those situations.

Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto has responsibilities and obligations under the Children’s Act 2014 and other legislation. We take these responsibilities and obligations very seriously.

This policy framework enables Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto and our staff* to respond appropriately whenever there are concerns relating to the safety of a child or children.

Each staff member has a role and a responsibility to protect the children in our care by identifying and responding to possible or actual instances of child abuse.

We are concerned for any child or children whom Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto or our staff encounter or know about. This includes the siblings of children who use our services, and the children of adults who use those services.

*Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto includes in its definition of staff anyone the organisation relies on to deliver its services. This includes caregivers, volunteers and contractors, members of governance and management committees, as well as paid staff members”.

POLICY

Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto will take active steps to prevent child abuse and to assist other agencies and authorities to investigate and deal with cases of child abuse. This is additional to our statutory obligations under the Children’s Act 2014 and other legislation.

At all times, the interests of a child will be put ahead of those of any other individual or Te Runanga o NgāiTakoto itself.