Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Organisation: Health and Support One-on-One Therapy and Rehabilitation (trading as Health and Support)

Effective date: 24 August 2025 — Approved by Board: 14 August 2025 — Next review due: 24 August 2026

1. Purpose

To keep children and vulnerable adults safe in all our activities, and to ensure concerns are identified, recorded, reported and responded to promptly and lawfully.

2. Principles

• Safety first: the wellbeing of tamariki and vulnerable adults is paramount.
• Whanaungatanga & manaakitanga: respect for whānau, culture and identity.
• Act quickly: concerns are never ignored; we record and escalate without delay.
• Share only what’s necessary: information is shared to protect safety and comply with the law.
• Accountability: the Board oversees safeguarding and receives regular reports.

3. Legal framework

Children’s Act 2014; Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (information sharing); Family Violence Act 2018 (information sharing); Privacy Act 2020; Health Information Privacy Code 2020; Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.

4. Scope & definitions

• Child: under 18 years
• Vulnerable adult: 18+ who, by illness, disability, age or dependency, may be at greater risk of harm
• Abuse/neglect: physical, emotional/psychological, sexual, neglect, family violence, exploitation, cultural or digital harm

5. Roles & responsibilities

• Board: adopt/review policy; receive safeguarding reports; ensure resources and oversight
• DSL: triages concerns, leads responses, liaises with agencies, maintains the Safeguarding Register and secure records
• All staff/volunteers: complete training at induction and on a regular basis; follow procedures; keep accurate records

6. Safe people & safe places

• Recruitment & vetting: robust pre‑employment checks; safety‑checking under the Children’s Act where required; re‑check every 3 years for children’s workers
• Professional boundaries: clear code of conduct; no private social media or personal devices for client contact
• Environments: visibility for one‑to‑one sessions where practicable; risk assessment for off‑site/home visits and outreach
• Digital safety: approved platforms only; no session recording without informed consent and a documented need; secure storage if recordings are made

7. Recognising abuse or neglect

Be alert to physical signs, behavioural indicators, attendance changes, and disclosures. If in doubt, seek advice from the DSL and act.

8. Reporting & responding (what to do)

1. If anyone is in immediate danger: call 111.
2. Listen, reassure, avoid leading questions. Record what you saw/heard in the person’s own words where possible (date/time, who, what, where).
3. Report to the DSL (or Deputy DSL/Board Chair if there is a conflict).
4. The DSL assesses risk and, if needed, refers to Oranga Tamariki (0508 326 459) and/or NZ Police.
5. Inform whānau where it is safe and lawful to do so (the DSL decides).
6. Agree and document an immediate safety plan. Record decisions, actions and rationales in the Safeguarding Register.

9. Sharing information for safety

We may proactively share relevant information with appropriate agencies or professionals to support the safety and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau, in line with the Oranga Tamariki Act and Family Violence Act. We share the minimum necessary, record our decision‑making, and respect cultural considerations.

10. Allegations or concerns about staff/volunteers

All allegations are taken seriously. The DSL and Board Chair manage the process; staff may be removed from duty or stood down if required. We preserve confidentiality, document decisions, notify relevant authorities (e.g., Police, professional regulators) where appropriate, and follow employment law.

11. Training, supervision & reporting

• Safeguarding and privacy training at induction; refreshers on a regular cycle
• Supervision includes safeguarding discussions for clinical and support staff
• Quarterly DSL report to the Board on safeguarding activity (no identifying details)

12. Records & retention

Safeguarding records are stored securely with restricted access. Retention aligns with legal obligations and our retention schedule (and not less than health‑record minimums where relevant).

13. Review

This policy and procedures are reviewed at least every 3 years, or sooner after an incident or law change.

Key contacts

• Oranga Tamariki: 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)
• Police emergency: 111
• HealthandSupport: support@healthandsupport.org