Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy, procedure, and Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing is to demonstrate Mount Gollis Care & Services’ commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in its care.

This policy and procedure applies to all potential and existing participants, their family members, carers, and other supporters, as well as all staff of Mount Gollis Care & Services. It meets relevant legislation, regulations, and Standards as set out in Schedule 1, Legislative References.

Policy

This policy and procedure is intended to empower children and young people who are vital and active participants in Mount Gollis Care & Services. Mount Gollis Care & Services involves them when making decisions, especially about matters that directly affect them. Mount Gollis Care & Services listens to their views and respects what they have to say.
Mount Gollis Care & Services promotes diversity, inclusion, and tolerance, and people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds are welcome.

Mount Gollis Care & Services is committed to the New South Wales Child Safe Standards, which are:

1. Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance, and culture.
2. Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
3. Families and communities are informed and involved.
4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account.
5. People working with children are suitable and supported.
6. Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child-focused.
7. Staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe through continual education and training.
8. Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur.
9. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved.
10. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe.

This policy and procedure guides Mount Gollis Care & Services’ staff on how to behave with children and young people accessing Mount Gollis Care & Services’ services.

Policies and Procedures

Mount Gollis Care & Services’ quality management system (QMS) is based on policies and procedures that align with the Child Safe Standards and all relevant New South Wales and Commonwealth legislation and regulations. All policies and procedures are formally reviewed at least annually, two-yearly, or three-yearly. Reviews incorporate staff, participant, and other stakeholder feedback where relevant.

As per the Human Resources Policy and Procedure, all staff are provided with Induction and ongoing training to help them understand Mount Gollis Care & Services’ policies and procedures.
To ensure participants understand the policies and procedures that apply to them, staff are required to provide information to them and their families in ways that suit their individual communication needs. Written information can be provided in [different languages and Easy English] [If the business provides information in different languages, list the languages] or explained verbally by staff. Staff can also help participants access interpreters or advocates where required.

Please note that this part of the policy & procedure relates to part of the services we offer, particularly to Person-Centred Supports.

3.0 Policy
It is the policy of Mount Gollis Care & Services to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
This policy intends to ensure that participants have the right to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and to access the support required to meet their individual needs.

4.0 Procedure
Our inclusive approach will promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through engagement with the participant, their community, and all relevant stakeholders. Our processes are designed to meet the needs and requirements of the participant.
A variety of procedures may be implemented, including:

• Incorporating symbols and images that reflect the indigenous culture in our marketing material, on our website, and in our environment.
• Acknowledging the stigma, discrimination, and exclusion experienced by people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and how this may intersect with discrimination faced by a disability.
• Displaying a Statement of Traditional Owners.
• Clarifying if participants identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• Contacting and maintaining networks with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Working with community networks for the benefit and support of the participant.
• Contacting the participant’s family, extended family, and community.
• Establishing communication processes for maintaining an individual’s indigenous supports.
• Working with other services in a coordinated manner to enhance support for the participant.
• Planning actions that promote cultural safety and connectivity while respecting the cultural and spiritual identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Researching and supporting community events for the participants and then sharing this information with all staff.
• Accepting the participant’s preference to be supported by family and community.
• Working collaboratively to build family and community confidence and capacity.
• Identifying how, when, and why to source and work with different types of interpreter services in a culturally appropriate way.
• Collaborating with local communities to provide services, referrals, consortia involvement, and memorandums of understanding.