What is a Child Safety Concern?

Child Safety Concern is an issue that requires raising and assessment in order to determine an appropriate response from your organisation.

Child Safety Concerns include (past and /or present):

• any concerns for the safety & wellbeing of a child(ren) under the care of your organisation
• any concerns that the Child Safety Code of Conduct has been breached by one of your workers
• unsafe protocols or practices of the organisation
  

There is a myth in some organisation that a Child Safety Concern must involve a criminal action by an adult of the organisation for it to be determined to be a Child Safety Concern. This myth has prevent many organisations from recognising and responding to serious child safety concerns.

Recognise

Organisations must firstly be able to recognise Child Safety Concerns in order to appropriately respond to a Child Safety Concern. The failure to recognise Child Safety Concerns have resulted in serious failure in duty of care.

It is essential for organisations to teach their workers to be able to recognise Child Safety Concerns. Workers (including volunteers) must have the ability to recognise that a Child Safety Concern can include:

• Current and past Child Safety Concerns
• Concerns regarding the safety & wellbeing of a child(ren) irrespective there is intent or fault
• Concerns that a code of conduct has been breached
• Poor work practice issues.  Poor practices can affect the culture of your organisation. They can easily become acceptable practice over time. 

Another myth that has prevent organisations from responding, is the myth that a Child Safety Concern must involve intent to harm, or someone at fault. Many child safety concerns involve young children harming other children or themselves, with no intent. These situations, still require attention.