In Safe Hands provides this child protection helpful hint when considering what is harm to a child within the National Quality Framework for Early Years Educators.
What is Harm?
Harm to a child, is any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.
It doesn’t matter how the harm is caused – it’s still harm.
Harm can be accidental or non-accidental.
Non-accidental harm is child abuse.
Non-accidental harm can be caused by— physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse or exploitation.
Duty of Care
Included in the National Laws is the requirement that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm. This is an excellent guide to let you know exactly what your Duty of Care entails. We know that non-accidental harm is child abuse – therefore you must take every reasonable precaution to protect children from abuse.
Therefore your duty of care would include reporting to your senior supervisor and / or authorities any reasonable suspicions you have that children have been, are being, or are at risk of being abused. A failure to report to authorities can be viewed by a court as negligence.
Discharging duty of care
Organisations can help ensure they discharge their duty of care by ensuring
- All new and relieving staff are trained
- All staff undergo regular refresher training - every 12 months;
- Update policies and procedures are in place
Some ways staff can ensure they discharge their duty of care are:
- Ensure they comply with NQF Laws and Regulations;
- Ensure they comply with policies and procedures;
- Report concerns immediately, at least to a senior supervisor.
