Standard 4 - Human Resources Practices

Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel

This Means:

Effectively screening and training people in your organisation to reduce the risk of child abuse by:

• Engaging only the most suitable people (whether in a paid or voluntary capacity) to work with children
• Having robust pre-employment screening processes and background checking
• Creating clear job descriptions and duty statements
• Understanding the nature and signs of child abuse
• Providing high quality supervision and professional development

Examples of how your organisation can meet this Standard:

• Build child safe selection criteria into job descriptions, recruitment advertisements and interviews
• Embed screening methods such as Police, Referee and Working with Children Checks into your recruitment strategy as required. You cannot rely on one method solely as they all address different criteria
• Ensure probation periods are established for new staff and volunteers
• Provide ongoing information and training for staff and volunteers as part of your organisation’s approach to professional development. The Play By The Rules website can assist with this
• Embed a child safe module in coaching and officiating training
• Promote a “policy of the month” via your newsletters, social media and communication channels
• Discuss child safe scenarios at team and staff meetings
• Utilise upcoming conferences and training days to present to staff and members about the Standards
• Distribute a list of easy to ask questions to utilise in interviews and “meet and greet” sessions such as:
  • Why do you want to be involved in our sport?
  • Have you worked with children before? In what capacity
  • Have you had a situation where you have had to comfort a distressed child? How did you manage this? What was the outcome?

You can support your members by:

• Providing template role descriptions for key club personnel. The Club Help website has some great templates to assist with this.
• Provide access to online training for staff and volunteers. The Play By The Rules website can assist with this
• Distribute a list of easy to ask questions to utilise in interviews and “meet and greet” sessions such as:
  • Why do you want to be involved in our sport?
  • Have you worked with children before?
  • Have you had a situation where you have had to comfort a distressed child? How did you manage this? What was the outcome?
    
    

Helpful Resources:

Child Safe Recruitment

Child Safe Recruitment Matrix

Child Safe Recruitment - Reference Check Template

Child Safe Recruitment - Criminal Declaration Form (over 18 yrs)

Child Safe Recruitment - Criminal Declaration Form (under 18 yrs)

Play by the Rules – Online Courses (Child Protection, Discrimination & Harassment, Complaint Handling)

Working with Children Check (Victoria) – Who needs a Check

Working with Children Check (Victoria) – Exemptions

CCYP – Standard 4: Human Resource Practices