If a Staff/Volunteer is Suspected of Child Abuse

IF A STAFF/VOLUNTEER IS SUSPECTED OF CHILD ABUSE

• If a staff/volunteer/parent suspects another caregiver in the program of abusing a child(ren) in care, s/he should inform the supervisor of the intention to call Calgary Child and Family Services. If the allegations are made by a parent, inform the parent of his/her duty to report to a Child Protection Worker, and the Supervisor’s obligation to also speak with a child protection worker.
• The staff person with whom the parent spoke will immediately inform the Supervisor of the parent’s allegation. If the staff person suspected of abuse is the Supervisor, then the Program Coordinator should be informed.
• The staff/volunteer making the allegation will follow the reporting procedure outlined above and will complete the necessary documentation.
• The person suspected of abuse will not be told by anyone about the suspicion, the intention to report or that a report has been made until after the Supervisor has consulted with a Child Protection Worker for direction.
• The Supervisor will consult with a child protection worker as to what, if anything, should be done to protect a child(ren) at the program from further contact from the alleged abuser.
• The Supervisor will notify Licensing immediately of the occurrence using the Critical Incident Reporting Form. The Owner/CEO, in consultation with Calgary Child and Family Services, Licensing and legal counsel will determine what action, if any, will be taken with respect to the suspected person’s job responsibilities.
• The Owner/CEO will immediately contact the programs insurance company when abuse by a staff member is suspected.
• The Owner/CEO will meet with the suspected person to discuss any procedures for a change in duties, responsibilities, etc. The supervisor will follow-up with a written confirmation of any decisions and the reasons for such, a copy of which is to be given to the suspected person, and a copy retained on file.

WHEN THE CALGARY CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES/POLICE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION IN THE PROGRAM

When child abuse has been reported, the investigative team may request permission from TOPP KIDS Out of School Clubs to interview a child on the premises. All efforts will be made by staff to cooperate with the police/child protection worker in order for the investigation to be completed in such a way as to provide the least disruption to the day-to-day operations of the program.

Should the investigative team’s request to interview the child at the program be refused by the Supervisor or Owner/CEO for any reason, the child may be apprehended (with or without a warrant) and removed from the program.

• If the authorities have told any staff/student/volunteer of the intention to come to the program, the Supervisor and Owner are to be notified immediately.
• The supervisor will arrange for an appropriate private location for the interview to be conducted. When the authorities arrive, the supervisor will ask for identification upon their arrival.
• If a Child Protection Worker/police officer arrives unannounced, the supervisor will ask for identification and call his/her respective offices to confirm that s/he is a representative of a child protection/police service.
• The police/child protection worker may determine that it would be in the best interests of the child to conduct an interview without the prior knowledge of, and without the child’s parent(s) present. All staff involved must respect this decision, and not speak to the parent(s) until further notice.
• The supervisor will prearrange with the investigative team, if a support person from the program can be present when the child is being interviewed. Any support person who agrees to attend the interview, will be reminded by the supervisor that s/he may be required to attend and testify in court proceedings related to the case.
• If, after interviewing a child, the investigative team feels it is necessary to apprehend the child, the supervisor/staff/students/volunteers will cooperate. The supervisor will clarify with the investigative team who will be responsible for contacting the parent(s).
• The supervisor will document the names of the investigative team, the date, time, how long the authorities were at the program, and any relevant outcome. The documentation will be kept in a secure filing cabinet, separate from the child’s general file.

WHEN CALGARY CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES/POLICE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATIVE
TELEPHONE INQUIRY

Should a staff member receive a call from a child protection worker and/or police officer who telephones the TOPPS KIDS Out of School Clubs to gather information with respect to the protection of a child, that staff person will follow the steps outlined below.

• Ask the person on the telephone for his/her full name, telephone number and name of the agency that s/he represents.
• In order to ensure that the person calling is a child protection worker/police officer, the staff member will inform the person calling that s/he will be called backed immediately.
• The staff member will immediately call the person back, confirming that the telephone number is that of Children’s Aid Society and/or Police Division, and that the individual inquiring about a child is a representative of said agency.
• A staff member may answer questions posed by a child protection worker/police officer and provide information over the telephone as long as the information is related to suspicions of child abuse and the protection of the child.
• The staff member is to immediately inform the supervisor of any telephone conversations that have occurred between the staff member and a child protection worker/police officer.
• The staff member will document the telephone call, including the date, time and length of the call, and the name of the child protection worker/police officer. All documentation is to be forwarded to the supervisor to be kept in a secure filing cabinet, separate from the child’s general file.

FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH A CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY

Further contact with a Children’s Aid Society may be initiated by supervisor/staff/volunteer in the following circumstances:

• A worker has not responded to the individual’s initial call/message;
• The individual believes that the concerns reported on behalf of the child have not been fully understood by the worker, and a
• second opinion from a supervisor at the Children’s Aid Societyis desired;
• Any further suspicions of abuse occur;
• Changes in the family situation or that of the alleged abuser are discovered
• The child or alleged abuser transfers out of the program; and/or
• The child does not return to the program when expected.

The supervisor will be notified if a staff/volunteer re-contacts a Children’s Aid Society. The person who re-contacted a Children’s Aid Society is responsible to complete the documentation.