Reporting Abuse and Neglect
REPORTING ABUSE AND NEGLECT
ALL “Family Members” must report all actual or suspected child abuse of any child attending the program as soon as possible to the Program Coordinator.
Alberta law requires caregivers to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Calgary Child and Family Services 24 Hour Intake Line to make confidential reports. (1-403-297-2995) Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a crime.
Note: Employers are prohibited from retaliating against caregivers who make reports in good faith
TOPP KIDS Out of School Clubs is committed to taking a pro-active position regarding the prevention of child abuse through:
- Ongoing observation of the children in our care;
- Professional education with respect to early identification, effective response and adherence to legal obligations, including reporting;
- Keeping abreast of developments in legislation and relevant issues;
- Communication and support of the child and family; and
- Working with other community service providers.
The following policies and procedures are designed to make staff aware of their responsibilities for the recognition, documentation and reporting of suspicions of child abuse.
DUTY TO REPORT
In accordance with the Child Care Licensing Regulation, it is the responsibility of every person, including a person who performs professional or official duties with respect to children, to immediately report to Calgary Child and Family Services if s/he suspects that child abuse has occurred or if a child is at risk of abuse. This includes any owner or employee of a Child Care program. An individual’s responsibility to report cannot be delegated to anyone else.
FAILURE TO REPORT
It is an offence under the Child Care Licensing Regulation for a professional to contravene one’s reporting responsibilities and emphasizes that a child’s safety must take precedence over all other concerns.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The duty to report suspicions of child abuse overrides the provisions of confidentiality in any other stature, specifically those provisions that would otherwise prohibit disclosure by a professional or official.
PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY
All persons making a report of suspected child abuse are protected against civil action, unless that person is proven to have acted
“…maliciously or without reasonable grounds for the belief or suspicion…”