Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes.
- Implement work practices which support the protection of children and young people
- Comply with lawful instructions, regulations, duty of care and boundaries of practice in all work activities
- Routinely employ child-focused work practices to uphold the rights of children and young people to participate in decision-making where it is age appropriate
- Use communication and information-gathering techniques with children and young people in accordance with current recognised good practice
- Ensure decisions, responses and actions taken are appropriate and within own work role, legislative requirements and organisation procedures
- Continually update own knowledge and skills as required to work effectively and participate in practice supervision processes
- Maintain confidentiality as appropriate
- Identify indicators of abuse and act appropriately
- Identify children and young people at risk of harm by routinely implementing child protection procedures when appropriate
- Respond to disclosure in accordance with accepted standards, techniques and legislative obligations
- Gather and record information about the child’s or young person’s behaviour and identify uncharacteristic behaviour
- Monitor the circumstances of children who are identified as highly vulnerable to abuse
- Promptly report risk of harm indicators in accordance with statutory and organisation procedures
- Work collaboratively with relevant agencies to ensure maximum effectiveness of report
- Apply ethical practices and safeguard the rights and interests of children and young people
- Identify and seek supervisor support for issues of ethical concern in practice with children and young people
- Develop ethical practices for implementing professional boundaries consistent with child protection legislation in relevant jurisdiction
- Recognise indicators for potential ethical concerns when working with children and young people
- Report unethical behaviour according to organisational procedures and policies