Child Related Allegations, Charges and Convictions Against ...

Sydney South West Area Health ServicePolicy No: SSW_PD2010_018Date Issued: June 2010CHILD RELATED ALLEGATIONS, CHARGES AND CONVICTIONS AGAINSTEMPLOYEESIntroductionSSWAHS is committed to protecting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children; and theArea Health Service takes all child related allegations, charges and convictions seriously.The attached policy directive, PD2006_025 Child Related Allegations, Charges andConvictions Against Employees, published by NSW Health, sets out obligations staff have inthe reporting, management and investigation of these matters.To assist staff comply with and meet all obligations under PD2006_025, SSWAHS providesstaff with the following guidelines:Guidelines1. SSWAHS employees who become aware of any child related allegation, charge orconviction against another SSWAHS employee (or about themselves) must immediatelyreport that matter to:i) their direct supervisor/manager or:ii) the Area Director Corporate Services, Governance and Risk (DCSGR) or;iii) the Area Director Clinical Governance (DCG) or;iv) the Area Director Clinical Operations (DCO).2. A report must be made to one of the above, irrespective of whether the matter isreportable conduct (see definition on page 5, PD2006_025) or not.3. The DCG and DCO will as soon as practicable and in any event within 24 hours, referthe matter to the DCSGR.4. The DCSGR will take carriage of any child related allegation, charge or convictionagainst a SSWAHS employee.This includes:i) Nomination of staff to manage the notification/s and investigation;ii) Monitoring the conduct and progress of the risk assessment and investigation;iii) Monitoring of implementation and management of recommendations arising froman investigation; andiv) Determining the Decision Maker, the Appeals person and the Senior ExecutiveAdvisor.In doing the above, consultation will be undertaken with relevant senior officers andAHS Executive.5. The DCSGR will determine whether the matter is conduct which must be:i) Reported to DoCS (immediate notification);ii) Reported to the Police (as appropriate);iii) Reported to the Chief Executive (CE) and NSW Health (notification within 24hours; and relevant details put into the Service Check Register);iv) Reported to the Ombudsman (notification within 30 days); andCompliance with this policy directive is mandatory Page 2 of 3