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Reporting Suspected child abuse[back to top]All GoodLife associates share a responsibility to protect children from harm; aresponsibility that extends to those situations where children suffer abuse and neglect intheir own homes._______________________________________________________________________________Child Minding AssociatesIf a child minding associate has reason to believe that a child may be a victim of abuse orneglect, it is very important that the associate speak to their manager and report thesuspected child abuse immediately to a children’s aid society.Members of the public, who work with children, must promptly report any suspicions that achild is or may be in need of protection. A child in need of protection includes physical,sexual and emotional abuse, neglect, and risk of harm.Reasonable GroundsIt is not necessary for an associate to be certain a child is or may be in need of protectionto make a report to a children's aid society. “Reasonable grounds" refers to the informationthat an average person, exercising normal and honest judgment, would need in order tomake a decision to report._______________________________________________________________________________More than 1 call can be madeEven if an associate has called the children's aid society about a particular child, theassociate must call again and make a further report if there are additional reasonablegrounds to suspect that the child is or may be in need of protection._______________________________________________________________________________The call can’t be made by someone else on your behalfThe associate who believes a child may be a victim of abuse must report directly to achildren’s aid society and not rely on anyone else to report on their behalf._______________________________________________________________________________Children’s Aid InvestigationThe children’s aid society will investigate the information the associate provides. Children’said society workers have the responsibility and the authority to investigate allegations andto protect children. The workers may, as part of the investigation and plan to protect achild, involve the police and other community agencies. All children's aid societies provideemergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week._______________________________________________________________________________To contact the nearest Children’s Aid Society in your location please visithttp://www.oacas.org/childwelfare/locate.htm or call the operator to connect you.Associate Theft[back to top]GoodLife encourages associates to secure personal belongings in a locker while at work.It is in the associate’s best interest to leave valuables at home. In the event personalbelongings go missing, GoodLife accepts no responsibility, or liability, whatsoever for anypersonal items belonging to an associate that are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed onGoodLife property.It is the responsibility of managers to communicate to their staff to lock up personalbelongings during their shift and to leave valuables at home.Bag check protocolIf an associate reports that their personal items that were not locked up have been stolen,or if GoodLife property goes missing, the following will apply:• The manager should ask the suspected associate(s) for his/her permission to lookin their purse/bag/jacket pockets/locker, etc.Confidential and Proprietary Information of Goodlife Fitness Clubs | V14 July 2009 88