As part of the Child Action Plan implementing the above legislation, the Ministry of Health is seeking a quick response to guide the development of:
1. Regulations for Worker Safety checks
2. Child Protection Policy Guidelines
1. Worker Safety Checks: Agencies will be required to conduct standardised worker safety checks. These will be introduced over several years. Five components have been proposed for the safety check to ensure that .any worker checked doesn’t pose an undue risk to children:
- An identity check
- Reference/good character checking
- Police vetting
- Interviewing
- An assessment of risk the worker may pose to a child
Please comment on whether the proposed safety check is practical and proportional, whether it can be completed in a timely manner and whether additional safeguards could be included. In addition your feedback on the details about what action needs to be taken to meet each element of the new standard safety check is sought.
The consultation documents can be found attached below:
- About Safety Checking (PDF 380 KB)
- Safety Checking Infographic (PDF 750KB)
- Worker Safety Check Consultation Questions (PDF 750KB)
2. Child Protection Policy Guidelines The Act requires children's service agencies to have child protection policies in place "as soon as practicable". To assist them, the Ministry has developed a draft document Safer Organisations, Safer children - cross agency Guidelines on Developing Children Protection Policies. General feedback and feedback in relation to specific consultation questions would be appreciated.
The consultation documents can be found attached below:
- Draft Safer Organisations, Safer Children (PDF 660KB)
- CPP Consultation Questions (PDF 35KB)
- CPP - How the Act will work (PDF 225KB)
Consultation closed on 5 November 2014 for Worker Safety and 15 November 2014 for the Policy Guidelines