Early childhood services - child safety knowledge, skills and awareness

Guidance on Child Safe Standard 8: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through ongoing education and training.

Overview

Standard 8 focuses on systems for staff and volunteers to receive induction, training, information and support so they can:

  • implement the Child Safe Environment Policy
  • identify signs of child abuse and harm
  • understand the preventative measures that reduce the risk of abuse and harm
  • know how to report their concerns both within the service and outside
  • respond appropriately if a child makes a disclosure
  • sensitively support children who make a disclosure
  • find guidance and support, as well as supporting colleagues who have received disclosures
  • record all required information about child safety in line with the service's policy and procedures
  • behave professionally in line with the Code of Conduct
  • take active steps to build a culturally safe environment.

This training should be tailored to the service’s needs and the person’s role. It should use a trauma-informed approach.

Actions services must take to comply with Standard 8

Standard 8: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training .

Early childhood services must comply with all the following elements of this Standard:

  • Staff and volunteers are trained and supported to effectively implement the service’s child safety and wellbeing policy (8.1).
  • Staff and volunteers receive training and information to recognise indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and young people (8.2).
  • Staff and volunteers receive training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and support colleagues who disclose harm (8.3).
  • Staff and volunteers receive training and information on how to build culturally safe environments for children and young people (8.4).

How to comply - examples and ideas

Start by reviewing your existing policies and procedures. Compare them with this standard’s requirements.

Related standards and regulations

Resources

Updated