Like Family Child Safety Policy

Like Family is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. This policy outlines our approach to creating and maintaining a child-safe environment within our platform and services.

Scope

This policy applies to all Social Carers, Members, employees, contractors, and volunteers associated with Like Family.

1. Definitions

Child: Any person under the age of 18 years.
Social Carer: A person registered on the Like Family platform to provide non-medical care and companionship services.
Member: A person registered on the Like Family platform to receive non-medical care and companionship services.

2. Policy Statement

Like Family is committed to:

Promoting the safety, participation, and empowerment of children.
Preventing child abuse and identifying risks early.
Ensuring that processes and practices are in place to protect children from abuse.
Fostering a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children.

3. Screening and Recruitment

3.1. All Social Carers who may work with children must:

Hold a valid Working With Children Check (or equivalent) as required by state/territory legislation.
Undergo a National Police Check.
Provide references that are checked by Like Family.

3.2. Like Family employees and contractors who may have contact with children must also meet these requirements.

4. Code of Conduct

All Social Carers, employees, and contractors must agree to and abide by our Code of Conduct, which outlines appropriate behavior with children.

5. Risk Management

5.1. Like Family will proactively identify and manage risks of child abuse within our platform and services.
5.2. Risk management strategies will be reviewed annually and following any significant child safety incident.

6. Reporting and Responding to Suspected Child Abuse

6.1. Like Family has clear procedures for responding to suspected child abuse.
6.2. All Social Carers, employees, and contractors are required to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities and to Like Family management.
6.3. Like Family will fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the investigation of any child abuse allegations.

7. Training and Supervision

7.1. Like Family will provide regular training on child safety to all Social Carers, employees, and contractors.
7.2. New Social Carers will receive child safety information as part of their induction.

8. Fair Procedures

Like Family's policies and procedures for handling allegations or concerns about child safety will be fair and transparent.

9. Privacy

Like Family will safeguard the privacy of all individuals involved in suspected child abuse cases, subject to legal requirements.

10. Legislative Responsibilities

Like Family will comply with all relevant legislation related to child safety, including mandatory reporting requirements.

11. Regular Review

This policy will be reviewed every year and following significant incidents if they occur.