Safeguarding

How we keep you safe

Safeguarding Against COVID

At Cahoots, safeguarding our participants and workforce is paramount! For this reason, we uphold strict COVID management protocols to ensure that any potential risk of exposure is reduced. 

This includes;
– Mandatory requirements for all Cahoots workforce to be fully vaccinated. 
– Pre-screening all people prior to attendance at Cahoots camps/programs or related services.
– Strict infection control and hygiene protocols for all Cahoots camps/programs or related services.
– Mask wearing on all facilities and services, including Cahoots Kerem Adventure Camp.  
– Monitoring of exposure sites  
– Prompt notification to service users and workforce regarding exposure sites, should this impact Cahoots camps/programs or related services.  

For full details of our COVID Risk Management Plans please click below: 

• Cahoots COVID Risk Mitigation Update
• Cahoots Kerem Adventure Camp COVID Management Plan

Our Safeguarding Vision

Cahoots strives for an inclusive community where children and young people living with disability, and others that face exceptional challenges, reach their full potential and where families and carers are supported. Cahoots value of trust means we are a reliable team, committed to providing safe, quality services.

Our Safeguarding Standards

Cahoots considers any form of abuse towards a child or adult, inclusive of emotional, physical, sexual abuse or neglect, as intolerable under any circumstances.
Cahoots Org. has a legal, moral and Mission-driven responsibility to protect children, young people and adults at risk from harm and to ensure that any incidents of suspected abuse are promptly and appropriately managed.

Our Safeguarding Responsibilities

Cahoots and all of its Board Directors, staff and volunteers have a legal, moral and Mission-driven responsibility to:

• Protect children and adults at risk from all forms of abuse, bullying and exploitation;
• Create and maintain a child safe culture that is understood, endorsed and put into action by all the individuals who work for, volunteer, govern or access a Cahoots program or service;
• Acknowledge that protecting children and adults at risk is everyone’s business; and
• Manage behaviour of all our participants in an appropriate and safe manner.

We believe that every participant has a right to receive services from Cahoots without threat, intimidation or abuse from its staff, volunteers, contractors, other members or any other person.
We understand we have a responsibility to ensure that no participant is neglected or exploited by staff, volunteers, contractors, other members or any other person.
We will act to protect our participants, staff and volunteers and to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation and we will uphold the legal and human rights of our participants, staff and volunteers.

How we keep people at risk safe

To ensure we maintain our responsibilities, we will:

• Put in place a management structure that supports and develops staff in their roles.
• Provide all Cahoots people with the necessary support to enable them to fulfil their roles. This will include regular and appropriate development and supervision.
• Provide regular opportunities to clarify and confirm the policy and procedures in relation to children and adults at risk’s protections and welfare. This will include annual training with regards to understanding the principles and intent of the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy.
• Listen to all concerns voiced by Cahoots people regarding keeping children and adults at risk safe from harm.
• Provide opportunities for Cahoots people to receive formal debriefing and counselling arising from incidents of child or adults at risk abuse.
• Use best practice standard in the recruitment, screening and employment of Cahoots people so as they will not harm, abuse or exploit children and adults at risk who are involved in our programs and services.
• Maintain an environment for children and adults at risk to be safe and to feel safe.

Definitions of Abuse

Abuse is defined as any of the following; emotional, psychological, physical, sexual abuse, neglect, constraints and restrictive practices and bullying. Extended definitions are available within the C11 Behaviour Management procedure.

Further Information

For further information on this policy and the human rights and freedom from abuse and neglect procedures, contact the CEO or Cahoots Safeguarding Champions.

Cahoots Child Safe Complaints Policy

Contact Details

David Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer david.armstrong@cahoots.org.au
Janet Steele, Female Safeguarding Champion janet@cahoots.org.au
David Bailey , Male Safeguarding Champion David@cahoots.org.au