Holyoake is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and young people. We embed child-safe practices throughout our organisation, aligning with the National Principles for Child Safety. Our goal is to empower and support children and young people to reach their fullest potential. We recognise the vital role they play within our community, and we are committed to providing the special care and attention they need to feel safe and valued.
Holyoake is committed to safeguarding children and young people by providing, maintaining, and promoting services as a child-safe organisation. We:
- Have zero tolerance for child abuse or any form of harm.
- Take action to protect children from physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and cultural abuse; family and domestic violence; and neglect.
- Create conditions that minimise risk and aim to eliminate harm to children.
- Promote the identification and reporting of risks and concerns of harm to children.
- Respond appropriately and effectively to disclosures, allegations, and concerns of harm.
- Embed a commitment to child safety and well-being in organisational leadership, governance, and culture.
- Inform children and young people about their rights, involve them in decisions affecting them, and take their views seriously.
- Engage families and communities in promoting child safety and well-being.
- Promote equity and respect diversity in policy and practice.
- Ensure that people working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and well-being values in practice.
- Maintain responsive, understood, accessible, and utilised processes for complaints and concerns by children, young people, families, staff, and volunteers.
- Equip staff and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
- Promote safety and well-being in physical and online environments while minimising the opportunity for harm to children and young people.
- Regularly review and improve the implementation of our child safety and well-being policies and procedures.