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201 Anaphylaxis
202 Child Abuse Reporting
203 Clean Water
204 Emergency Management
205 Provincial Health Regulations
​206 Substance Abuse
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POLICY NAME:
Child Abuse Reporting Policy
POLICY NUMBER:
202
AWSNA POLICIES AND PRACTICES AREA:                    VERSION:
9                                         1
APPROVED:
April 15, 2022
ASSOCIATED POLICY:
Child Abuse Reporting Policy Protocols
ASSOCIATED POLICY NUMBER:
501
Click here for access to full BC Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Rationale                                                            
BC Waldorf School employees have a duty under the law to ensure that reasonable care is exercised and appropriate action taken, to protect students from harm or risk of harm. 

Policy Statement
BC Waldorf School employees who have reason to believe that a student has been, or is likely to be, physically, sexually, or emotionally harmed by a School employee or any other person, must promptly report the matter to the Ministry of Children and Families (MCFD). Employees shall complete all of the procedures as outlined in the Procedures for this policy which is located in the Employees Policy Section. The policy and procedures are aligned with the statutory requirements as set out in the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCS Act). A school’s approach must be responsible, consistent, and prudent. The procedures must be understood clearly by all employees and great caution must be taken to protect the privacy and reputation of child abuse victims and those accused of child abuse who are not convicted.        

Definitions      
                                             

Duty to Report                       
Any person with reason to believe that a child needs protection has a duty to report directly to a child welfare worker, as delegated by MCFD. A child is defined as a person under 19 years of age in the CFCS Act. Informing another person (e.g. a colleague or the Principal) does not discharge the legal duty to report directly to a child welfare worker. An individual does not need to be certain that abuse and/or neglect has or will occur: a child welfare worker will determine that.
                                                           
Any person who breaches the duty to report commits an offence and is liable to prosecution, up to and including the provisions as set out in the CFCS Act. All employees shall cooperate fully with the RCMP and/or MCFD in all stages of the report and investigation.                         
                                                         
Confidentiality                                                            
All information regarding a report of child abuse made by an employee to MCFD is confidential and such information should only be provided to persons authorized to receive such information as set out in the Administrative Procedures for this policy.
                                                            
The completed Child Abuse Report Form (Student or Adult), as set out in the procedures, must NOT be placed in the child’s regular or cumulative school record, pursuant to the CFCS Act and this policy.  All information related to reporting must be retained in a manner that ensures confidentiality and security of such information.
                                                            
The legal duty to report overrides any duty of confidentiality, except a solicitor/client relationship or where provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act apply. Employees who report other employees do not contravene any ethical considerations. The duty to report supersedes the relationships between employees or with any member of the school community.
                                                            
The Appointed School Officials                                                          
The Principal or Designate is a school’s Appointed School Official (ASO).  Each BC Waldorf School will list a second School Official as the Alternate Appointed School Official (AASO). In the event that a report of suspected abuse is filed against the ASO, the AASO will fulfill the responsibilities in accordance with the CFCS Act and this policy. It is the ASO or AASO’s responsibility to fulfill the obligations of reporting of suspected child abuse as set out in the CFCS Act. All staff and volunteer personnel will be informed of who has the roles of the ASO or AASO.  In this role, the ASO/AASO may be required to:                                              
  • investigate where appropriate on behalf of the School Authority;
  • ensure a safe environment during investigations;
  • consult with MCFD and/or the RCMP;
  • communicate with parents with respect to actions taken by the School Authority;
  • report to the British Columbia Teacher Regulation Branch of the Ministry of Education and/or the Inspector of Independent Schools when the School Authority dismisses, suspends or otherwise disciplines a certified teacher and refers student(s) for counselling, according to the school’s procedures and/or policies.                                                   

The Appointed School Official will keep records of:
  • protection/abuse prevention training as well as maintain a regular process of orienting employees in this policy and related procedures 
  • referral, assessment, treatment and care plans and all related correspondence, for those who are or have been reported students and;
  • any historical liability and/or abuse insurance policies

​See password protected BC Collective Policy #501 for Child Abuse Reporting Policy Protocols.
BC Waldorf Collective - AWNSA Registered Initiative, Associate, and Full Member Waldorf Schools of BC

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