This policy sets out:

  • how SA Housing Authority employees work to keep children and young people safe from harm
  • what their responsibilities are
  • who has a duty to report suspicions a child or young person is or may be at risk
  • when and how to make a report to the Department for Child Protection

The Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 describes when a child or young person is considered to be at risk.

Mandatory reporting

SA Housing Authority employees are mandatory reporters if they:

  • provide or deliver services directly to children and young people
  • hold a management position that includes direct responsibility for, or direct supervision of, the delivery of those services to children and young people

Employees make a report to the Department for Child Protection if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a child or young person is or may be at risk, and their suspicion was formed during the course of carrying out their work.

There is no obligation to report if the worker reasonably believes that someone else has reported the same issue for the same child or young person.

When employees make a report, they provide all the below information:

  • the child or young person’s name and address
  • in the case of an unborn child, the mother’s name and address
  • a description of what they’ve observed
  • why they suspect the child’s at risk
  • any other relevant information

As mandatory reporters, employees:

  • report where they suspect a child or young person is or may be at risk
  • attend Safe environments for children and young people training
  • notify their line manager if they suspect a child or young person is at risk

Early intervention and harm prevention

Employees help keep children and young people safe by:

  • being alert to signs of risk or vulnerability when interacting with customers, for example domestic abuse, poor property condition
  • considering risks to children at home visits and asking about children aged five and under if they’re not at home in line with the Home visits policy
  • responding to the needs of children and their families where it’s suspected that a child or young person is at risk, for example providing housing services, referring them to appropriate support services
  • working with the Department for Child Protection and other agencies to address identified housing and child protection issues

Related information

Controlling documents

This policy is based on and complies with:

Supporting procedures/ guideline

  • Children and young people safety procedures v2

Related policies and other documents

Date this policy applies from

14 April 2020

Version number

2

The online version of the policy is the approved and current version. There’s no guarantee any printed copies are current.