Purpose
To protect the safety and promote the well-being of children and young persons under 17 years and adults over 67 years receiving treatments or services from any massage therapist at G M Remedial.
Scope
This procedure applies to all massage therapists at G M Remedial. It should be used wherever abuse or neglect is suspected or identified, regardless of whether the child or senior adult is a client of G M Remedial.
Guidelines
All massage therapists of G M Remedial should be able to recognise signs of child and senior abuse and neglect. However, every situation is different, and it is important to consider all available information about the child or senior adult their environment before reaching conclusions. As per the Child and Senior Protection policy, you will need to take any concerns that a child or senior is showing signs of potential abuse or neglect to the G M Remedial's clinic manager.
Procedure
The examples of signs, symptoms, and risk factors described below are not a full list and are not diagnostic of abuse and neglect. However, in some situations, contexts, and combinations, they will raise the need for consultation and support and, in some instances, indicate suspicion of abuse and neglect.
Disclosures of child and senior abuse and neglect
Information may be received by a massage therapist of G M Remedial from a child, parent, caregiver, or a third-party concerning abuse or neglect. If a child or senior discloses that they have been abused or neglected, then:
Listen to what they are saying.
- Remain calm.
- Avoid in-depth or excessive questioning.
- Reassure them they have done the right thing by telling you.
- Inform them you will seek the support of another adult or adults who can help them.
- Document exactly what was said, using their own words.
- Do not confront or discuss the disclosure with the alleged perpetrator.
- Follow G M Remedial response to suspected child or senior abuse and neglect process as outlined below.
If a person other than a child or senior discloses that they are concerned there may have been abused or neglected, then:
- Listen to what the person is saying.
- Remain calm.
- Avoid in-depth questioning and do not explore details of what happened.
- Reassure the person they have done the right thing by telling you, and you will seek the support of someone else who can help them.
- Document what was said using their own words exactly.
- Do not confront or discuss the disclosure with the alleged perpetrator.
- Follow G M Remedial response to the suspected abuse and neglect process as outlined below.
Responding to the suspect of child and senior for abuse and neglect
- Critical family violence situations.
- All G M Remedial staff should be able to identify and respond appropriately to critical family violence situations when immediate risk assessment and protection are required.
- There may be occasions where a person discloses family violence situations without being prompted that describe the immediate or imminent danger of serious harm or death.
Response to critical family violence situations:
- Do not enter a situation where you feel at immediate risk from violence.
- Protect child/senior as much as possible – staff cannot remove a child without the legal guardian's permission, but in some cases, may be permitted to remain with a child while waiting for a statutory agency.
- Call 111, ask for police, and describe the situation, location, and urgency. Remain compliant with police. Ask for an ambulance if required.
- Consult with the clinic manager as soon as possible on the same day. If the clinic manager is unavailable, contact them via email or text and wait to be informed when they become available.
- Where children are involved, complete a Report of Concern within 24 hours.
- Complete a Reportable Event in QMS.
- Seek supervision support if required.