Procedure

Procedure 9611.1 - Child Abuse Prevention

1. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1.1.

The overall responsibility to coordinate and communicate the child abuse and neglect policy for School District #36 (Surrey) lies with the superintendent of schools or designate.

1.2.

The responsibility for the planning of an investigation of alleged child abuse involving district employees lies with the R.C.M.P., M.C.F.D. and the superintendent of schools or designate. Please refer to the local Interagency Protocol for Dealing with Child Abuse in Surrey (signed 2007- 01-10).

1.3.

The principal of each school within the district is responsible for carrying out the school district #36 Child Abuse Prevention Policy within that school. This includes:

a)	Ensuring at the beginning of each school year that the school staff is aware of the importance of following district procedures concerning child abuse and neglect reporting. Please refer to the video resource entitled Child Abuse Reporting Protocols (SD#36).
b)	Ensuring that each staff member receives information about child abuse and neglect and is familiar with the B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect.
c)	Ensuring that the teachers responsible for teaching the Health and Career Education Curriculum in child abuse prevention have received the appropriate in-service.
d)	Ensuring that students receive instruction on child abuse prevention as part of the Health and Career Education Curriculum; and
e)	Ensuring that all employees are aware that under the terms of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, they are immune from civil action in reporting suspected abuse cases based upon reasonable grounds.
f)	Ensuring that employees are aware that in the event of being subpoenaed to court as a result of reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, the employee must notify the principal immediately. Assistance in preparation for court appearances is available through the school district. Employees may wish to contact B.C.P.V.P.A. legal services, B.C.T.F. legal services or C.U.P.E. legal services as applicable.

1.4.

Principals are responsible for providing in-service training programs for all school employees. Managers are responsible for providing the training for other employees and for reviewing procedures annually.

1.5.

The Director of Instruction, Student Support Services, is responsible for the development and revision of a “Resource Package on Child Abuse and Neglect” for distribution to all schools.

1.6.

The Director of Instruction, Student Support Services, shall ensure that all counsellors employed in the district receive training in understanding the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, and in strategies to help teachers provide appropriate support in the classroom for the victim of abuse or neglect.

1.7.

The Director of Instruction, Student Support Services, is responsible to act on behalf of the school district in working with M.C.F.D. and the R.C.M.P. in the development and review of the Trilateral Protocol Agreement for the investigation of child abuse and neglect complaints and the monitoring of liaison with related agencies.

1.8.

The superintendent of schools shall ensure that school trustees shall receive information concerning general child abuse and neglect dynamics, reporting procedures, the Trilateral Protocol Agreement and the role of the Surrey Board of Education during an investigation.

1.9.

The following key reference documents and resources are available in each school and should be referenced for more detailed information:

a)	B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect (2007)
b)	Interagency Protocol for Dealing with Child Abuse in Surrey (2007)
c)	Critical Incidence Quick Reference for Staff (2007)
d)	Child Abuse Prevention In-service Training Package

Please Note: The B.C. Handbook for Action on Child Abuse and Neglect was updated and distributed in 2007, one copy per school and is available on the M.C.F.D. website at: “http://www.mcfd.gov.bc.ca”.

Revised:	2008-10-23
Revised:	2001-02-22
Approved:	1988-11-24