5. How we use our intervention strategies
BCS employs a range of strategies appropriate to different levels of risk to achieve compliance and create safer environments for children and young people. These strategies vary from targeted enforcement of legislation to providing templates and expert guidance to assist regulated organisations and individuals to become compliant.
Set standards
- Legislation - the WWC Act creates the framework of obligations for organisations and blue/exemption card holders.
- Changes to the legislation will be communicated through the BCS website, social media and electronic notifications.
Inform
- Promote access and awareness of obligations through the BCS Community Information team including the dedicated contact centre, website resources and YouTube videos.
- Provide notifications sent to organisations that include specific obligations relevant to them.
- Promote understanding of each obligation and the importance of complying.
- Offer education sessions to allow access to BCS knowledge experts in a group forum as well as encouraging communication between stakeholders in relation to the safety and wellbeing of children.
Build capacity
- Create tools, templates and expert guidance to assist organisations to keep effective records of blue and exemption card holders and ensure all blue card notifications are actioned.
- Create clear and concise resources for organisations to develop maintain and strengthen their child and youth risk management strategies.
- Use data cleansing methods to improve records in conjunction with organisations so they receive appropriate working with children notifications.
- Empower parents and children with knowledge so they expect a high standard of child protection policies and procedures within a child-related service environment.
Monitor compliance
- Investigate individuals and organisations to ensure obligations are met.
- Audit blue and exemption card records to identify breaches and where administrative breaches are identified, provide an opportunity to comply.
- Conduct pro-active compliance checks to verify action taken when an individual is identified as being unable to work with children and young people.
- Audit and monitor compliance with child and youth risk management strategy requirements. All documentation is reviewed to identify issues, feedback is provided and resulting action is monitored.
- Conduct pro-active audits of targeted child-related organisations.
Enforce
- Refer matters to QPS when breaches are identified and/or the above strategies are unsuccessful in achieving compliance. QPS will investigate and may prosecute, which could result in criminal charges and/or convictions. Some offences have substantial financial penalties or terms of imprisonment.
- Refer matters to regulatory partners if there are concerns for the safety and wellbeing of children in situations governed by those regulatory bodies/ agencies. These partners include the Queensland College of Teachers; Department of Education; Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors; and Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women.
Evaluate
- Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the investigations undertaken and make relevant changes where improvements are identified.
- Communication with organisations is evaluated and consideration given to service improvements.
