‎CIO - Fountain of Life inc. has a responsibility to ensure that provisions are made for children, youth and vulnerable adults and must ensure that:‎

• ‎the well-being of the child, youth or vulnerable adult is paramount‎

• ‎all children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs are entitled to protection from abuse‎

• ‎the rights, wishes and feelings of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and their families are respected and listened to‎

• ‎all suspicions and allegations of abuse and malpractice will be taken seriously and responded to promptly and appropriately.‎

 

‎CIO - Fountain of Life inc. Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults aims to ensure that the actions of anyone in the context of the work done by CIO - Fountain of Life inc. are transparent and safeguard and promote the well-being of all children and vulnerable adults associated with the Church. The Procedures provide guidance on appropriate standards, including reducing opportunities for abuse, harm or intimidation, recruitment and training of staff and participants, behaviour towards children and vulnerable adults, professional boundaries, ethical behaviour, acceptable and unacceptable relationships, how to best avoid or manage difficult situations and how to report suspicions, reports or incidents.‎

 

‎Implementation‎

• ‎All staff and participants working with youth must be trained and follow the CIO - Fountain of Life inc. Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.‎

• ‎The Procedures are publicly available on the‎‎ website www.cio-fountainoflife.org‎‎ and are provided to all applicants.‎

 

‎Communication framework‎

‎All staff and participants of CIO - Fountain of Life inc. have a duty to report any suspicion, allegation or incident of abuse. Staff and participants are not trained to deal with situations of abuse or to decide if abuse has occurred and should record the details as accurately as possible and immediately refer any suspicion, allegation or incident to the CIO - Child Protection Officer of Fountain of Life inc. in the first instance, who will consider the information and decide on next steps.‎

 

‎Statement of Procedures‎

‎CIO - Fuente de la Vida inc. has a duty of care to safeguard all children and vulnerable adults involved in CIO - Fountain of Life inc. from harm. All children and individuals have the right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. CIO - Fountain of Life inc. will ensure the safety and security of all children and vulnerable adults involved in CIO - Fountain of Life inc. through membership in the CIO - Fountain of Life inc. Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Guidelines adopted by CIO - Fountain of Life inc. and described below.‎

 

‎Zero Tolerance Statement‎

‎CIO - Fountain of Life inc. maintains a zero-tolerance procedure for sexual abuse of children or vulnerable adults by CIO - Fountain of Life inc. staff, contractors, subcontractors and participants under its care. Any person convicted of such an offence shall be subject to immediate dismissal and prosecution within the law of the relevant jurisdiction.‎

 

‎Definitions‎

‎A child is defined as a person under the age of 18.‎

‎A vulnerable adult is defined as a person who needs or may need community care services due to a mental or other disability, age or illness, and who is or may be unable to care for themselves, or unable to protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation.‎

 

‎Objectives of the procedures‎

‎The goal of the CIO - Fountain of Life inc. Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults is to promote good practices:‎

• ‎provide children and vulnerable adults with adequate safety and security while in the care of CIO - Fountain of Life inc.‎

• ‎enable and assist all staff and participants to provide informed and safe responses to specific child and vulnerable adult protection issues.‎

 

‎PROMOTION OF GOOD PRACTICES‎

‎Abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgment about the appropriate action to take.‎

 

‎Abuse can occur within many situations, including the participants' home, school, sport, and environment. Some people will actively seek employment or volunteer work with children and vulnerable adults to harm them. A staff member or participant can have regular contact with children and vulnerable adults and be an important liaison in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspected cases of malpractice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.‎

 

‎When a child or vulnerable adult enters a CIO - Fountain of Life inc. activity having been abused outside of the CIO - Fountain of Life inc. setting, the activities can play a crucial role in improving the person's self-esteem. In such cases, if past abuses are reported, CIO - Fountain of Life inc. must work with appropriate local agencies to ensure that the required local support is received.‎

 

‎GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES‎

‎All staff should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote well-being and reduce the possibility of harm and abuse. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.‎

 

‎Good practices means:‎

• ‎All staff and participants should work in an open environment and remain visible when working with children and vulnerable adults, for example, avoid private or unattended situations, whenever practical and possible, and ensure that another adult is present when working close to children and vulnerable adults.‎

• ‎Encourage open communication without secrets.‎

• ‎Treat all children and vulnerable adults equally, with respect and dignity.‎

• ‎Always putting well-being first, before winning or achieving goals.‎

• ‎Build balanced relationships based on mutual trust that allow children and vulnerable adults to participate in the decision-making process.‎

• ‎Making CIO - Fountain of Life inc. activities fun, enjoyable and promoting equity‎

• ‎All meeting and service areas must be smoke and alcohol free.‎

• ‎Be an excellent role model: This includes following all local laws, not smoking, and drinking alcohol inappropriately in the company of children and vulnerable adults.‎

• ‎Remove inappropriate piercings and cover tattoos, whenever possible, when in the company of children.‎

• ‎Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback instead of negative reviews.‎

• ‎Recognize developmental needs and abilities and avoid overtraining or competition and not pressure them against their will.‎

• ‎Maintain a safe and appropriate distance (for example, it is not appropriate for staff or participants to have an intimate relationship with or share a room with a child or vulnerable adult).‎

• ‎CIO - Fuente de la Vida inc. staff and participants should not enter the room of a child or vulnerable adult or invite them to their rooms unless they are accompanied.‎

• ‎Ensure that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it must be provided openly.‎

• ‎Involve local partner staff and parents whenever possible. For example, encouraging them to take responsibility in the locker room. If groups have to be supervised in the locker room, always make sure people work in pairs.‎

• ‎Ensure that young people have access to both a male and female staff member. However, remember that gender abuse can also occur, as can abuse from woman to man and abuse from young to young.‎

• ‎Ensure written parental consent to act in place of a parent, if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.‎

• ‎Keep a written record of any injuries that occur, along with details of any treatment administered.‎

 

‎Practices to be avoided‎

‎The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable, it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone from the local partners, the CIO leader - Fountain of Life inc. or the child's parents or closest relatives. For example, a child or vulnerable adult suffers an injury and needs to go to the hospital, or a parent/caregiver fails to pick up a child at the end of a service.‎

• ‎Avoid spending time alone with children or vulnerable adults away from others.‎

• ‎Avoid carrying or leaving a child or vulnerable adult to an event or activity.‎

 

‎Practices that should never be sanctioned‎

‎The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:‎

• ‎Causing direct physical harm, including hitting, hurting, or physically assaulting a child or vulnerable adult on purpose.‎

• ‎Causing direct emotional harm, including acting in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle, or degrade children or vulnerable adults, or perpetrate any form of emotional harm.‎

• ‎Use language that may be abusive, offensive, or inappropriate.‎

• ‎Engage in rough, physical, or sexually provocative games, including horse games.‎

• ‎Share a room with a child or vulnerable adult.‎

• ‎Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate contact.‎

• ‎Allow children to use inappropriate language without being questioned.‎

• ‎Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in amusement.‎

• ‎Reducing a child or adult vulnerable to tears as a form of control.‎

• ‎Condoning or engaging in behavior that is illegal, unsafe, or abusive.‎

• ‎Discriminate, show differential treatment or favor the exclusion of others.‎

• ‎Failure to act and record any allegations made by a child or vulnerable adult‎

• ‎Doing things of a personal nature for children or vulnerable adults, which they can do for themselves‎

• ‎Spend at any time outside of the specified program hours with a child or vulnerable person we work with;‎

  • ‎Invite or allow children or vulnerable adults to stay with you at home unsupervised‎

  • ‎Sexually exploiting any child, vulnerable adult or any person‎

  • ‎Non-consensual sexual contact‎

 

‎This list is not exclusive, therefore our staff and participants should avoid any other activity that may be considered a bad practice.‎

 

‎Sometimes it may be necessary for staff or participants to do things of a personal nature for children and vulnerable adults, especially if they are young or disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents, care workers and local associated staff, CIO - Fountain of Life inc. manager and staff and any other relevant parties and should be avoided whenever practical. There is a need to be receptive to a person's reactions. If a person is totally dependent on you, talk to them about what you're doing and give options whenever possible. This is particularly true if you are involved in any clothing or undressing of outerwear, or when there is physical contact, lifting, or assisting a child or vulnerable adult to carry out particular activities. Avoid taking responsibility for tasks for which you are not properly trained and, whenever possible, ask the local partner staff or parents to complete the task and work to ensure that the task is not required of CIO - Fountain of Life inc. staff and participants in the future.‎

 

‎Incidents to be reported/recorded‎

‎If any of the following occurs, you should immediately report this to the appropriate officer and record the incident. You should also ensure that local partner staff and parents are informed:‎

• ‎If you accidentally hurt a child or vulnerable adult‎

• ‎If he/she seems distressed in any way‎

• ‎If a child, vulnerable adult, or anyone else appears to be sexually aroused by their actions‎

• ‎If a child, vulnerable adult, or anyone else misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.‎

 

‎USE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC/FILMING EQUIPMENT‎

‎There is evidence that some people have used volunteering as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film images of children and vulnerable adults in vulnerable positions. All staff and participants should be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the CIO - Fountain of Life inc. Child Protection Officer.‎

 

‎There is no intention to prevent staff or participants from taking photos of the program activities, however, the staff of the local partner organization must be informed of the reasons for the photographs, the intended use of the photos and their consent obtained. There should be project guidelines for participants and staff regarding photography of people in the project, which should be managed and enforced by the staff at CIO - Fountain of Life inc. All photos from CIO - Fountain of Life inc. must be stored and used properly.‎

 

‎RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF STAFF AND PARTICIPANTS‎

‎CIO - Fountain of Life inc. recognizes that anyone can have the potential to abuse in any way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that potential offenders are prevented from working with children and vulnerable adults.‎

• ‎Through all stages of recruitment, for all staff and participants, including promotion, application, interview, acceptance and booking and pre-departure, reference should be made to CIO's Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Procedures - Fountain of Life inc., including reference to identity and background checks, as applicable, and CIO's Child Protection Officers - Fountain of Life inc., as barriers to solicitation by potential offenders.‎

• ‎All staff and participants must be referred to the Procedures‎

• ‎Safer recruitment practices should be applied during the selection process for all CIO staff and participants - Fountain of Life inc., including background checks for all CIO staff - Fountain of Life inc., and enhanced additional criminal background checks or equivalent, whenever possible, for all staff and participants working on community development projects.‎

• ‎Avoid using promotional materials, including texts, photos, and videos that suggest opportunities for criminals.‎

• ‎All staff must provide contacts for two confidential references. These arbitrators should be contacted directly by CIO - Fountain of Life inc. and ask direct questions about the applicant's suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults.‎

• ‎For staff working specifically in community development programmes, references should include, where possible, at least one relating to previous work with children or vulnerable adults.‎

• ‎If given the opportunity to call for more information, the referee should be called directly, as sometimes people may be more willing to expand the information over the phone or give more direct information or suspicion over the phone.‎

• ‎All staff must provide proof of their identity (a valid passport or driver's license).‎

• ‎It should be verified that the application form has been completed in its entirety (including the sections on criminal records and self-evictions).‎

• ‎You must agree to the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Terms and Conditions, which include agreeing to follow our safety procedures, Risk Assessments, and Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Procedures.‎

 

‎Training‎

‎In addition to pre-screening controls, the safeguarding process includes post-recruitment training to help staff and participants:‎

• ‎Understand your requirements and responsibilities‎

• ‎Understand CIO's Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Procedures - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. and identify areas where further explanation or training is required.‎

• ‎Analyse their own practice in relation to established good practices, and ensure that their practice is not likely to lead to complaints.‎

• ‎Acknowledge your responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected malpractice or possible abuse.‎

• ‎Respond to concerns expressed by a child or vulnerable adult.‎

• ‎Work safely and effectively with children and vulnerable adults.‎

 

 

‎RESPONDING TO ACCUSATIONS OR SUSPICIONS‎

‎It is not the responsibility of anyone working at CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC., in a paid or unpaid capacity, to decide whether or not abuse has occurred. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting it to a CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer who will decide the next steps.‎

 

‎CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. will assure all staff/participants that it will fully support and protect any person who in good faith reports their concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child or vulnerable adult.‎

 

‎When there is a complaint against a staff member or participant, there can be three types of investigation:‎

• ‎a criminal investigation‎

• ‎an investigation into child protection‎

• ‎a disciplinary or misconduct investigation.‎

‎The results of the police and child protection investigation may influence and inform the disciplinary investigation, but all available information will be used to reach a decision.‎

 

‎REPORT CONCERNS ABOUT MALPRACTICES‎

‎If, after consideration, the allegation is clearly about malpractice rather than a suspicion, allegation, or incident of abuse, the CIO – FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer will treat it as a problem of misconduct.‎

‎If the allegation is malpractice on the part of the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer, or if the matter has been handled improperly and concerns persist, the Director of CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. should be informed, who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.‎

 

‎REPORT CONCERNS ABOUT SUSPECTED ABUSE‎

‎Any suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult has been abused by a staff member or participant should be reported to the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer, who will take such steps as it deems necessary to ensure the safety of the child or vulnerable adult in question and any other person who may be at risk.‎

‎All suspicions, accusations and incidents must be recorded.‎

‎If after consideration, the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer is concerned, he will refer the accusation to the local department of social services.‎

‎If the CIO Child Protection Officer - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. is the subject of the suspicion/accusation, the report must be made to the Director of CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC.‎

 

‎CONFIDENTIALITY‎

‎Every effort should be made to ensure that the confidentiality of all interested parties is maintained. Information should be managed and disseminated on the basis of the need to know only. This includes the following people:‎

• ‎the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officers‎

• ‎the parents of the person who has allegedly been abused‎

• ‎the person making the accusation‎

• ‎social services/police‎

• el CIO - Fountain of Life INC. Director

‎CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. child protection officers should be contacted in the first instance and advised on who needs to know and who should inform them, usually through the liaison with local social services.‎

‎Social services will decide who should approach the alleged abuser (or the parents if the alleged abuser is a child).‎

‎Information should be stored in a secure location with limited access to designated persons (e.g., that the information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant, and secure).‎

 

‎INVESTIGATIONS AND FURTHER ACTION‎

‎Internal consultations and possible suspension‎

‎The CIO Child Protection Officer - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. will make a decision on whether anyone accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further police and social services investigations.‎

‎Regardless of social services findings or law enforcement investigations, CIO Child Protective Officers – FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. will evaluate all individual cases to decide whether a staff member, participant, or anyone working on behalf of/representing the CIO – FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. should be reinstated and, if so, how this can be handled sensitively.‎

‎This can be a difficult decision; in particular when there is insufficient evidence to confirm any action by the police. In such cases, the Child Protection Officers of CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. must make a decision based on the available information that could suggest that, in a balance of probabilities, the allegation is more likely than not to be true. The well-being of the child or vulnerable adult must remain of paramount importance at all times.‎

 

‎Support in coping with the consequences of abuse‎

‎The type of support that children, parents, participants, and staff members may need should be considered. Using helplines, support groups, and open meetings will maintain an open culture and aid the healing process.‎

‎Consideration should be given to what kind of support may be appropriate for the alleged perpetrator.‎

 

‎Allegations of past abuses‎

‎Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (for example, by an adult who was abused as a child or by a staff member or participant who is still working with children or vulnerable adults within CIO – FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. or elsewhere).‎

‎When such an allegation is made, the procedures detailed above must be followed, the matter should be reported to the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer, who will decide the next steps and, if appropriate, will report the matter to social services or the police. This is because other children or vulnerable adults may be at risk from this person. Anyone who has a prior criminal conviction for abuse-related offenses is automatically excluded from working with children.‎

 

BULLYING

‎Every child and vulnerable adult has the right to experience a safe environment free from abuse and intimidation.‎

‎CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. plays an important role in creating a positive spirit that challenges bullying by empowering people to understand the impact of bullying, how best to deal with it, and agree on standards of behavior.‎

 

‎REPORT CONCERNS OUTSIDE OF CIO'S IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. (E.G., A PARENT OR CAREGIVER)‎

‎Report your concerns to the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer, who after considering it, should contact social services or law enforcement as soon as possible.‎

‎If the CIO Child Protection Officer - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. is not available, the person being informed or discovered of the abuse should contact social services or law enforcement immediately.‎

‎Social Services and the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officer will decide how to engage parents/caregivers.‎

‎Maintain confidentiality only on the basis of the need to know.‎

 

‎PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE POLICE OR SOCIAL SERVICES‎

‎Information about suspected abuse should be accurate and a detailed record should always be made at the time of disclosure/concern. Ideally, you should include the following, whenever possible:‎

• ‎The name, age, and date of birth of the child's or vulnerable adult.‎

• ‎The address and phone number of the child or vulnerable adult.‎

• ‎Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own or someone else's concerns.‎

• ‎The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors, and other relevant information.‎

• ‎Make a clear distinction between what is a fact, an opinion, or a rumor.‎

• ‎A description of any visible hematoma or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioral changes.‎

• ‎Details of witnesses to the incidents.‎

• ‎The child's and vulnerable adult's account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how the bruises or other injuries occurred.‎

• ‎Have the parents or closest relatives been contacted?‎

• ‎If so, what has been said?‎

• ‎Has anyone else been consulted? If so, record the details.‎

• ‎If the child or vulnerable adult was not the person who reported the incident, has the child or vulnerable adult been spoken to? If so, what was said?‎

• ‎Has anyone been accused of being the abuser? Record details.‎

• ‎Whenever possible, referral to the police or social services should be confirmed in writing and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.‎

 

‎It is important to remember that as staff and participants of CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC., our responsibility is to report all suspicions, allegations and incidents to the CIO - FOUNTAIN OF LIFE INC. Child Protection Officers, who have been trained to advise on the next steps to take.‎