# Child protection

> Child protection standards at FizjoStyl – principles for working safely with children and young people. Information for patients and guardians.

Źródło: https://fizjostyl.pl/en/child-protection/ · język: en · pełny opis gabinetu: https://fizjostyl.pl/llms.txt

FizjoStyl · Krakow

Child protection standards at FizjoStyl – rules for working safely with children and young people. Information for patients and their parents or guardians.

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## Out of care for our youngest patients, we have introduced child protection standards

### Child Protection Standards – FizjoStyl Physiotherapy and Osteopathy Practice

Contents:

Chapter 1. General provisions.

Chapter 2. Rules ensuring safe relationships between minors and the staff of the healthcare provider.

Chapter 3. List of prohibited behaviours

Chapter 4. Rules and procedure for intervening when harm to a minor is suspected or information about harm to a minor is received, and the person responsible for receiving reports and notifying the relevant institutions.

Chapter 5. Rules for updating the Standards and the scope of responsibilities of the persons in charge of preparing staff members to apply them;

Chapter 6. Rules for making the Standards available to parents or legal or de facto guardians and to minors so that they can read and apply them

Chapter 7. Rules for using electronic devices with internet access and procedures for protecting minors from harmful content and threats online and in other recorded forms;

Chapter 8. Rules for drawing up a support plan for a minor after harm has been disclosed;

Chapter 9. Rules for protecting a minor's image;

Chapter 10. Final provisions.

## Purpose of the procedure

The purpose of this Procedure is to define the Child Protection Standards and implement them in the Practice. The Procedure has been drawn up with the need for minors to understand its provisions in mind, taking into account the situation of children with disabilities. The purpose of applying the Procedure is to ensure respect for the principle of equal treatment of minors in access to healthcare services and the principle of acting in the best interests of the minor, including the principle of listening to and taking into account the minor's opinion, in accordance with the procedure.

Legal basis:

The Act of 13 May 2016 on counteracting the threat of sexual offences and on the protection of minors, as amended.

## Chapter 1. General provisions

1. Whenever this document refers to:

a) harm to a minor – this means the commission of a prohibited act or a punishable act (including an indecent act) to the detriment of a minor by any person, including a staff member, or endangering the welfare of a minor, including neglect,

b) a minor – this means a person under 18 years of age,

c) management – this means the head of the healthcare provider,

d) staff – all persons employed by, cooperating with or providing services at GABINET FIZJOTERAPII I OSTEOPATII FIZJOSTYL who take part in providing healthcare services to minors or may have contact with a minor, or who take part in the recruitment procedure, regardless of their profession and the legal basis on which they provide healthcare services or perform their duties,

e) the standards – this means these Child Protection Standards,

f) employment – this means entering into cooperation with any person on the basis of an employment contract, appointment, nomination or civil-law contract (including a services contract)

2. Every staff member and the management of the healthcare provider are obliged to comply with the standards.

3. In order to prevent harm to minors, staff and management also take the actions set out in the standards when they observe or receive information about harm to a minor by third-party adults or other minors.

4. The head of the healthcare provider is responsible for implementing the standards, monitoring compliance with them, assessing their implementation and other tasks set out in the standards.

5. Before employing any person who will provide healthcare services to minors or take part in providing them, information must be obtained from the Register of Sex Offenders as to whether that person is listed in the register.

6. Before employing a person who will provide healthcare services to minors or take part in providing them, that person must be required to provide a current certificate from the National Criminal Register covering the offences set out in Chapter XIX (offences against life and health) and Chapter XXV (offences against sexual freedom) of the Criminal Code, in Article 189a (human trafficking) and Article 207 (abuse)

of the Criminal Code and in the Act of 29 July 2005 on counteracting drug addiction, or for prohibited acts corresponding to these offences under foreign law.

7. When employing a foreign national, they must be checked as to whether they appear in the criminal records of their country of origin or the country in which they have lived, with regard to the offences listed in standard 6 or corresponding prohibited acts punishable under the law of that country. The head of the healthcare provider is also entitled to require the foreign national to submit an appropriate declaration of no criminal record.

8. Only persons who are not listed in the Register of Sex Offenders and who have provided a current certificate from the National Criminal Register confirming that they have not been convicted of the offences referred to in standard 6 may be employed.

9. Every staff member is obliged to read the standards. A staff member confirms that they have read the standards by submitting a declaration, the template of which is Appendix 1 to the standards.

10. At least once a year, in December, the head of the healthcare provider

a) reviews the Register of Sex Offenders to establish whether any staff member who provides healthcare services to minors or takes part in providing them at the healthcare provider has been entered in that register;

b) collects declarations from each staff member who provides healthcare services to minors or takes part in providing them at the healthcare provider, stating that they have not been entered in the National Criminal Register for the offences set out in standard 6 and that no preparatory or court proceedings concerning these offences are pending against them. The template declaration is Appendix 1

11. Upon receiving information about:

a) criminal proceedings being initiated or conducted against a staff member for the offences set out in standard 6, the head of the healthcare provider immediately removes that staff member from all forms of contact with minors,

b) a staff member being convicted of an offence or offences set out in standard 6, the head of the healthcare provider immediately terminates the contract on which their employment is based or dismisses them from their position.

## Chapter 2. Rules ensuring safe relationships between minors and staff

1. The fundamental principle of all actions taken by the staff and management of GABINET FIZJOTERAPII I OSTEOPATII FIZJOSTYL in their contact with minors is to act for the minors' welfare.

2. Staff members and management:

a) treat minors with respect, remaining calm and patient in contact with them, and show understanding for their difficulties, problems and needs;

b) ensure that patients' rights are respected

c) respect minors' right to be cared for by their statutory representatives or de facto guardians;

d) as far as possible, explain to minors the actions being taken and seek their approval for the healthcare services provided;

e) give the minor the opportunity to express their views and ensure the minor's right to be heard.

3. Any person employed by the healthcare provider who is aware that a minor has suffered physical or psychological abuse or sexual exploitation is obliged to exercise particular care and tact in contact with that minor.

4. If a minor, through their behaviour, seeks physical contact with a staff member of a potentially inappropriate or unsuitable nature, the staff member takes appropriate, firm action, sensitively explaining to the minor the need to respect the boundaries of personal space.

5. Consent to examine a minor patient must be obtained from the person authorised under Polish law, except in emergencies.

6. A minor must be examined in the presence of their statutory representative or de facto guardian or, where this is not possible, in the presence of a staff member.

7. Examining a minor may involve the need for the patient to undress, be looked at, touched or have body cavities examined only in medically justified situations.

8. When examining intimate areas or carrying out examinations that require the examination of body cavities, particular tact and restraint must be exercised, explaining first, as far as possible, the need for such examinations and how they will be carried out both to the minor patient and to the statutory representative or de facto guardian present during the examination.

9. During the examination of a minor patient, privacy appropriate to their age, needs and expectations must be ensured.

10. Staffing permitting, examinations of a minor patient that involve their intimate areas are carried out by a staff member of the same sex.

11. Staff members pay attention to risk factors and signs of harm to minors.

## Chapter 3. List of prohibited behaviours

1. Any form of violence against minors is prohibited, in particular aggressive physical contact, criticism, or offensive or discriminatory behaviour.

2. Touching minors in a way that could be misinterpreted or that goes beyond a justified medical need is prohibited.

3. Showing minors erotic, pornographic or violent content is prohibited.

4. Ridiculing, humiliating or labelling minors is prohibited.

5. Physical contact with a minor may never be covert or concealed, involve any form of reward, or result from a relationship of power or authority.

6. Staff may not contact a minor directly, bypassing their statutory representative.

7. Staff may not establish contact with a minor in any form other than that required to provide healthcare services, in particular by sending invitations to, or accepting invitations from, minors on social media or messaging apps, or through other private forms of contact.

Chapter 4. Rules and procedure for intervening when harm to a minor is suspected, and the person responsible for receiving reports and notifying the relevant institutions

1. Upon observing or receiving information about:

a) a situation of violence against or exploitation of a minor – every staff member or member of management is obliged to react immediately in order to stop the prohibited behaviour and ensure the minor's protection;

b) behaviour giving rise to a suspicion of violence against or exploitation of a minor – every staff member or member of management is obliged to report it to the head of the healthcare provider.

c) a breach of the standards – every staff member or member of management is obliged to report it to the head of the healthcare provider.

2. The head of the healthcare provider seeks to clarify the matter without delay and to report the suspicion of harm to a minor by a staff member, taking all necessary action. The actions taken are documented.

3. If it is observed that a minor's statutory representative neglects their physical and psychological needs, or that the family is unable to provide proper care and upbringing, uses violence against the minor or consents to its use, or otherwise fails to cope in a way that harms the minor, action appropriate to the situation must be taken:

- in the case of poverty – inform the minor's statutory representative about the support available, in particular at social welfare centres.
- in the case of neglect – information may be provided about psychological support, helplines, counselling centres and specialists working in the area
- in the case of violence – the Blue Card procedure (Niebieska Karta) may be initiated.

4. If a conversation with the statutory representative shows that they are not interested in helping the minor, ignore the incident or the minor's physical and psychological condition, or otherwise do not support a minor who has experienced harm, the head of the healthcare provider prepares an application for a review of the family's situation and submits it to the competent family court. A note is made of the application.

5. If there is a suspicion that the minor's health or life is at risk, or there is a reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed against the minor, the head of the healthcare provider prepares a notification of a possible offence and submits it to the police or public prosecutor's office with local jurisdiction. A note is made of the notification.

6. Information about national helplines for victims of crime and domestic violence is displayed where healthcare services are provided:

- National helpline for victims of crime +48 222309900
- National Emergency Service for Victims of Domestic Violence "Niebieska Linia" (Blue Line) 800120002
- Helpline for Children and Young People 116 111

Chapter 5. Rules for updating the standards and the scope of responsibilities of the persons in charge of preparing staff members to apply them

1. The head of the healthcare provider reviews the standards at least every two years in order to adapt them to current needs and ensure compliance with applicable law. The conclusions of the review must be documented.

2. Staff members, minors or their statutory representatives may submit their comments on the standards to the head of the healthcare provider.

3. The head of the healthcare provider may check staff members' knowledge of the standards and organise training on the standards.

Chapter 6. Rules for making the standards available to parents or legal or de facto guardians and to minors so that they can read and apply them

1. The standards are a publicly available document. They can be found:

– at the clinic

– on the healthcare provider's website at www.fizjostyl.pl

2. Every minor or statutory representative of a minor may receive a copy of the standards available for inspection.

3. A shortened version of the standards containing the information relevant to minors has been prepared on the basis of the standards.

Chapter 7. Rules for using electronic devices with internet access and procedures for protecting minors from harmful content and threats online and in other recorded forms

1. The healthcare provider does not provide internet access.

2. Internet access is password-protected and configured to block access to websites with pornographic or erotic content, websites showing images of violence or cruelty, and gambling websites.

## Chapter 8. Rules for drawing up a support plan for a minor after harm has been disclosed

1. After harm to a minor has been disclosed, the head of the healthcare provider draws up a support plan together with the minor's statutory representative, unless it is the representative who is causing the harm.

2. Where possible, after the support plan has been drawn up, the head of the healthcare provider listens to the minor's views and takes them into account.

## Chapter 9. Rules for protecting a minor's image

1. A minor's image is protected

2. Publishing a minor's image recorded in any form requires the written consent of the minor's statutory representative.

3. If a minor's image is merely a detail of a whole, such as a gathering, a landscape or a public event, the representative's consent is not required.

## Chapter 10. Final provisions

1. With regard to persons employed at GABINET FIZJOTERAPII I OSTEOPATII FIZJOSTYL, the standards have the force of internal regulations which they are obliged to observe.

2. The standards enter into force on the day they are announced.

3. The head of the healthcare provider is authorised to amend the standards.

## SHORTENED VERSION OF THE CHILD PROTECTION STANDARDS – GABINET FIZJOTERAPII I OSTEOPATII FIZJOSTYL

1. We are the team at this clinic and we want you to feel comfortable and safe with us.

2. If you didn't like something or felt bad, you can tell the head of the clinic – Konrad Niziankiewicz – or get in touch by email: fizjostyl.kn@gmail.com

3. You come to your examination with your mum or dad. They can always stay with you.

4. Before the examination, the physiotherapist will explain what they are going to do and why.

5. You can tell the physiotherapist anything – they are here to help you.

6. Knowing what is bothering you, what you are afraid of or embarrassed about can be very important. It helps the physiotherapist to help you as well as possible.

7. You can ask the physiotherapists questions. They will be happy to answer them.

8. Nobody is allowed to shout at you, laugh at you, touch you without your permission or take photos of you.

9. Whatever is happening in your life, you are not alone. These are 24-hour phone numbers for people you can trust:

1) National Emergency Service for Victims of Domestic Violence "Niebieska Linia" (Blue Line): 800 120 002

2) Helpline for Children and Young People: 116 111

10. Our Wi-Fi is password-protected and some websites are blocked.

## Not sure if we can help?

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## Wolska 2a clinic

Prokocim, next to the Bieżanowska stop. Parking in front of the building.

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## Kliny clinic

ul. Wicherkiewicza 23/K. 2 parking spaces for patients.

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