Child safety at the Salvos

We all have a part to play

At The Salvation Army, keeping children and young people safe is everyone's responsibility. We can all help make sure our spaces, programs and relationships are safe and welcoming.  We are a [Child Safe Organisation], which means we follow the National Child Safe Principles. These are guidelines that help us protect children and young people from harm. We also use our [mission, vision and values] to guide how we plan and review everything we do.

What we do to keep children safe

We take child safety seriously and have strong systems in place to protect children and young people. Here are some of the ways we do this:

• Safe recruitment - We make sure we hire the right people for the right roles.
• Mandatory safeguarding training - Everyone who works or volunteers with us learns about child safety.
• Risk assessments - We plan and check activities and programs to make sure they are safe.
• Listening to feedback - We encourage children, young people and families to share their thoughts and ideas.
• Respond to concerns - We act quickly if someone behaves in a way that could harm a child or young person.

Safeguarding includes protecting children and young people from harm. It’s about creating places where they feel respected, supported and free from abuse, neglect or danger. Safeguarding also includes helping adults understand how to spot risks and take action to keep children safe.   At our church sites and in programs for children and youth, we also use:

• Child safety posters - These help remind everyone of our commitment to safety.
• Permission forms - Parents or guardians fill these out before children join programs.
• Information sessions - Leaders and participants learn what to expect and how to stay safe.