Access Arts Inc® - The Key to Success in the Arts

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Access Arts Inc. defines a Member as any person who has filled out a membership form to join the organisation.

Staff are defined as persons engaged in Office, workshop/project or program, Volunteer or Student placement work at Access Arts Inc.

Purpose:
To prevent any instances of abuse, neglect or exploitation from occurring at any Access Arts workshops, projects, programs or events.
To ensure that all Access Arts Inc. Members and Staff are aware of the mechanisms of support should they witness or be the victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Aims:

• Access Arts Inc is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all members, staff, and all children who attend any Access Arts workshops, projects, programs or events.
• Access Arts policies and procedures aim to reduce the risk of abuse occurring and ensure that a caring and appropriate response is taken should abuse occur.
• As part of Access Arts on-going commitment to its Quality Assurance system, Access Arts regularly reviews and updates its policies and procedures, with a full review occurring yearly.
• To promote a zero tolerance policy on abuse, neglect or exploitation.
• To ensure that all Access Arts Inc. Members and Staff understand what constitutes abuse, neglect or exploitation.
• To help prevent abuse, neglect & exploitation by ensuring that all Staff are appropriately screened for past violent or sexually related offences, by holding a current Disability Services Queensland Police Check and Blue Card (if working with children).

Definition of Abuse:

• to hurt or injure by maltreatment;
• to force sexual activity on;
• to assail with contemptuous, coarse, or insulting words.

Some actions may not be regarded as abuse, but are unacceptable behaviour for Access Arts staff and members.

These include:

• Inappropriate conversation of a sexual nature
• Coarse language, especially of a sexual nature
• Suggestive gestures or remarks
• Jokes of a sexual nature
• Inappropriate, but accidental touching
• Inappropriate literature (e.g. PG, M, MA, R or X rated material used with young children)
• Acts of violence committed by Staff in the course of an activity

The age of individuals is recognised as one of the determinants in deciding what acceptable and unacceptable behaviour is. The Executive Director and Management Committee will ensure that high standards of conduct are maintained at all times.

Definition of Neglect:

• Failure to provide responsible supervision;
• Failure to provide a safe workplace or workspace for any Access Arts Inc. related activities;
• Failure to render assistance in matters of Workplace Health and Safety;
• Failure to assist with appropriate medical care when required, in a timely manner.

Definition of Exploitation:

• Access Arts defines exploitation as any act that victimises or treats someone unfairly.
• This also refers to the selfish or unfair using of someone for one's own advantage.
• Exploitation is a form of abuse.

Policy:

• People with a disability who may be socially and/or physically isolated have a heightened vulnerability, which has the potential to raise the likelihood of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Additionally, some people with a disability may display complex and challenging behaviour, either intentionally or unintentionally, to fulfil a need/purpose. These behaviours may result in the person with a disability also being a perpetrator of abuse.
• Access Arts Inc does not provide personal care support. Any member who requires personal care support must bring their own support worker to all Access Arts workshops, programs and events (see Personal Care Support policy)
• All Staff, including Volunteers, Student Placements and Management Committee must hold a current Disability Services Queensland Police Check and Blue Card (if working with children) or apply within a week of commencing work at Access Arts Inc.
• All staff are subject to a probationary period after which their contract is reviewed. All staff have regular supervision sessions and 6 monthly performance reviews. (see staff employment policy)
• All Members, Staff and Management Committee Members have the right to the protection of legal and human rights, and freedom from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Incidents of abuse are unlikely to take place in front of another person and the presence of a witness can assist in clarifying questionable allegations. For these reasons, two staff and/or volunteers will always be present when working with or supervising members and children in any Access Arts workshop, event or project.
• Staff have the right to ask people who do not have a valid reason to be present at any Access Arts activities to leave. Police may be contacted if such persons refuse to comply with any reasonable request to leave.
• In the event of abuse, neglect or exploitation, clause three of the Privacy, Confidentiality & Freedom of Information policy will be made void. This clause states that "Confidential information relating to an individual is not to be released to anyone without written consent from the individual". Confidential information relating to an individual is to be released ONLY to the legal authorities.
• All Members, Staff and Access Arts Inc. Management Committee members shall be made aware of the Anti-Discrimination Acts, both federal and state, and also the Disabilities Services Act 2006.

Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Procedure

Members and Staff may enlist the support of an advocate at any time during the following process.
The advocate must sign a disclaimer which states that they are acting on their behalf.

1. If Staff or Members witness, receive an allegation of, or suspect that abuse, neglect or exploitation has taken place, it will be reported immediately to the Police, the Executive Director and Access Arts insurer.

   A suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation can be reasonably assumed if a person, or someone close to the person (e.g. relative, friend, carer) discloses that they have been abused.

   The Police will also be notified if a member or staff member discloses an incident of abuse that has occurred somewhere other than Access Arts Inc (e.g. home).

   The Executive Director will ensure that confidentiality is maintained regarding the issue and that the person who reported the suspicion will not experience discrimination as a result.

2. Any disclosures by a member or staff of Access Arts Inc and all details of the subsequent investigation will be documented promptly and the documents will be held in the locked filing cabinet in the Access Arts Office. All computer files relating to the matter will be password protected. Confidentiality will be maintained at all times.

3. In cases where the suspicion is regarding the Executive Director, this will be reported to the Chair of the Management Committee. Confidentiality will be maintained regarding the issue.

4. The Executive Director or Chair of Access Arts Inc. will immediately report any suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation to Access Arts Disability Services Queensland Community Resource Officer who will refer it to the responsible officer who will follow the necessary resolution procedures. (For further information on DSQ’s policy and procedures on Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation please go to http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/publications/abuse-policy/introduction.html )

5. Access Arts will comply with any directive from Disability Services Queensland as a result of the investigation within their required timeframes.

6. The Executive Director or Chair of Access Arts Inc. will immediately report any suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation to Access Arts Public Liability Insurance provider.

7. The alleged perpetrator will be immediately suspended from Access Arts and its associated programs and activities until the allegation is resolved.

8. If the allegation is proved the perpetrator will be permanently expelled and any necessary legal action will be taken immediately with direction from Disability Services Queensland.

9. Issues relating to abuse, neglect and exploitation are seen as critical incidents for all parties and therefore the support mechanisms outlined in the Critical Incident Procedure should be invoked. This includes independent counselling as requested.