4.2.1  The employee and the educator

The employee and the educator are accountable to all learners and their caregivers to:

• Educate learners in a safe and non-discriminating environment.
• Identify any possible form of child abuse.
• Report suspected cases of child abuse to the institution manager.
• Facilitate disclosure.
• Support the complainant through the process that follows disclosure.
• Keep the parents, and all others concerned, abreast of the progress of the process.
• Implement and sustain a preventative programme in the curriculum.

4.2.2  The institution manager

The institution manager is accountable to the learners, the employees, the parents and the community. The institution manager is also accountable to the WCED to ensure that the contents of this document are brought to the attention of all staff-members at the institution.

The institution manager’s responsibilities are to ensure that:

• The complainant does not have to do any unnecessary repeating of disclosure details.
• The matter is dealt with confidentially at all times.
• All employees receive ongoing training to equip them with the necessary skills, including how to deal with incidents of child abuse.
• The complainant’s parents are informed of the plan of action and made aware of the support available to them.
• The incidents are reported to the relevant role-players, to follow up on the process and to make all the services provided by the WCED available to the learner and her or his caregivers.
• Intimidation of the complainant by other learners, employees or members of the community does not take place.
• Support is provided to the employee to whom the complainant has disclosed the abuse.
• An assessment of the facts available is made without interviewing the complainant.
• The safety of the complainant is assessed and assured.
• Information is not released to the media.
• A list of all service providers within the community is compiled and kept up to date.
• A management committee is established (if needed) as a sub-committee of the governing body to help in managing abuse in the institution. The function of this committee is not to discuss specific cases (and break confidentiality) but to ensure the implementation of this policy. In a school with a large enrolment, a representative of each school phase can be responsible to manage implementation (and the accountability that goes with it). This committee should report monthly to the governing body.
• The whole matter of child abuse is integrated into the institution’s Life Orientation programme.
• A record of any findings made by Labour Relations is kept in the file of the alleged employee offender.
• All statistics on complaints lodged are forwarded monthly to the H: SLES at the EMDC.

4.2.3  Head office and EMDC personnel

Their responsibilities are to:

• Train and develop employees in order to provide them with skills in the management of incidents of child abuse.
• Help the institutions with the management of complaints.
• Provide the necessary professional services as required by learners, parents and employees.
• Use the services available in the community in the best interests of learners and institutions.
• Compile a register of all reported cases of child abuse.
• Ensure that the institution manager and employees implement the policy document.
• Ensure that the prevention of child abuse is dealt with in the curriculum and school programmes.

4.2.4  South African Police Services

The responsibilities of the SAPS are to:

• Receive and investigate complaints.
• Obtain sworn statements from (among others) the complainant and her or his parents.
• Arrest the alleged offenders.

4.2.5  Medical services or district surgeon

Their roles are to:

• Safeguard the complainant’s physical health.
• Collect forensic evidence for a possible court case.
• Refer the complainant for long-term medical care.

4.2.6  Parents

Their roles are:

• To give emotional support to the learner.
• Never to reproach, condemn or blame the learner.
• To use experts to help the learner and the family.

4.2.7  Department of Justice

Its roles are to:

• Protect the child from abuse by order in the Children’s Court.
• Protect the child from abuse by way of Protection Orders (Interdicts).
• Bring the alleged offender to trial.
• Subpoena the witnesses to appear in court.
• Sentence the offender (if convicted).

4.2.8  Social workers of the Department of Welfare and welfare organisations

Their roles are to:

• Ensure the safety of the complainant.
• Investigate the incident and compile a report for the Children’s Court and/or the Criminal Court.
• Prepare the complainant, parents and employee for the court procedure.
• Render reconstructive services to the complainant and her or his family.

4.2.9  The Directorate: Labour Relations of the WCED

Note to the employee: The Directorate: Labour Relations is responsible for managing incidents of misconduct (when disclosure or a complaint has revealed that the alleged offender is an employee).

The roles of Labour Relations are to:

• Investigate all complaints (ensuring that the complainant’s safety, privacy and confidentiality are maintained at all times).
  
• Suspend an employee immediately as a precautionary measure when there is substantial evidence.
  
• Serve charges on the employee.
  
• Proceed with a disciplinary inquiry in a manner which protects the interests and the special needs of the child witness(es).
  
• Take a final decision on termination or continuation of service in terms of the Employment of Educators Act, 1998, as amended by the Education Laws Amendment Act, 2000.

4.2.10  The Safe Schools call centre:

The role of the Safe Schools call centre includes:

• Receiving and documenting all complaints received;
• Receiving complaints lodged by complainants and forwarding them to the institution manager;
• Setting up immediate support and help for the complainant.

4.2.11  The Safe Schools programme:

The role of the Safe Schools programme includes:

• Supporting institutions in the implementation of this policy;
• Providing training to employees when necessary.

Previous

Continue