Safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable adults) in our hospital

St John of God Health Care are committed to providing environments where children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable adults) receive the highest standard of care, where their rights are supported, and they have opportunity to thrive and be fruitful.

The Trustees, Board and Management of St John of God Health Care recognise that all children, young people and adults at risk have the right to be safe and protected from harm in all environments including those receiving care in our hospitals or community based service areas.

St John of God Health Care embraces this right to safety and is dedicated to promoting and continuing to ensure the protection of all children, young people and adults at risk in our care. 

The St John of God Health Care Child, Young Person and Adult at Risk Safeguarding Framework builds on the ten National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and its clear intention is to make child, young person and adult at risk safety everyone’s responsibility. While incorporating the ten national standards, the framework introduces several additional initiatives that are based on best practice principles and experiences of other countries in relation to child, young person and adult at risk safety, particularly in the health care setting.

Safeguarding Framework, supported by a variety of policies and resources, will assist St John of God Health Care to:

• Continue to promote the safety of children, young people and adults at risk
• Do everything reasonable to prevent child, young person and adult at risk abuse
• Ensure effective processes are in place to respond quickly and sensitively to allegations of child, young person and adult at risk abuse and/or neglect
• Encourage children, young people and adults at risk to ‘have a say’ especially on issues that are important to them or about decisions that affect their lives.

Source: St John of God Health Care Child, Young Person and Adult at Risk Safeguarding Framework 2020 - 2022.

Your child’s stay

From the moment you arrive, your child will receive individual care and attention. We want to make your child’s stay as comfortable as possible and provide televisions and child appropriate activities.

For you and your child’s comfort we endeavour to place you in single rooms.

For children who find heightened-sensory environments and experiences challenging, a special Storybook is available to read with them before day of admission.
This easy-to-follow story will introduce and familiarise them with their surroundings. The short book was developed by the caregivers on St Michael’s paediatric ward. 

Permitted Visitors for Children and Young People

As part of being a Child Safe Organisation, our Hospital is required to implement additional safety requirements in relation to visitors while a child or young person is receiving care. Our goal is to maintain a safe environment for patients, families and our caregivers. The requirements are that: 

• Parents, guardians or carers will provide a list of approved visitors and only visitors on that list will be allowed to visit.
• All adult parents, guardians, carers and visitors (18 and older) will be required to show a valid government ID and will be subject to pre-authorisation check at our Main Reception Desk if they are accompanying or visiting a child or young person patient. 
• Approved visitors will receive a hospital-issued permitted visitor sticker with unique details relating to their visit. This badge must be worn at all times.
• Visitors not on the approved list will be asked to contact families separately and will not be permitted to proceed to visit the child or young person.

Additional resources

The Charter on the Rights of Children and Young People in Healthcare Services in Australia provides a framework to help empower children and young people to know about their rights and guidance for the staff caring for them. View the Children and Young People’s Rights.