footsteps™ certified to train own staff in child protection

25 July 2012

footsteps™ - first organisation in NZ to gain Child Matters certification to train own staff in child protection

Early childhood education organisation, footsteps™, is the first organisation in New Zealand to gain a certification by leading child protection training organisation, Child Matters, qualifying it to train its own staff in child protection.

Additionally all 65 footsteps staff have received the necessary training to ensure they are able to provide a safe environment for children.

Kevin Christie, Founder and Director footsteps, says, ““At the heart of the footsteps philosophy is an attitude of care. This is not merely about saying ‘we care’ but actually doing something about it.

“That’s why, in conjunction with Child Matters, we have put a robust plan into place to train every staff member in child abuse prevention. We believe there should be zero tolerance when it comes to child abuse. That’s why we encourage all our people to go through training so they can identify child abuse and know how to act when they suspect it.

“In light of the coroner’s decision on the Kahui inquest that has come out this morning, all parents should be asking themselves if the people they are leaving their children with are safe. In footsteps case, we’ve gone the extra mile to make children’s safety paramount. But, more than that, our commitment through this training means our teachers will be vigilant about preventing child abuse while they are in out in the community.”

While Child Matters has been training professionals working with children in recognising and responding to child abuse for over 18 years, this is the first time it has certified an organisation to train its own staff.

This first-ever granted certificate qualifies footsteps Director, Marina Jury, to train future staff in child protection through Child Matters’ half-day workshop module.

footsteps has trained its teachers and administrative staff in child protection training through Child Matters since 2009. This certificate takes the organisation’s training one step further by bringing it in-house, fully integrating child protection training into the fabric of the organisation.

Over the past two years, footsteps worked through training all its staff throughout the country at a level appropriate to their position. Staff members were all trained in a half-day workshop, and all staff are also working through completing a five-day comprehensive programme.

One staff member has completed a one-year Diploma in Child Protection Studies, with more staff set to complete the diploma later this year.

For more information, phone 0800 366 878 (0800 footsteps) or visit www.footsteps.co.nz.

About footsteps:

footsteps’ is a an organisation that offers home-based childcare and free early childhood education programmes.

The footsteps early childhood education service is fully funded by the Ministry of Education, so there is no charge to those taking advantage of the service. Clients utilising the childcare service also qualify for the Ministry of Education’s 20 hours of free ECE funding and Work and Income subsidies.

footsteps was established in 2001 and began offering its free early childhood education programme throughout New Zealand the same year. The company launched its childcare service in June 2012.

footsteps childcare and home-based early childhood education services are both offered in most urban and rural communities across the country.

ENDS

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