Our Commitment
 
At Clever Kids Early Intervention, the safety, wellbeing, dignity and rights of every child and young person are at the centre of everything we do.
We are committed to providing safe, ethical, evidence-informed and family-centred services. Our policies and practices are designed to align with the NDIS Code of Conduct, applicable NDIS Practice Standards, Victorian Child Safe Standards, privacy requirements and other relevant Commonwealth and Victorian laws.

The NDIS Code of Conduct applies to registered and unregistered NDIS providers and workers. It establishes expectations relating to respect, integrity, safety, competence, privacy, prevention of abuse and fair service delivery.

Child Safety and Wellbeing
Clever Kids has zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, grooming, exploitation, discrimination, violence or inappropriate conduct.
We are committed to creating environments where children and young people:

• Feel safe, welcomed and respected

• Are listened to and taken seriously

• Are supported to communicate their preferences and concerns

• Can participate in decisions about their therapy in a developmentally appropriate way

• Are treated with dignity, patience and compassion

• Are protected from physical, emotional, psychological and sexual harm

• Can raise a concern without fear of punishment or a reduction in services

Our child-safety approach is informed by Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards, which require organisations providing services to children to maintain policies, procedures and everyday practices that protect children from abuse and harm.
Any allegation, disclosure, observation or suspicion of child abuse or serious harm will be taken seriously, documented and responded to promptly. Reports will be made to Victoria Police, Child Protection, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or another appropriate authority when legally required.

Children’s Voices and Participation

We recognise that children have the right to be involved in decisions that affect them.
Our therapists use communication methods suited to each child’s age, developmental level and communication needs. This may include spoken language, visuals, gestures, signs, augmentative and alternative communication, observation and consultation with people who know the child well.
We pay attention to verbal and non-verbal indications that a child is uncomfortable, distressed, tired or does not wish to continue an activity. Therapy activities may be modified, paused or discontinued when necessary to protect the child’s wellbeing.
Rights, Choice and Control
Children, young people and their families have the right to receive services that respect their legal and human rights, individual values, privacy, dignity, independence and informed choices. These principles form part of the NDIS Practice Standards relating to participant rights and responsibilities.
Families are supported to:

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• Understand the services being recommended

• Participate in setting meaningful therapy goals

• Ask questions about therapy methods and recommendations

• Receive clear information about fees and service arrangements

• Request changes to their child’s service

• Decline a recommended activity or support

• Provide, withhold or withdraw consent

• Access an interpreter, advocate or support person

• Make a complaint without being disadvantaged

We aim to communicate information in a clear, accessible and family-friendly way.
Respectful and Inclusive Services. Clever Kids welcomes children and families from all cultures, backgrounds, identities, abilities, languages, family structures and communities.

We are committed to providing culturally safe and inclusive services. We respect each family’s culture, beliefs, language, values and preferences and consider these when developing therapy goals and service plans.
We recognise and respect the identity, culture and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. We are committed to creating culturally safe services where Aboriginal children and young people can express and maintain their identity without discrimination.

Safe and Evidence-Informed Practice
Therapy is planned according to each child’s assessed strengths, needs, goals, interests and family priorities.
We are committed to:

• Using evidence-informed and developmentally appropriate approaches

• Providing therapy within each practitioner’s qualifications and scope of practice

• Setting individualised and measurable goals

• Monitoring progress through observation, assessment and data collection

• Reviewing therapy recommendations regularly

• Collaborating with families and relevant professionals

• Providing ongoing clinical supervision and professional development

• Changing or discontinuing strategies that are not safe, appropriate or beneficial

Our ESDM programs are overseen by an ESDM Certified Therapist, and therapists delivering ESDM have completed advanced ESDM training and receive ongoing supervision.
Staff Screening and Suitability

Clever Kids follows safer recruitment and employment practices.

Team members working directly with children are required to hold a current Victorian Working with Children Check unless a lawful exemption applies. Additional screening, including an NDIS Worker Screening Check, is required where applicable to the person’s role and the services being delivered. Victorian law requires people undertaking relevant child-related work to obtain the appropriate Working with Children clearance.

Our recruitment and monitoring processes may include:

• Qualification and registration checks

• Working with Children Check verification

• NDIS Worker Screening Check verification where applicable

• Identity and employment-history checks

• Professional reference checks

• Police checks where appropriate

• Mandatory induction and child-safety training

• NDIS Code of Conduct training

• Ongoing supervision and performance review

• Clear professional boundaries and staff conduct expectations

The NDIS Commission requires worker-screening clearances for workers engaged by registered providers in identified risk-assessed roles.
Professional Boundaries
All Clever Kids team members must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children and families.
Staff must not:

• Engage in abusive, humiliating, threatening or discriminatory behaviour

• Use inappropriate physical contact

• Develop inappropriate personal relationships with children or families

• Communicate privately with children through personal social-media accounts

• Take or share photographs, videos or recordings without appropriate consent

• Accept conduct that creates a real or perceived conflict of interest

• Use their position for personal, financial or emotional benefit

• Punish a child for expressing discomfort, refusal or distress

Any concerns about a worker’s conduct will be taken seriously and investigated in accordance with our safeguarding, incident-management and disciplinary procedures.

Consent and Family Involvement
Informed consent is obtained before services begin and whenever consent is required for a new assessment, therapy approach, information exchange, recording, photograph or other activity.
Parents and authorised representatives receive information about:

• The purpose and structure of therapy

• Proposed assessments and interventions

• Potential benefits and limitations

• Service fees and cancellation arrangements

• Information collection and record keeping

• Collaboration with other professionals

• How to change or withdraw consent

Consent is treated as an ongoing process rather than a one-time signature. Families can ask questions or reconsider their consent at any time.

Where appropriate, we also seek the child’s assent by explaining activities in a way they can understand and observing whether they appear willing and comfortable participating.

Privacy and Confidentiality
Clever Kids respects the privacy of children, young people and their families.
We collect only the personal, developmental, health and service information reasonably required to provide safe and effective supports, manage services and meet our legal obligations.
Information is:

• Stored securely

• Accessed only by authorised people

• Used for legitimate service-related purposes

• Shared with other professionals only with appropriate consent or lawful authority

• Protected from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure

• Retained and disposed of according to applicable record-keeping requirements

Occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists and other allied health providers are included within the health-service context addressed by the Australian Privacy Principles and health-privacy guidance.
There may be circumstances where information must be shared without consent, such as when required by law or when necessary to respond to a serious safety concern. Where appropriate and lawful, families will be informed when this occurs.
Families may request access to or correction of their personal information in accordance with applicable privacy laws and our Privacy Policy.

Photographs, Videos and Digital Communication
Photographs, videos, audio recordings and therapy observations will only be created or used with appropriate consent, except where recording is legally required for an incident or investigation.
Consent for clinical use is separate from consent for marketing, website or social-media use. A family may agree to clinical photographs without agreeing to promotional use.
Families may withdraw permission for future use of an image or recording by contacting Clever Kids. Previously published or legally required records may not always be capable of being withdrawn or destroyed.

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These requirements do not prevent a worker from taking reasonable and proportionate action during an immediate emergency to protect a person from serious and imminent harm, subject to applicable laws and reporting requirements.

Risk, Incident and Emergency Management
We assess and manage risks relating to the child, therapy activities, the service environment, community access, medical needs, allergies, transport, communication and emergency situations.
Our processes may include:

• Individual risk assessments

• Medical and emergency information

• Allergy and medication information

• Safe arrival and departure procedures

• Infection-prevention practices

• Environmental and equipment checks

• Emergency and evacuation procedures

• Incident and near-miss reporting

• Communication with families following an incident

• Review of incidents to prevent recurrence

• Continuity-of-service planning

The NDIS Practice Standards address risk management, information management, incident management, continuity of supports and emergency and disaster management.
All incidents, injuries, allegations and near misses are documented and reviewed according to their seriousness. Where legally required, reportable incidents will be notified to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or another relevant authority within the required timeframe. Registered NDIS providers are required to notify the Commission of reportable incidents connected with the delivery of NDIS supports and services.
In an immediate emergency or where someone is in danger, families and staff should call 000.

Complaints, Feedback and Advocacy
Clever Kids welcomes feedback, compliments, concerns and complaints. Feedback helps us improve the safety and quality of our services.
A complaint can be made:

• Verbally or in writing

• By a parent, carer, child, young person, advocate or representative

• With the assistance of an interpreter or support person

• Without fear that services will be withdrawn or reduced

• Anonymously where practical

We aim to acknowledge complaints promptly, communicate respectfully and provide a fair and transparent response. Information will be handled confidentially and only shared with people who need it to assess or resolve the matter.
All NDIS providers are expected to maintain effective complaint-management and resolution practices, while registered providers must maintain a documented complaints-management system.
Families can raise a concern directly with the clinical coordinator or general manager.

Families may also contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission directly about the quality or safety of NDIS supports. A person does not need to complain to Clever Kids first and will not be treated unfairly for contacting an external authority.
Continuous Quality Improvement
We regularly review our services, policies and safeguarding systems.
Quality-improvement activities may include:

• Reviewing feedback, complaints and incidents

• Auditing staff files, screening and training

• Reviewing therapy outcomes and service data

• Seeking feedback from children and families

• Updating policies when legislation or standards change

• Providing staff education and clinical supervision

• Identifying and addressing service risks

• Improving accessibility and cultural safety

• Reviewing emergency and safeguarding procedures

Our goal is to learn from feedback and experience so that our services remain safe, effective, transparent and responsive to the needs of children and families.

Access to Our Policies
Families may request further information about our:

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

• Child Safe Code of Conduct

• Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

• Complaints and Feedback Policy

• Incident Management Policy

• Risk Management Policy

• Emergency and Disaster Management Policy

• Consent and Information-Sharing Policy

• Positive Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices Policy

• Staff Screening and Recruitment Policy

• Professional Boundaries Policy

• Photography, Recording and Social Media Policy

Please contact Clever Kids Early Intervention if you require a policy in an accessible format, simplified language or with interpreter assistance.