Code of Conduct
For Young person retreat held at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

 

This document is mainly for clarifying and supporting the child protection policy. This is a brief outline of expected conduct, the precepts really do cover this, especially when interpreted as the family campers have done as follows:-

The first precept guards against all forms of harm, as well as, most obviously, physical abuse.
The second guards against neglect and some forms of emotional abuse.
The third guards against sexual abuse.
The fourth against emotional and psychological abuse.
The fifth helps us to be steadfast in practising the others.

These guidelines are encouragement, that we all need to play a part in the safety and well being of the young people that come to the young persons retreat. Its is extremely important to not investigate any alleged abuse but to refer – do not ask questions of the child, parent or anybody else as this may jeopardise a police investigation.

Never think abuse is impossible within the monastery environment or that accusation against someone you know well and trust is bound to be wrong.

• play your part in helping to develop an ethos where all people matter and are treated equally, and with respect and dignity. Always put the care, welfare and safety needs of a young person first.
• respect a young person’s right to be involved in making choices and decisions which directly affect them
• listen attentively to any ideas and views a child wants to share with you.
• respect a young person’s culture (for example their faith and religious beliefs).
• respect a young peron’s right to privacy and personal space.
• respond sensitively to a young person who seem anxious about participating in certain activities.
• speak to the child protection office immediately if you suspect that a young person is experiencing bullying or harassment.
• ensure that when you are working with young people you are at least within sight or hearing of other adults.
• listen carefully to any young person who ‘tells you’ (sometimes through drawings and behaviour as well as words) that they are being harmed and report what you have discovered immediately to the child protection officer.
• report immediately to the child protection officer any suspicion that a young person could be at risk of harm or abuse.
• never dismiss what a young person tells you as ‘lies’ or exaggeration.
• only restrain a young person who is at imminent risk of inflicting harm to themselves or others or is at risk of damaging property.
• never underestimate the contribution that you can make to the development of safe communities for young people.
• exaggerate or trivialise another worker’s concerns about a young person or ignore an allegation or suspicion of abuse in the hope that it will either ‘go away’ or that ‘someone else will deal with it’
• be drawn into any derogatory remarks or gestures in front of young persons.
• allow a young person or adult to be bullied or harmed by anyone in the organisation.

 

 

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