Standards for the Protection of Minors

Order No. 1/2024
dated 14.08.2024r. of the year introducing
Standards for the Protection of Minors in KOTŁOINWEST SP. Z O.O.

Order No. 1/2024
dated 14.08.2024r. of the year introducing
Standards for the Protection of Minors in KOTŁOINWEST SP. Z O.O.

The guiding principle of all actions taken by the staff is to act for the benefit of the child and in his or her best interests. The staff treats the child with respect and takes into account the child's dignity and needs. It is unacceptable to use violence against the child in any form. In pursuing these goals, staff act within the framework of the applicable law, the institution's internal regulations and their own competence. The principles of safe relations between staff and children apply. all employees, interns, contractors and subcontractors.

Knowledge and acceptance of the rules is confirmed by signing a statement.

Employee relations with children

You are obligated to maintain a professional relationship with children and consider each time whether your response, message or action toward a child is appropriate to the situation, safe, reasonable and fair to other children. Act openly and transparently to others to minimize the risk of misinterpretation of your behavior.

Communication with children

1. Be patient and respectful in your communication with children.
2. Listen carefully to children and give them answers appropriate to their age and the situation at hand.
3. You must not embarrass, humiliate, disrespect or insult the child. You must not shout at the child in a situation other than due to a threat to the safety of the child or other children.
4. You must not disclose sensitive information about your child to unauthorized persons, including other children. This includes the child's image, information about the child's family, economic, medical, custodial and legal situation.
5. When making decisions about your child, let them know and try to take their expectations into account.
6. Respect the child's right to privacy . If it is necessary to waive confidentiality to protect the child, explain this to the child as soon as possible.
7. If the need arises, to talk to the child in private, leave the door to the room ajar and ensure that you are within sight of others. You can also ask another staff member to be present during such a conversation.
8. You must not behave in an inappropriate manner in the presence of children. This includes using vulgar words, gestures and jokes, making derogatory remarks, alluding to sexual activity or attraction in statements, and using power relationships or physical superiority (intimidation, coercion, threats) against a child. Assure children that if they feel uncomfortable about a situation, a particular behavior or words, they can tell you or a designated person (depending on the intervention procedures the institution has adopted) and can expect an appropriate response and/or assistance.

Activities with children

1. Appreciate and respect children's contributions to the activities, actively involve them and treat them equally regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ability/disability, social, ethnic, cultural, religious status and worldview.
2. Avoid favoring children.
3. You must not enter into any romantic or sexual relationship with your child or make propositions of an inappropriate nature. This includes sexual comments, jokes, gestures, and sharing erotic and pornographic content with children, regardless of its form.
4. You are not allowed to capture your child's image (filming, voice recording, photographing) for private purposes. This also applies to allowing third parties to capture images of children, if the management has not been informed of this, has not consented to it and has not obtained the consent of parents/legal guardians and the children themselves.
5. You must not offer children alcohol, tobacco products or illegal substances, as well as use them in the presence of children.
6. You must not accept money or gifts from the child or the child's parents/guardians. You must not enter into a relationship of any dependency with the child or the child's parents/guardians. You must not behave in a way that may suggest to others the existence of such dependency and lead to accusations of unequal treatment or financial or other benefits. This does not apply to occasional gifts related to holidays during the school year, such as flowers, contribution gifts or small gifts.
7. All risky situations that involve infatuation of a child by an employee or an employee by a child must be reported to management. If you witness them, respond firmly but sensitively to preserve the dignity of those involved.

Physical contact with children

1. Any violent action against a child is unacceptable. However, there are situations in which physical contact with a child may be appropriate and meet the principles of safe contact - it responds to the child's needs at a given time, takes into account the child's age, developmental stage, gender, cultural and situational context. However, it is not possible to determine the universal appropriateness of all such physical contact, as behavior that is appropriate with one child may be inappropriate with another. Use your professional judgment at all times, listening, observing and noting the child's reaction, asking the child's permission for physical contact (such as hugging) and remaining aware that even with your good intentions, such contact may be misinterpreted by the child or third parties.
2. You must not hit, poke, push or in any way violate the physical integrity of the child.
3. Never touch a child in a way that may be considered indecent or inappropriate.
4. Always be prepared to explain your actions.
5. Do not engage in activities such as tickling, pretend fighting with children or violent physical play.
6. Be especially cautious of children who have experienced abuse and harm, including sexual, physical or neglect. Such experiences can sometimes cause a child to seek inappropriate or inadequate physical contact with adults . In such situations, you should respond sensitively but firmly and help the child understand the importance of personal boundaries.
7. Physical contact with a child must never be covert or hidden, involve any gratification, or result from a power relationship. If you witness any of the above behaviors and/or situations from other adults or children, always inform the person in charge and/or follow the applicable intervention procedure.

Out-of-hours contacts

1. As a general rule, contact with children should only take place during working hours and be for educational or educational purposes.
2. You are not allowed to invite children to your place of residence or meet with them outside of working hours. This includes interacting with your children through private communication channels (private phone, email, instant messaging, social media profiles).
3. If necessary, the appropriate form of communication with children and their parents or guardians outside working hours are business channels ( e-mail, business phone).
4. If it is necessary to meet with children outside of business hours, you must inform the management, and the parents/legal guardians of the children must agree to such contact.
5. Maintaining social or family relationships (if the children and the children's parents/guardians are relatives of the employee) requires maintaining confidentiality of all information regarding other children, their parents and guardians.

Online security

1. Be aware of the digital risks and dangers of having your private online activities recorded by apps and algorithms, but also your own online activities. This includes liking certain pages, using dating apps where you may meet students/students, watching certain people/pages on social media and the privacy settings of the accounts you use. If your profile is public, children and their parents/guardians will have insight into your digital activity.
2. You must not interact with male and female students by accepting or sending invitations on social media.
3. During practice, personal electronic devices should be turned off or muted, and bluetooth functionality turned off on the premises.