It’s time to update your Working With Children Check
More than 5510 people who work with children in WSLHD have been asked to update their Working with Children Check (WWCC).
The check provides clearance for employees to work with children for five years. It’s portable, so it can be used for any paid or unpaid child-related work in NSW.
The move will ensure every WSLHD employee who works with children complies with legislation introduced in 2013. The aim is to be fully compliant by 31 March, 2018.
Anyone who works with children on more than five days each year, even if their main role is not child-related, requires a WWCC. That includes most clinical roles. All casual and agency clinical positions will require WWCC clearance.
Communication to staff who are required to obtain a new check has already started. Some positions are still being assessed, and the correspondence for these may be delayed.
Human Resources is currently reviewing all ancillary positions to determine which ones should be classified as child-related positions. They include corporate, clerical, maintenance and administrative positions, as well as wards persons, health and security assistants and hospital assistants.
To start your working with children check online, go to http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check
To ensure 100 per cent compliance, from 31 August 2017 the WWCC project team will follow up on any outstanding WWCC clearances with employees and their line managers.
The deadline for all NSW Health employees 31 March 2018. After that, anyone in a child-related position who does not have WWCC clearance will be suspended from work until clearance is provided and verified.
