Model policies on working with young people, for non-residential youth services in NSW
written by Nick Manning
The Model Policies are available as:
PDF files
One file per part or group of policies. For easy reading, printing and passing on to others (click on the links below).
Word files
One file per part or group of policies. For easy copying + pasting into your own policy documents. The Word files are not safe for reading, printing or passing on to others, because the formatting may change on your computer, changing the apparent meaning. Use PDFs for reading, printing or passing on to others.
Updates
All new policies, updates and corrections will be listed here.
Social media
29 September 2011: Social Media Policy Guide now available.
Child protection
11 August 2011: Child protection - new policy linked below.
Contents list
Part 1: How to use these policies; Activities & services (PDF 280 KB)
- Drop-in & use of centre facilities
- Young people's use of computers
- Street work
- Holding mail for young people
- Excursions and camps
Part 2: Casework (PDF 300KB)
- Casework essentials
- Getting new clients
- Information, advocacy, referral, and ongoing casework
- Casework safety
- Caseload and supervision
- Casework files
Part 3: Rights and responsibilities (PDF 270KB)
- Young people's rights to their personal information
- Keeping and destroying records
- Code of conduct for staff
- Complaints
- Rules and consequences
Part 4: Inclusiveness (PDF 200KB)
- Developing an inclusive youth service
- Expression of religion, culture and lifestyle
- Eliminating harassment, vilification and excluding behaviour
Part 5: Privacy and confidentiality (PDF 280KB)
- Privacy essentials
- Collecting personal information
- Privacy statement & privacy consent form
- Using personal information within the team
- Security of personal information
- Disclosing personal information with consent
- Disclosing personal information without consent
Part 6: Child protection
Model Policy Part 6: Child Protection has been completely replaced by the Child Protection Guide to Policy and Practice which is not part of this set of Model Policies. 11 August 2011
Part 7: Safety (PDF 470KB)
- Duty of care statement
- Individual risk assessment about a young person
- Report risks and serious incidents to the Manager
- Medications and medical treatment
- Vehicles
- Home visits
- Smoking
- Alcohol and illegal drugs
- Crime and police
- Suicide
- Non-violence
- Critical incident response
Exactly what are these policies?
These model policies are designed for generalist non-residential youth services in NSW. They reflect the requirements of:
- NSW and Commonwealth law (as at 2004) (as far as we reasonably know)
- NSW Department of Community Services (CSGP) Service Agreement 2004-2005
- NSW Department of Community Services (CSGP) Service Standards 2004 draft
- Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services Youth Program Guidelines for JPET, YAS/FLW and Reconnect (draft June 2004)
as well as incorporating common practices in the NSW youth sector.
(Note that NSW law is sometimes quite different to law in other states and territories of Australia. If you use these policies outside NSW without checking the law, you may be putting your agency, staff and volunteers at risk of breaking the law).
They are not standards. They are not intended to set a standard in the non-residential youth work sector, or to create uniformity among youth services. The rich variety of activities, approaches and styles among youth services and youth workers is one of the strengths of youth work in NSW.
Implementing these policies as they are, will not bring about effective and inspiring youth work. At the very least you need to add some policy material of your own, reflecting the goals, ideals and practices of your agency.
But policies and procedures by themselves do not lead to great youth work. Policies by their nature are usually dull and uninspiring. They tend to focus on narrow legal and safety issues. They tell you more about what you must do and must not do, than about what you can do, or might achieve. These model policies are no exception!
To bring about effective and inspiring youth work you need much more than good policies: you also need to train, resource, support, nurture and believe in your staff!
See YAPA fact sheet on Developing your agency policies.
Limitations of this information
Model Policies on working with young people, for non-residential youth services in NSW
written by Nick Manning
Published: 2004
Applicable to:
- NSW only
- youth workers in non-government agencies and local councils providing welfare, social or recreation services to young people
- may not be consistent with laws and guidelines in out-of-home care or health services
- young people: unless the text says otherwise, young person/people means people aged roughly 12-25 years old.
To the best of our knowledge this is an accurate summary of the relevant facts at the time of publishing, without the assumption of a duty of care. We have no health, occupational health and safety, or legal qualifications, unless stated above. This information is general and should not be relied on as a substitute for legal or other professional advice. You should refer to any publications and authorities listed above and if necessary get qualified advice for your specific situation.
Be careful! The model policies are for agencies to adapt to suit their circumstances. We have done the best we can within our resources, but it is not possible to write a single policy which meets the requirements of the wide range of youth services in NSW.
We have attempted to include all the relevant legal requirements as at 2004. However the law is sometimes complex and open to interpretation, and applies to different youth agencies in different ways.