This one page A4 Incident Response Record Book makes it easy to make and keep records.
Preventative risk management
Under the National Quality Framework (NQF), services must have policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in a way that is child focused, and to manage a range of child safety risks and issues (regulation 168).
Preventative risk assessments and response management should be carried out and reviewed regularly to reduce risk of incidents occurring or harm to children, in both the physical and online environment. More detail on understanding and managing risks and the risk matrix is available in the ACECQA Risk Assessment and Management Tool.
After an incident/allegation
After a complaint or concern is raised, the approved provider or service leader should take prompt action:
• Log the complaint in the service’s complaints register
• Gather all information available
• Obtain advice from relevant authorities to assist in determining if you need to make a report/notification and
• Decide on a course of action
• Undertake a risk assessment to mitigate any ongoing risks to the safety of children at the service.
How to use this Incident Response Form
This form has been developed to support approved providers and service leaders to respond to a complaint/concern about the safety of a child or children, and/or when a disclosure is made by or about a child at the education and care service.
If the complaint or disclosure relates to an incident, injury to, or trauma of a child, refer also to the Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record book.
For guidance on managing complaints and disclosures and more detail on the steps outlined in the template below, refer to the Child Safe Culture Guide – Complaints and Disclosures. (https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf-child-safe-culture-guide/chapter-8-complaints-and-disclosures ). The resources section of each chapter of the Guide includes relevant connections to the NQF, National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and where relevant, mandatory Child Safe Standards in the state/ territory if they exist in your jurisdiction, to link to this tool, if needed.