Standard for the Protection of Minors

Chapter 1

These Standards for the Protection of Minors (hereafter abbreviated as "Standards") set out in particular:

1. rules to ensure a safe relationship between the minor and the staff of the establishment, in particular the behaviour that is not allowed towards minors;
2. the principles and procedure for intervening where abuse of a minor is suspected or where information is available;
3. procedures and persons responsible for reporting suspected offences against a minor, notifying the guardianship court and, in the case of institutions with such powers, persons responsible for initiating the "Blue Cards" procedure;
4. principles for reviewing and updating standards;
5. the competences of the person responsible for preparing the facility's or the organiser's staff to apply the standards, the principles for preparing this staff to apply the standards and how to document this activity;
6. the rules and the manner in which the standards are made available to parents or legal or actual guardians and minors for their familiarisation and application;
7. persons responsible for receiving reports of incidents threatening a minor and providing support;
8. the way in which incidents or occurrences threatening the welfare of minors are documented and stored.
9. requirements for safe relationships between minors, and in particular prohibited behaviour;
10. rules for the use of electronic devices with Internet access;
11. principles for establishing a plan to support a minor after the disclosure of abuse.

Chapter 2

Explanation of terms

1. An employee of Wrocław Medical Center Usługi Medyczne Paulina Lepka & Piotr Lepka Spółka jawna (hereinafter referred to as the Facility) is a person employed on the basis of an employment contract or a civil law contract.
2. A child is a person under the age of 18.
3. The child's guardian is the person entitled to represent the child - his or her parent, legal guardian, de facto guardian or foster carer.
4. Abuse of a child should be understood as the commission of a criminal or punishable act to the detriment of a child by any person, including an employee of Wrocław Medical Center.

Chapter 3

Rules to ensure a safe relationship between the minor and the facility staff.

1. Every employed employee of the Facility and any new hire who is involved in the business of caring for or treating a minor has been verified with the Sex Offender Registry. The rules of procedure are set out in Chapter 5
2. The overriding principle in undertaking all actions towards a child is to act for the child's best interests and concern for their safety.
3. Staff are obliged to treat the child with due respect, dignity and intimacy.
4. The child has the right to be informed about his/her condition and the medical measures taken, using simple language in a way that is appropriate to the situation, his/her age and his/her current level of development.
5. A child should not be disrespected, embarrassed, humiliated, insulted or shouted at.
6. If it is necessary to talk to your child in private, leave the surgery door ajar (make sure you stay within sight of the legal guardian or another member of staff). You can also ask another member of staff (e.g. a nurse or Patient Coordinator) to be present at the interview.
7. The personal data of a minor child is protected under the terms of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).
8. The Unit's staff have a duty to maintain the confidentiality of the personal data they process and to keep the means of securing the personal data confidential.
9. The standard applies to every employee of the organisation. Knowledge and acceptance of the rules are confirmed by signing a declaration (Appendix 1).

Chapter 4

Procedures for intervention in cases of child abuse

1. In the event that a child is suspected of being abused, the worker has a duty to
   1. Provide necessary assistance in life and health emergencies
   2. Ensure the child's safety and separate the child from the suspected abuser
   3. Notify the child's guardian
   4. Notify your supervisor
2. A decision should be taken to notify the police, the public prosecutor's office or the family court.
3. Interventions in cases of child abuse are made against the child in the presence of a parent or guardian. The exception to this is when it is suspected that the parent or guardian is the perpetrator of the abuse.
4. Information about the intervention taken shall be placed in the minor's medical record.
   1. The medical director, in consultation with the intervening staff, decides whether to initiate the Blue Card procedure.

Chapter 5

Preparation of staff

1. Before entering into an employment relationship with a person or before allowing a person to engage in any other activity related to the treatment of the Child, the provision of psychological counselling or the care of the Child, the Facility shall obtain information as to whether the person's data are included in the Register with restricted access or in the Register of persons in respect of whom the State Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Minors under 15 years of age has issued an order for inclusion in the Register.
2. The person referred to in para. 1, shall submit to the Facility information from the National Criminal Register in respect of the offences defined in Chapters XIX and XXV of the Penal Code, in Articles 189a and 207 of the Penal Code and in the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction of 29 July 2005 (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 172 and of 2022, item 2600), or for the corresponding offences defined in foreign law.
3. The person referred to in pt. 1, who has citizenship of a country other than the Republic of Poland, shall additionally submit to the Centre information from the criminal record of the country of citizenship obtained for the purposes of professional or voluntary activities connected with contacts with children.
4. The person referred to in pt. 1, submits to the Placement a declaration about the country or countries in which he/she has resided during the last 20 years, other than the Republic of Poland and the country of citizenship, and at the same time submits to the Placement information from the criminal records of those countries obtained for the purposes of professional or voluntary activities related to contacts with children.
5. If the law of the State referred to in para. 3 or 4 does not provide for the issuing of information for the purposes of professional or voluntary activities involving contact with children, information from the criminal record of that State shall be submitted.
6. Where the law of the country from which the information referred to in paragraphs 3 to 5 is to be submitted does not provide for its production or no criminal record is kept in the country concerned, the person referred to in para. 1, shall submit to the employer or other organiser a statement to that effect, together with a declaration that he or she has not been validly convicted in that country of offences corresponding to the offences defined in Chapters XIX and XXV of the Penal Code, in Articles 189a and 207 of the Penal Code and in the Act of 29 July 2005. on Counteracting Drug Addiction and no other judgment has been issued against him/her stating that he/she has committed such prohibited acts, and that he/she is not obliged by the judgment of a court, other authorized body or the law to comply with the prohibition to occupy any or certain positions, to practice any or certain professions or activities, related to upbringing, education, leisure, treatment, provision of psychological counselling, spiritual development, sports or the pursuit of other interests by minors, or to care for them.
7. The declarations referred to in points. 4 and 6 shall be made under the pain of criminal liability for making a false declaration. The person making the declaration is obliged to include the following clause: "I am aware of the criminal liability for making a false declaration". This clause replaces the authority's instruction on the criminal liability for making a false declaration.

Chapter X

Principles of safe internet access

1. There is no free internet access for Patients within the Facility. Staff's wireless connection is protected by a high strength password.
2. All Employees' computers are password-protected against access by members of the public, including Minors.