POCSA
Voluntary Sector Training Pack
And Guide

The grounds for referral:

Thinking about “harm” Underpinning principles

When thinking about behaviour that “harms or places a child at risk of harm” you should take into account the key principles which are listed in the Introduction.

To a greater or lesser extent, they all point to the need for clear standards of behaviour and procedures for managing risk and misconduct on the part of workers.

All of these principles should be explained to workers when they join your organisation. The grounds for referral raise the following important questions which organisations will need to consider:

• How does the law define “harm”? – see definition of harm
• What types of behaviour are considered to be harmful and/or potentially harmful to a child?
• When is it appropriate to discipline and/or dismiss a worker because of misconduct against a child?

The information and guidance given here should help to answer these important questions.