Child protection standards

FLOW DENTAL STUDIO sp. z o.o. (a limited liability company) with its registered office in Gdynia, KRS: 0001069737, NIP: 9581739035

(hereinafter: the “Entity”)

§ 1. Basic principles of protection

1. The basic principle governing the actions of employees, contractors and any other persons working in or for the Entity (hereinafter “Entity Staff”), and of other persons in contact with Minors taking part in activities conducted or organised by the Entity, is to keep the relationship professional and to treat Minors with respect, taking into account their dignity and needs, and respecting their privacy and image.
2. Entity Staff must act in a way that is open and transparent to others, so as to minimise the risk of their conduct being misinterpreted.
3. In contact with minors, Entity Staff should above all: (1) communicate politely, in a way appropriate to the Minors' age and ability to understand; (2) speak in a calm voice; (3) take into account the special needs of Minors with disabilities or special educational needs; (4) be patient and respectful towards them; (5) treat all Minors equally and impartially.
4. Responsibility for safe relationships between Minors taking part in the Entity's activities lies first and foremost with the minor's legal representative or the person in whose care the minor is taking part in those activities or is present on the Entity's premises.

§ 2. The rights of the minor and unacceptable behaviour

1. Every Minor has the right to bodily integrity, privacy and intimacy. No physical contact with a child may be concealed, take place in secret, involve any kind of benefit or result from an abuse of one's position in relation to the Minor.
2. In relations with Minors, the following behaviours, among others, are absolutely unacceptable: (1) violating their dignity; (2) using violence – physical, psychological or of any other kind; (3) engaging in romantic, sexual or partner-type relationships; (4) shaming, belittling, insulting or favouring them; (5) using indecent or inappropriate language in their presence, even if the child consents to it – this includes, among other things, swearing, offensive gestures, inappropriate jokes and content of a sexual nature; (6) any other behaviour that may be perceived as improper or inappropriate; (7) meeting children outside the workplace; (8) using their image for private purposes; (9) infringing their personal rights.
3. There are exceptions in which physical contact with a child is justified and acceptable, for example (1) when their health or life requires it; (2) when a child with a disability needs help with medical or hygiene procedures, eating or moving around – but only if the child or their guardian consents; (3) in customary situations, such as shaking hands when greeting or saying goodbye.
4. When providing services, adults should make sure that physical contact with a child is kept to the necessary minimum.
5. Adults should also make sure that persons of the opposite sex do not enter or look into rooms where Minors are changing or attending to their hygiene.

§ 3. Rules and procedure for intervention

1. If the Entity provides Minors with access to the Internet, the Entity must take measures to protect Minors from access to content that may pose a threat to their healthy development.
2. On the Entity's premises, a Minor may access the Internet under the supervision of a parent or legal or de facto guardian, or on devices designated for this purpose, in order to protect the Minor from harmful content and online threats.

3. The person responsible for the Internet network ensures, as far as the available technical means allow, that the Entity's network is protected against dangerous or harmful content.

   § 4. Rules and procedure for intervention

   1. If harm to a Minor is suspected, or if anyone has information about harm to a Minor while taking part in the Entity's activities, every person is obliged to notify the Head of the Entity, who prepares a note of the incident explaining its relevant circumstances. Reports  of the incident may be made by any person:
      
      1. in person to the Head of the Entity;
      2. by e-mail: justyna.kiepuszewska@flowdentalstudio.pl
      3. by phone: +48 608 422 432
   2. The Head of the Entity is the person responsible for taking the necessary investigative steps and, as the circumstances require, for reporting a suspected offence against a minor or notifying the family court. An intervention record is prepared for every intervention.
   3. A report of a suspected offence against a minor or notification of the family court should be made without delay once there is a reasonable likelihood that an offence against a minor has been committed.
   4. In situations that pose a serious threat to a Minor, in particular in cases of physical violence or sexual abuse of a minor (including suspected abuse), the Police must be notified immediately by calling the emergency number 112 or the nearest police station.
   5. If harm to a Minor is disclosed, the Head of the Entity offers the Minor help and agrees a support plan with them, setting out above all the intended goals of the support plan and the means of achieving them.

   § 5. Documentation and storage rules

   1. The Head of the Entity keeps records of all disclosed cases or reported incidents or events threatening the welfare of minors that take place during the Entity's activities and on its premises.
   2. The records of disclosed or reported incidents or events threatening the welfare of a minor consist of: (1) the intervention record for the incident; (2) notes made in connection with the incident; (3) a copy of the report of a suspected offence against a minor, if one has been filed; (4) the register of interventions.
   3. Only persons authorised by the Head of the Entity have access to the records.
   4. Information contained in the records may be disclosed only for the purposes of proceedings conducted by the competent authority or to notify that authority of the incident, on the basis and within the limits of applicable law.

   § 6. Publication, review and implementation of the Standards

   1. The child protection standards are publicly available and will be displayed in a prominent place in the Entity and on its website.
   2. Entity Staff confirm that they have read the Child Protection Standards by submitting a written statement, as set out in Appendix No. 1 to the Child Protection Standards.
   3. Minors and their parents or legal or de facto guardians may consult the Child Protection Standards and obtain information on how they are applied from the Head of the Entity.
   4. The standards are reviewed and updated by the Head of the Entity at least once every two years.
   5. The person responsible for preparing Entity Staff to apply the standards is the Head of the Entity, who provides appropriate training and tools in a manner suited to achieving the goals of child protection.

§ 7. Documentation and storage rules

1. The Head of the Entity keeps records of all disclosed cases, or reported incidents or events threatening the welfare of minors that take place during the Entity's activities and on its premises.
2. The records of disclosed or reported incidents or events threatening the welfare of a minor consist of: (1) the intervention record for the incident; (2) official notes made in connection with the incident; (3) a copy of the report of a suspected offence against a minor; (4) the register of interventions.
3. Only persons authorised by the Head of the Entity have access to the records.
4. Information contained in the records may be disclosed only for the purposes of proceedings conducted by the competent authority or to notify that authority of the incident, on the basis and within the limits of applicable law.

§ 8. Other important contacts

116 111

Helpline for Children and Young People [24-hour, free of charge]

800 080 222

helpline for children, young people, parents and teachers [24-hour, free of charge]

800 12 12 12

Children's Helpline of the Ombudsman for Children [Mon to Fri, 8.15 – 20.00, free of charge]

800 120 002

Helpline for Victims of Domestic Violence “Niebieska Linia” (Blue Line) [24-hour, free of charge]