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Page URL: https://practice.orangatamariki.govt.nz/previous-practice-centre/policy/working-with-children-and-young-people-in-residences/key-information/electronic-communication-in-residences/
Printed: 22/12/2024
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Use of electronic communication in residences
This key information outlines how to help keep children and young people safe when using media, music, games and electronic devices.
Staff are responsible for managing children and young people’s appropriate use of media, music, games and publications within the residence. We have an obligation to keep children and young people safe and to protect them from potentially harmful content.
Note: Children and young people cannot have access to mobile phones or the internet while in the residence unless it is specified in their operational plan.
What the policy says
The Working with children and young people in residences policy says that:
In some situations, children and young people can have an electronic device, use social media and play music while in the residence. This is written into their operational plan.
Operational principles
These principles are designed to keep children and young people safe while they are using electronic communications like TV and music as well as publications like books and magazines.
Restricted communications include (but are not limited to) TV, DVDs, videos, electronic games, CDs and audio software, publications, photographs, music recordings.
CDs with parental advisory labels fixed to the music disc indicate that content contains explicit lyrics, and is not permitted.
Electronic items that have been illegally copied or burnt are not permitted.
The Residence Manager must give approval to bring in or use DVDs, music, electronic games, and publications in the residence.
Approved music is downloaded from the internet onto an MP3 player and allocated to each child or young person on admission.
The term objectionable in the legislation refers to a publication if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good.
The classification labels (movies, television series, games) and their acceptance in residences are:
Restrictions
Classification
Description
Open
G
Anyone can be shown this.
PG
Anyone can be shown this. The PG label means guidance from a parent or guardian is recommended for younger viewers.
Restricted
M
Residence Manager approval is required.
M labels are more suitable for mature audiences. When considering whether to let a child see an M-rated film, it's a good idea to find out what the film is about - and to always remember to check the descriptive note.
R13, R15
Only viewed by young people over 13 or 15.
Requires Residence Manager approval.
Prohibited
R16, R18
Banned in Residences
AO
Banned in Residences
Operational instructions
DVDs
In Youth Justice (YJ) residences young people’s programmes will always indicate the use of DVDs; these will be specifically stated on planning sheets submitted following training days.
In YJ and Care and Protection (C&P) residences DVDs will be accessed in the first place from the Residence DVD library and can be obtained from the Programme Coordinator or a team leader.
DVDs can be used as part of the Behaviour Management System (BMS) programme or an incentive where children and young people can select their own DVD.
Television
Within a YJ residence general television viewing is added to the Daily Log records and can be part of a young person’s structured day programme; this needs to be appropriately limited and not solely relied on by staff.
Within C&P residence television viewing is as part of down time or passive recreation.
Music / Playstations / Xbox
Children and young people can listen to music through their allocated MP3 player during periods specified by staff
Playstation and Xbox games can be used during incentive nights and BMS reward days.
Publications / Photographs / Pictures / Clothing
Publications, photographs, pictures, clothing that are brought into the residences by a child or young person will be checked by staff for objectionable content.
Staff in consultation with the TLO, can remove material from a child or young person’s bedroom if it is objectionable.
Recording
Objectionable material that is removed from a children and young people is placed in the contraband locker or destroyed (shredded and placed in the rubbish) if this is not appropriate, noted in the daily log and emails to key worker, TLO, case worker and shift leader.
The titles and rating of all DVD’s viewed must be recorded in the Daily Log, shift planning and debriefing sheets.
