LSG 6 Dealing with a Suspension Nov 08

LSG6Dealingwitha Suspension

SUGGESTIONSFORDEALINGWITHTHOSEINVOLVED

IFA LEADERHASBEENSUSPENDEDOR STOODDOWN

Scouts‘STANDDOWN’or‘SUSPEND’leadersandmembersforanumberof reasons,many forreasonsotherthaninappropriateconduct.Thethreemostobviousonesare:

HEALTH:Whereapersonshealthis atrisk andwillnotfollowmedicaladvice, possiblyreducingthesafetyof othermembers.

DISPUTES:Whereadisputeisinterferingwiththesmoothrunningof aSection,or

Group,

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONSofteninvolvingtheauthoritiesoraCivilAction.

TheNSWBranchbelievesthatallthoseinvolvedin, and/oraffectedby,anyallegationsshould havesupportand/orconsidercounselling. Wemusthoweverrespecttherightsofthe individualsconcerned,theirprivacyandjustice.

.TheAssociationprovidessupportbutdoesn’tprovidecounselling;itis importantthatany counsellingbe atarmslength;completelyindependent;providedbylocal,professionally accreditedexpertsintheparticularfield.Otherwise,bothsidesto theallegation,andthe

public,couldeasilymisconstrueScouting’sinvolvementashavingpredeterminedthe issue.All

thoseinvolvedshouldbeencouragedtoseekthesupportof familyandfriends.Anyreferral shouldbetotheirmedicalpractitioner,religiousadvisor,CommunityHealthCentreorsome otheraccreditedagencyforsupport.

Theguidancebelowis tohelpifinvolvedinoneof therare‘seriousallegations’.Howeveryou shouldfindthegeneraloutlinesis beneficialtoallstanddownsorsuspensions.

e.g.ThereareLeaderswhodon’twanttheirheartproblem,orcancer,knowntoothers.

Indealingwithanissuerememberthatthecarriageofthemoreseriousmatterswillbe withtheStateOffice.However,ifyoufindyourselfdealingwith:

A.An approachbytheMedia.

Thenyourresponseis simple,theONLYpersonwhocanmakeacommentis theChief Commissionerorhis/herdelegate.Ifapproached,youshouldmakeaveryshort statementsuchas:

“IwouldsuggestyoucontactourStateOfficewhowouldbeonly toopleased toassist you.” Iftheypersist:“Ihavelittletonofactualinformationonthematter. Ifyouwant thefactsIsuggestyoucontactourStateOfficeon(02)97359000”.NEVERusethe words‘nocomment’

B. ThePersonagainstwhomallegationshavebeenmade.

i. Inmostcaseswheresomeoneis prosecutedbyauthoritiestheaccusedwillhave received,orwilllaterreceive,legaladvicetomakenostatementorcommenttoanyone, inregardtothe issueathand.Mostdon’tappreciatethatthismeansANYONEat all, includingfriendsand Scoutingassociates,orthatanyonetheydospeaktocouldbe requiredbytheprosecution,togiveevidenceandbecross-examinedinacriminal hearingasto whattheaccusedsaidto himorher.

ii. Itis verycommonthattheaccusedwillnotappreciatethatthis legaladviceisgivento protectthem.Whiletheymaywanttoexplainthemselvestoscoutingassociates,they maynotappreciatethatthiscouldbeseenbyaCourtasanattempttoaffectwhata witnessmaysay.TheyoftenclaimScoutshaveabandonedthem-butitis intheir interestforusnotto investigateorheartheirstoryuntiladvisedbythe StateOfficethat it is appropriatetodo so.(This mustnot stoptheusualnormal everyday socialcontact and conversationbetweentheperson andtheir friendsandcolleagues,justnot todiscussthe issuethat isthecentreofthings.Thepersonshouldn’t beisolatedbuttreatednormally).

iii. Theyshouldbe encouragedtoseekthesupportof familyandfriendsandalawyerifthey haven’talreadydoneso.Anyreferralshouldbe totheirmedicalpractitioner,religious advisororCommunityHealthCentreor someotheraccreditedagencyforsupport.

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LSG6Dealingwitha Suspension

iv. Inmostcaseswhenthepersonconcernedis immediatelysuspended,thesuspension lettergivesadviceastothehelpavailablewithinthecommunity.Iftheyarehaving difficultyfindingthathelp,thereis adviceto contacttheStateCommissionerforMembers Supportwhowillassistin providingreferralstoappropriateprofessionals.

C.TheAllegedVictimsorthoseallegedlyatrisk:-

i.Ifthematterhasbeenplacedinthehandsof theauthoritiesoftentheallegedvictimwillnotappreciate that itis in thebestinterestofallthat Scoutsdon’tconductaseparateinquiry

untiltheofficialinquiryiscomplete.TheyoftenclaimScoutshasabandonedthem,but itis in their interestforusnotto investigate,orappeartobetryingtoinfluencetheoutcome,untilsuchanactionis clearedbytheauthoritiesandStateOffice.

ii.Allinvolvedshouldbeencouragedtoseekthesupportof familyandfriends.Anyreferralshouldbe to theirmedicalpractitioner,religiousadvisororCommunityHealthCentreorsomeotheraccredited agencyforsupport.Incasesinvolvingthe Policetheyusuallydirectthevictimstoappropriatesupport peopleassoonaspractical.

iii.Itis inthebestinterestofallthatmembersof theAssociationremainatarmslengthsoasnotto affecteachside’srightto naturaljusticeandfairness.

iv.Weareco-operatingfullywiththeauthoritiesandpolice.

v.Ifthepoliceare involvedin thematter,itis quiteusualfortheallegedvictim’snamestobe withheldbythepoliceandthecourt.Thepoliceorganiseappropriatesupport/counselling.

DThoseassociatedwiththeSection:-

vi.Toreassurethem thattheAssociationhasactedpromptlyto maximiseprotectionforallmembers, includingyouthmembers,bysuspendingtheaccused,withoutANYimplicationof guiltorinnocence.

vii.ThatfortheAssociation,oritsmembers,tobeinvolvedwitheithersidecouldnotonlybe misconstruedbutmightprejudiceanyinvestigationorjudicialhearing.

viii.Thoseparentsinthesectionshouldnotinterrogatetheirchildren,whichcouldpossiblyexacerbate theproblem.If concerned,theyshouldseekthehelpof an independentcounsellorthroughtheir ownmedicalpractitioner,religiousadvisor,schoolcounsellor,CommunityHealthCentreorsome otheraccreditedagencyforsupport.

ix.ThattheONLYpersonwhocansuspendaleaderormakeanycommentis theChief

Commissionerorhis/herdelegate.

x.Themostseniorleaderatanactivityorevent,otherthantheallegedperson,IF, ONTHOSERARE OCCASIONS,WHERETHEYHAVEAREASONABLEFEARTHATYOUTHMEMBERSAREAT IMMINENTRISKBYTHEPRESENCEOFAPERSON,canexcludeapersonfrom thatparticular activityoreventforthesafetyof all.(i) Usuallyinconsultationwith otherleaderspresent, and(ii)SuchanactionmustbereportedtoRegionwithin 48hoursoftheevent.

xi.Wewillnotdiscourageanyprivatecitizenfrom goingto theauthoritiesorprovidingevidenceorsupport toanyoneinvolved.Theymustmakeitclearthatanyopinion,evidenceorsupporttheyprovideis their ownandnotthatof the Association.

xii.Bothaccusedand victimshouldbe awarethat ANYONEcouldbecalledtogiveevidence,in Court,asto whatwassaid.Theymustbeencouragedtofollowanylegaladvicetheyhavereceivedespeciallyin regardto‘notmakingstatements’.

EXPLANATORYNOTE:Thefactthatamemberissuspended,stooddownorexcluded,doesNOTinanywayinferthatthe Associationhas madeany determinationin relationto theallegations.Thepurposeof thesuspension,standingdown, or exclusion,isadministrativeandservestoprotectboththatleaderandanyallegedcomplainant/witnessduringtheinvestigatory process.It is inkeepingwiththeactionnormallyrequiredby theauthorities.

ALLSUSPICIONS,CONCERNSORALLEGATIONSABOUTCRIMINALMATTERSOR CHILDPROTECTIONMATTERSSHOULDBEREPORTEDDIRECTLYTO

THECHIEFCOMMISSIONER,THECHIEFEXECUTIVEORTHECHILDPROTECTIONOFFICER AT STATEOFFICEON97359000.

ImminentDanger

Ifayoungpersonisinimminentdanger, themattershouldbereporteddirectlyandimmediatelytoNSW Policeon131444.

Scouts Australia NSW acknowledges the contribution of Dr Warwick Bateman AM in the development of this Leader Support Guide.

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