Safeguarding Policies & Structures In The Workplace: 8 Ways To Improve

The recent?BBC exposé on the Tea Industry in Kenya?brought an often-hidden workplace problem to national attention.

This allegation by 70 women, not only laid bare an appalling, ugly side involving the horrific abuse of vulnerable female employees but, is also a wake-up call for organizations not mitigating this risk to urgently up their game – and mitigate massive reputational exposure!

Even some premier organizations,?#worldfoodprogramme?, which clinched the coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, is?reportedly reeling?under the weight of harassment claims among its over 23,000 staffers in 120 nations.

This risk, left unattended can jettison even the most robust brand out of existence - and rightfully so!

The?#endgame?requires that?#safeguarding?policies and structures need to be embedded - even mainstreamed - into the day-to-day operations of the organization. It MUST find a seat at the heart of the board’s mission to assess and supervise risks, even as they steer the organization toward major opportunities.

A matter of priorities

The term ‘safeguarding’ is an umbrella term that covers a range of policies, governance structures, and activities intended to protect adults at risk within the organization. These include initiatives intended to prevent abuse, investigations into alleged abuse and interventions (often multidisciplinary) where abuse has occurred.

If you work with children or vulnerable adults, it’s vitally important to implement and maintain effective safeguarding procedures in the workplace. Additionally, it is a good idea, that your organization reviews the safeguarding procedures regularly to ensure the safety of clients, customers, and staff.

A wake-up call for organizations not mitigating this risk to up their game – on this reputational exposure!

Here are seven ways you could improve safeguarding procedures in your workplace:

#1?Conduct Safeguarding Risk Assessments.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and this starts with leadership and accountability - leaders set the tone, the ethos, and the culture.

Safeguarding is a duty of care to prevent harm to people who interact with your organization. The aim is to advance their health, well-being, and human rights. In broad terms, safeguarding is also about taking care of the environment in which you operate.

Conduct risk assessments and ensure "safeguarding risks" are reflected and included in the organizational "risk register." At the board level line of sight of the "safeguarding log," awareness of the safeguarding landscape, staffing issues, and business operational risks are key governance pointers.

#2?Review your safeguarding policy

Organizations that work with children or vulnerable adults should always have in place a safeguarding policy.

Ascertain review, and regularly update, to reflect any new legislation or changes within the organization. In the unfortunate event that your organization doesn’t yet have a safeguarding policy in place –?write one!?– Urgently!!

Involve the team in the process, find out what they expect from you, and use this to inform your policies and procedures. have an annual shared report - and work plan.

#3?Make sure staff are familiar with your policy

Could you provide all employees - very early in the employment process - with a copy of your safeguarding policy and ask them to familiarise themselves with it?

This will help ensure your safeguarding procedures are being adhered to – after all, a safeguarding policy is useless if it isn’t being put into practice! Isn’t it?

#4?Conduct safeguarding training – without exception - for all Staff

Ensure staff read and fully understand your safeguarding policy – and sign off.

Conduct regular training sessions for all staff to ensure the policies and procedures are fresh in everyone’s mind.?Additionally, this also provides an opportunity to update staff on any changes to the policy or statutory developments.

#5?All who engage with your organization need to understand your policy

If your organization recruits volunteers, and interns make sure they receive the same safeguarding training as your employees.?The contractors, consultants, and service providers are no exception.

Ensure they are aware of your organization's commitment to safeguarding …. And they are expected to comply as a condition of engagement.

If they’re working for your organization –?however short the period?– it’s vital they understand the importance of safeguarding and adhering to your procedures.

#6?Remind staff what to do if they have a safeguarding concern

All staff should be aware –?and in no doubt?- of what they need to do if they have a safeguarding issue.

This, of course, will be laid out in your safeguarding policy – provide staff with regular reminders.

This could be done with signage in the workplace or sent out through a monthly safeguarding email bulletin.?You are the expert, and know what channels of communication are most efficient in your organization!

#7?Make clients aware of your safeguarding procedures

If your staff regularly engages with vulnerable adults or children, as clients, you MUST make those groups ALSO aware of your safeguarding policy.

When the vulnerable people you work with know what you expect from your staff, it will be easier for them to identify any concerns or issues.

#8?Make your safeguarding policy visible to the public

Publish your safeguarding policy on your website, the notice board, posters, and campaigns?so that all clients, as well as members of the public, have access to it.

This will help position you as a trustworthy organization that cares about the safety of the people in its care.

Ring fence your workplace: a summary

Regularly reviewing safeguarding structures and procedures in the workplace will help guarantee the safety of the vulnerable groups with whom you work.

Safeguarding is key to securing funding, many?#donors?assess non-profit organizations and civil society organizations’?#safeguarding?measures by:

????seeking clarity about safeguarding in the application

????reviewing safeguarding?#policies

????exploring safeguarding during the?#assessment?meetings

????rating the organization’s safeguarding in assessment?#reports

????conducting a risk assessment for organizations

??Embedding safeguarding in your day-to-day operations, and programming, is not optional in this time and age, and never was, reach out - happy to hear your thoughts here too.

Next steps?.....?It's time to take a step back, and reflect, on how we can improve and create a safer environment for all......

#ShakaHola,?#PrisonAbuse,?#HumanRightsViolations,?#PoliceBrutality,?#JusticeForShakaHola,?#EndImpunity,?#Accountability,?#InvestigateShakaHola,?#StopTorture,?#NoToImpunity, ,?#EndSGBV, (End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence),?#SafeKids,?#ChildProtection,?#MeToo,?#TimesUp,?#EndChildMarriage,?#ConsentMatters,?#SayNoToAbuse,?#BreakTheSilence,?#JusticeForSurvivors