Safeguarding Policy

Purpose 

The purpose of the policy is to protect people from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with the NGO Safety Organisation. This includes harm arising from: 

• The conduct of staff or personnel associated with HPC

• The design and implementation of HPC’s programmes and activities.

What is safeguarding and what does it mean for HPC?

In the NGO sector in general, we understand it to mean taking all reasonable steps to prevent harm, particularly sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment from occurring; to protect people, especially vulnerable adults, and children, from that harm; and to respond appropriately when harm does occur.

As such, we understand our specific safeguarding risks to include, but not be limited to: 

• Sexual abuse or exploitation committed by our own staff or associated personnel of any third party. 

• Sexual abuse or exploitation of our own staff or associated personnel by any third party. 

This document provides measures to protect against these specific risks along with more general risks common to the sector and matters of law.

Scope of application 

This policy applies equally to: 

• All staff contracted by HPC (under any contractual mechanism).

 • Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to HPC, including but not limited to auditors, trainers, consultants; volunteers; contractors; and programme visitors including but not limited to donors, auditors, journalists, staff relatives, researchers.

Review & approval

This policy will be reviewed, approved, and endorsed by the HPC higher authorities annually and  when there are changes in applicable legislation and/or regulatory guidance.

 Policy statement

 HPC believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. HPC will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

Adult safeguarding 

HPC staff and associated personnel must not: 

• Sexually abuse or exploit at risk adults 

• Subject an at-risk adult to physical, emotional, or psychological abuse, or neglect Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse HPC staff and associated personnel must not: 

• Sexually exploit or abuse any person. 

• Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sex or sexual favours. This includes, but is not limited to, using the services of sex workers, demanding sexual activity in exchange for assistance/service that is due to beneficiaries and demanding sexual activity in exchange for employment or administrative service.

How to report a safeguarding concern

Safeguarding concerns must be reported directly to HPC Program Manager. 

Confidentiality

 It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management will be shared on a need-to-know basis only and will be kept secure at all times.