Purpose

 

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with the Zambezi Sunrise Trust. This includes harm arising from: 

 

• The conduct of personnel associated with the Zambezi Sunrise Trust

• The design and implementation of the Zambezi Sunrise Trust’s programmes and activities 

 

The policy lays out the commitments made by the Zambezi Sunrise Trust, and informs associated personnel of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. 

 

This policy does not cover: 

 

• Safeguarding concerns in the wider community not perpetrated by the Zambezi Sunrise Trust 

 

 

What is safeguarding?

 

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. 

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our personnel or activities.

Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided in the glossary below.

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Scope

 

• All Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees.

• Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or activities related to the Zambezi Sunrise Trust, including but not limited to the following: consultants; volunteers; contractors; programme visitors including journalists, celebrities and politicians.

 

Policy Statement

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust 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.  The Zambezi Sunrise Trust will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

 

This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding [as appropriate]:  child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.  These key areas of safeguarding may have different policies and procedures associated with them (see Associated Policies).

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response.

 

 

Prevention

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust responsibilities

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust will:

• Ensure all personnel have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy.

• Design and undertake all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with [the Zambezi Sunrise Trust.  This includes the way in which information about individuals in our programmes is gathered and communicated.

• Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying personnel.

• Ensure trustees receive training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organisation.

• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process.

 

Staff responsibilities

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Child safeguarding

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees and associated personnel must not:

• Engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18 

• Sexually abuse or exploit children 

• Subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect 

• Engage in any commercially exploitative activities with children including child labour or trafficking 

 

Adult safeguarding

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees 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

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees and associated personnel must not:

·      Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance.

• Engage in any sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics.

 

Additionally, the Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees and associated personnel are obliged to:

• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy

• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by the Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees, associated personnel to the appropriate staff member (Joanne Gillette). 

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Enabling reports

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to staff and the communities we work with.

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees will accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and official bodies. 

 

How to report a safeguarding concern

 

Trustees and associated personnel who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to Joanne Gillette.  If the person does not feel comfortable reporting to their Joanne Gillette (for example if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any other trustee. 

 

Joanne Gillette:  Mobile: (+44) 0773 6934169); email: joannethirlaway@hotmail.com

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Response

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust trustees will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations (see Procedures for reporting and response to safeguarding concerns below).

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to trustees and associated personnel found in breach of policy.

 

The Zambezi Sunrise Trust will offer support to survivors of harm caused by trustees or associated personnel, regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation).  The survivor will lead decisions regarding support.

 

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 should be shared on a need to know basis only, and should be kept secure at all times. 

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Procedures  

Situations, which involve suspicions of safeguarding, are very sensitive and must be handled with great care.  This section intends to guide trustees, partners and volunteers about how these situations should be approached. 

 

In a one-to-one discussion with a child or vulnerable adult it is important to:

• Respond in a calm manner.   

• Take what the child or vulnerable adult has to say seriously and provide reassurance that he / she was right to discuss the matter.   

• Avoid any physical contact with the child or vulnerable adult unless it is absolutely necessary.   Ensure that if any form of physical contact is required (e.g. to administer first aid) it is provided openly.

• Take care not to ask leading questions (i.e. avoid putting words into their mouth) but ensure that you have a clear understanding of what had been said. 

• Provide reassurance but avoid confidentiality promises or an outcome that may not be feasible in light of subsequent developments. Explain to that you will may need to share what you have been discussed but reassure them that it will only be disclosed to those that need to know and the reasons why it is necessary. 

 

Practical arrangements: 

• Ensure the safety of the child or vulnerable adult, including the need for appropriate medical treatment, if required, e.g. call an ambulance.  Ensure that the medical staff are made aware that this may be a child or vulnerable adult safeguarding protection issue. 

• Report all concerns to the Joanne Gillette immediately.     

 

After the incident 

• If required, provide Joanne Gillette with a full record of what you remember has been said, heard and seen as soon as possible. 

• Joanne Gillette will collate the necessary information and inform the relevant people.

 

Trustees and volunteers have a responsibility to follow the guidance laid out in this policy and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures.

 

We expect everyone connected with the Trust to promote good practice by being an excellent role model, contribute to discussions about safeguarding and to positively involve people in developing safe practices.

 

We have a responsibility to comply with legislation, statutory and non-statutory government guidance, as well as guidance issued by Local Authorities, the Charity Commission and Insurers. Failure to do so could breach the Charity Commission requirements, putting our charitable status at risk.  It could also invalidate insurance cover.

 

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Glossary of Terms

 

Beneficiary of Assistance

Someone who directly receives goods or services from the Zambezi Sunrise Trust’s programme.  Note that misuse of power can also apply to the wider community that Zambezi Sunrise Trust serves, and also can include exploitation by giving the perception of being in a position of power.

 

Child

A person below the age of 18

 

Harm

Psychological, physical and any other infringement of an individual’s rights

 

Psychological harm

Emotional or psychological abuse, including (but not limited to) humiliating and degrading treatment such as bad name calling, constant criticism, belittling, persistent shaming, solitary confinement and isolation

 

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

The term used by the humanitarian and development community to refer to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse of affected populations by staff or associated personnel.  The term derives from the United Nations Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13)

 

Safeguarding

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect[1]

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or programmes.  One donor definition is as follows:

Safeguarding means 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.

This definition draws from our values and principles and shapes our culture. It pays specific attention to preventing and responding to harm from any potential, actual or attempted abuse of power, trust, or vulnerability, especially for sexual purposes.

Safeguarding applies consistently and without exception across our programmes, partners and staff. It requires proactively identifying, preventing and guarding against all risks of harm, exploitation and abuse and having mature, accountable and transparent systems for response, reporting and learning when risks materialise. Those systems must be survivor-centred and also protect those accused until proven guilty.

Safeguarding puts beneficiaries and affected persons at the centre of all we do. 

 

Sexual abuse

The term ‘sexual abuse’ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. 

 

Sexual exploitation

The term ‘sexual exploitation’ means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.  This definition includes human trafficking and modern slavery.

 

Survivor

The person who has been abused or exploited. The term ‘survivor’ is often used in preference to ‘victim’ as it implies strength, resilience and the capacity to survive, however it is the individual’s choice how they wish to identify themselves.

 

At risk adult

Sometimes also referred to as vulnerable adult.  A person who is or may be in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

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