Policies & Documents

Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy 

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Policy Statement  

Learning for Life Ghana (LFLG) is committed to a duty of care to prevent harm, and to promote the health and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults especially the beneficiaries of its projects. 

LFLG is committed to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm or risk of harm as a result of misconduct by our personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, and consultants and has a zero tolerance for sexually abusive or exploitative acts being perpetrated by any person representing LFLG 

 LFLG promotes a culture of openness to enable issues and concerns about Safeguarding to be raised and discussed and a sense of accountability among those who work with and engage with us so that potentially abusive behaviour can and will be challenged. This includes the obligation for all LFLG personnel to report a concern, allegation or disclosure, and awareness of the mechanisms in place to do so. 

LFLG will take positive action to prevent anyone who might be a risk to children, young people and vulnerable adults from becoming involved with the charity and will take stringent measures against any representatives and partners who perpetrate an act of violence against a child, young person or vulnerable adult. 

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Objective of this policy 

This policy applies to all LFLG personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, consultants and anyone representing LFLG. 

 The policy complements and expands on the principles set out in the LFLG ‘S Code of Conduct, and in the processes of Due Diligence when choosing partners to deliver support to vulnerable children, young people and adults in Ghana, West Africa.   

It also provides guidance as regards to the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults from exploitation and abuse of all kinds in the delivery of our projects and operations both in the UK and in Ghana. 

This policy outlines LFLG’s process for identifying and responding to concerns regarding the safeguarding and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

 

Safeguarding Key Legislation  

LFLG is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults and will achieve this by compliance with the key legislation and guidance in the UK and in Ghana where projects are delivered. Including: 

 The Children Act 2004; the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003,  

The Social Services Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014, 

Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2003 as amended by the Serious Crime Act 2015,  

Her Majesty’s Government Working Together to Safeguard Children Guidance. 

Relevant law in Ghana where we mainly operate - Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560) 

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. 

 

Definitions 

This policy is designed to ensure that all who work with and engage with LFLG understand and are supported in meeting safeguarding roles and responsibilities.  

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The following definitions are designed to help in this awareness 

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“Children and Young People”are defined as a girl, boy, young woman, young man, and children of other gender identities under the age of 18 years   

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“Young Person” /People” or “Youth” in line with United Nations definitions, include individuals, young women, young men, and young persons of other gender identities aged 15 years to 24 years old. This group spans the categories of ‘children’, ‘adolescents’ and ‘adults’ but regards young people as having particular safeguarding needs and requiring distinct consideration aside from younger children and older adults. 

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“Vulnerable Adults” are identified as women and men over the age of 24 years who are considered as vulnerable with safeguarding needs 

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“Abuse” means including, but not limited to, physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, bullying, or forced labour. 

 

“Emotional Abuse” means subjecting or exposing another person to behaviour that may result in physical or psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 

 

“Harm” means any detrimental effect on a child’s or young person’s physical, psychological, or emotional wellbeing. Harm may be caused by abuse or exploitation whether intended or unintended. 

 

“Physical Abuse” means where a person deliberately injures or threatens to injure, including slapping, punching, shaking, kicking, burning, or grabbing. 

 

“Safeguarding” is broader than “child protection” and means the responsibilities, preventative, responsive and referral measures undertaken to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults, ensuring that no child, young person or vulnerable adult is subject to any form of abuse or harm as a result of their association with LFLG projects. 

 

“Sexual abuse” means sexual assault or acts to which a person did not, or could not, consent. 

 

“Sex Tourism” means the sexual exploitation of individuals, including children, by people who travel, usually from a developed country to a less developed country, to engage in sexual acts. 

 

“Representative” or ” Personnel” means a trustee, office holder ,volunteer, consultant, partner, employee or any person who has an independent individual relationship with LFLG whether as a contractor, consultant or agent of the charity. 

 

“Working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults” means being engaged in an activity with a child,young person or vulnerable adult where the contact would reasonably be expected as a normal part of the activity and the contact is not incidental to the activity. 

 

Commitment  

This policy is underpinned by the following set of commitments that guide its implementation:  

The well-being and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults are paramount. All children and young people aged under 18 years have equal rights to protection from all forms of abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs as declared in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 

All children, young people and vulnerable adults are to be empowered and encouraged to fulfil their potential. This is an identified key goal for LFLG 

Decisions made about children, young people and vulnerable adults will be made as far as possible with their participation and in their best interest, giving full consideration to how such decisions will affect them 

Inequality, exclusion, and discrimination will be challenged and will not be tolerated 

All children and adults (and indeed all our beneficiaries) will be treated fairly and with respect and integrity 

The privacy and confidentiality of children, young people and vulnerable adults associated with our work are respected 

We will seek informed consent as appropriate from parents, children, young people and vulnerable adults whenever engaging with them in person or by other means of communication e.g. social media, or before taking photographs (LFLG Privacy and Data Protection Policy) 

Supervision and support will be given to all LFLG personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, consultants and representatives by adopting clear processes and relevant training  

Safeguarding Risk assessments will be completed across LFLG projects and operations 

Safeguarding risk assessments will be completed as part of Due Diligence processes on partners engaged in delivering LFLG projects in Ghana  

Guidance and communication about this policy and issues surrounding safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults will be disseminated to all LFLG representatives and personnel   

The monitoring and compliance of this Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy will be carried out at least annually and after any report of a breach whichever is sooner 

 

Due Diligence  

As part of our Due Diligence processes LFLG Partners including Kokrobite Chiltern Centre (KCC) and representatives working with LFLG are responsible for adhering to LFLG Code of Conduct, the Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy, Whistle Blowing Policy, Partner Agreement and other complementary policies 

As part of Due Diligence Processes LFLG partners are responsible for adhering to their own policies regarding Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Children, and Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy and other complimentary policies which are required to contain the same guiding principles and commitments set out by LFLG. 

Any form of abuse is unacceptable and upon the receipt of any proven breach of this policy LFLG may result in the termination of a partner agreement and a referral to local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate 

 

Risks Assessments and Considerations  

(Reference to be made to Annex 1 – Safeguarding Activity Risk Assessment) 

Risk evaluations consider how safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adult risks might occur in relation to LFLG operations 

LFLG recognises that there are potential risks to children, young people and vulnerable adults in some areas of its work and will manage these risks across its projects and operations 

 LFLG will consider how partner relationships and structures may contribute to the risks 

 LFLG will consider specific mitigation measures to manage any identified risks.  

The assessment and evaluation of these risks will continue to inform our partners who are in direct contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults 

LFLG promotes recruitment practices that minimise the risk of engaging personnel and representatives who may pose a risk to Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults 

LFLG will implement Disclosure and Barring Checks for anyone working with children, young people and vulnerable adults as appropriate  

 

Safeguarding Officer 

LFLG Safeguarding Officer (SO) will work with LFLG personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, consultants and representatives on risk assessments and evaluation and on any incidents, allegations and concerns regarding the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

LFLG SO alerts the LFLG trustees to any organisational risks associated with safeguarding and ensuring potential or actual serious incidents are reported. 

The LFLG SO has a key role in how LFLG is able to respond to welfare concerns regarding children and adults and to ensure compliance with this policy. 

The SO ensures that incident reporting procedures are in place and take into account children, young people’s and vulnerable adult's safeguarding issues when policies are developed.  

The SO fosters an open and transparent safeguarding culture and provide guidance in response to incidents, allegations and concerns regarding the safeguarding of children, young people and adults both in the UK and Ghana. 

 

Safeguarding Reporting Procedure 

(Reference to be made to Annex 2 which provides guidelines for all LFLG personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, consultants, representatives and beneficiaries working in or visiting Ghana. 

Also to Annex 3 which provides LFLG Safeguarding Children,Young People and Vulnerable Adult Reporting Form.) 

LFLG personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, consultants representatives and  beneficiaries whether in the UK or working or visiting in Ghana are expected to report any concerns, allegations and incidents of safeguarding regarding young Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults. 

The LFLG Safeguarding Officer is the first point of contact for LFLG personnel, trustees, office holders, partners, volunteers, consultants,  representatives and beneficiaries who want to raise a concern, allegation or incident about the welfare of a child, young person or vulnerable adult whether in the UK or Ghana.

Response to Concerns Raised 

Upon receipt of a Report that a child, young person or vulnerable adult for whom we have duty of care may have been harmed the LFLG SO will take the report seriously and confidentially and will refer the matter for investigation without delay and within 24 hours or if a child is in danger immediately, to the Department of Social Services ( in Ghana the Department of Social Welfare) and in serious cases directly to the Police. 

LFLG is committed to providing due process when responding to concerns or allegations related to child or adult exploitation and abuse. Any concerns raised, allegations made and incidents reported in good faith will be treated seriously as set out in this Policy and in the LFLG Whistle Blowing Policy and in compliance with all applicable U.K. legislation any other comparable legislation in Ghana. 

LFLG will seek to offer informed care to any child or young person or adult who has suffered abuse 

LFLG will co-operate fully and work with the relevant statutory agencies and not carry out their own investigations. 

Any LFLG personnel or representative who breaches this policy could be dismissed from the charity 

LFLG may terminate the partner agreement and relationship with partners working on the charity’s behalf if they breach this policy. 

Those raising concerns will be regularly informed of the progress of the investigation, unless the report is raised anonymously or the person raising the concern does not wish to be kept informed. 

All safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adult matters will be dealt with confidentially; the reports will be logged in the Safeguarding Register and held securely, however, LFLG cannot guarantee confidentiality as there may be legal requirements to disclose information relating to a matter raised.  

 

Training and Support 

The highest standards will be maintained in all LFLG contacts with children, young people and vulnerable adults and all volunteers will be given appropriate support and opportunities for safeguarding training  

LFLG will provide Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy guidelines for any one visiting the project in Ghana 

 

Monitoring and Compliance 

LFLG will monitor and track compliance with this policy by: 

Ensuring that this policy and other complementary policies are made available to all personnel and representatives working with LFLG  

Maintaining and reviewing records at least annually relating to the safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adult policy and processes outlined above 

 

This Policy was agreed at the LFLG Meeting held in March 2020