Safeguarding policy for children, young people and vulnerable adults

Background to policy statement

Feeding Futures overall policy is to provide a safe and trusted environment which safeguards anyone who comes into contact with it, including beneficiaries, staff and volunteers.

Feeding Futures aims to uphold both the Kenya and UK Children Acts which echo the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child. There are four articles in The Declaration’ that are seen as special. They are known as the “ Principles” and they help to interpret all the other articles and play a fundamental role in realising all the rights in The Declaration’ for all children. They are:

  1. Non-discrimination (article 2)
  2. What is in the best interest of the child (article 3)
  3. The right to life, survival and development (article 6)
  4. The right to be heard (article 12)

Article 19 is also of fundamental importance – Children have a right to be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment.

Whether working in the UK or Kenya, Feeding Futures staff and volunteers are required to familiarise themselves with the relevant advice, from either or both governments. Most of UK safeguarding law and guidance has developed from learning following inquiries into tragedies, when the worst has happened to children, young people or vulnerable adults.

As a Kenyan and UK partnership charity we can benefit from the evidence learned over the years, in both countries, about what is likely to work to achiever the best outcomes for children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Relevant guidance should be considered before issues arise and revisited when there is a cause for concern.

Thresholds for intervention and support are likely to be resource led and vary according to local culture.

For reasons of their family circumstances, climate and resources, and historical cultural values, some children young people and vulnerable adults encountered

during the work of `Feeding Futures` will have many challenges to developing their potential. It could be said that this is a major reason why Feeding Futures began.

Policy statement

  1. The trustees of Feeding Futures have a legal duty of care to follow the principles laid down by the UK Charity Commission.
  2. The Feeding Futures Team commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safeguarding of all, especially children, young people and vulnerable adults.
  3. It is the responsibility of each one of us to help prevent the physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse or neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and to report any abuse or neglect discovered or suspected.
  4. We recognise that our work with children, young people and vulnerable adults is the responsibility of the whole team.
  5. We will take proper care in the selection and appointment of staff and volunteers working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. In the UK we will check as appropriate through the Disclosure and Barring service and in Kenya we must see and record having seen a Certificate of Good Conduct.
  6. The Feeding Futures team is committed to the safeguarding principles contained in the Kenya & UK Children Act and the implementation of these principles using current publications e.g The UK ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children ’and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
  7. Feeding Futures volunteers and staff working with children, young people and vulnerable adults must know their responsibilities regarding the recommendations and undertake to observe them.
  8. As part of our commitment to this policy, Feeding Futures has appointed Peterson Githinji in Kenya and Jennifer Clark in the UK to be their ‘Responsible Person ’for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults.

Procedure

The role of Responsible Person will be explained to the members of the community working with the Feeding Futures team and contact details explained and publicly displayed.

A flowchart `What to do if you have a concern about a child, young person or vulnerable adult` is displayed in the kitchen block at Sidaii alongside the ‘Spectrum of possible concerns’.

Attention will be drawn to these guidelines at least annually, and whenever a new worker joins the team.

The effectiveness of the policy and procedure will also be reviewed at least annually.

Training will need to take place in the most effective way, to encourage a culture of openness, honesty and the need to share concerns on a need-to-know basis only.

Confidentiality will be respected within the boundaries of what is safe for each child, young person and vulnerable adult.

It is recommended that this document is translated into Kiswahili, and any other format to enable all to read it.