Safetitude works with institutions in their safeguarding journey, identifying their safeguarding needs through joint assessment of policies, programmes and infrastructure, conducting risk assessments and cocreating a pathway of transformation for organizational policies, systems and practices. We facilitate safeguarding informed programming and ensure integration of safeguarding across the program cycle, reporting, monitoring and evaluation.
We collaborate with grant making organizations, development organizations, and CSR programs to develop safeguarding systems and this process includes conducting risk assessments of both organizations and investment portfolios, leading to integration of safeguarding policies within the broader governance framework. A key indicator of an organization’s accountability is the establishment of transparent reporting mechanism for staff and program participants, along with an accessible complaints mechanism. These systems are designed to provide timely, survivor-centered support, ensuring that organizations remain responsive and responsible to the communities they serve.
Key Areas of Safeguarding
- Recruiting Safe People
- Data Protection
- Communication protocol: Privacy of Communities
- Safeguarding Informed Program Design, M&E and Learning Systems
- Designing accessible Reporting systems for staff and communities (Women and Children)
- Survivor Support
- Case Management: Investigation and Redressal
- Crisis Management with Minimal Loss of Reputation
- Compliance and Capacity building
- Safeguarding in Research
We see institutions in totality and ensure safeguarding is integral to all policies and functions and handhold organizations to translate policies to practice seamlessly.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding refers to proactive measures undertaken by an organization including policies, systems, procedures and practices that ensure wellbeing and safety of children and adults in all organizational pursuits. As a proactive approach, safeguarding prevents harm from occurring and equips organizations to respond effectively when harm has occurred or is suspected.
Safeguarding informed planning, risk awareness and mitigation of risk by stakeholders across the organization is at the core of safeguarding. Every organization has unique safeguarding needs depending on its context and programs.
What is Child Safeguarding?
Children as stakeholders and program participants face a greater risk or likelihood of harm and therefore Child Safeguarding is a specialized area and covers interventions relevant to the vulnerability and situation of children. Safeguarding for children also includes empowering children to know their rights as well as understand the risks they face.
Children should have access to safe spaces and enabling environment to express themselves and report freely if needed.
Safetitude specializes in Child safeguarding and provides services on child safeguarding across institutions including Development partners, Schools, Pre-schools, day care, entertainment spaces and health facilities.
Schools, Preschools and Day Care centres
Children in schools, preschools, and daycare centers are particularly vulnerable due to the significant time they spend in these spaces. Teachers, as the primary points of contact, must be equipped with essential skills to support and manage at-risk children effectively. They should be prepared to identify signs of abuse, handle disclosures, report incidents, and provide necessary support to the child. A robust reporting system is essential to ensure that cases of abuse are reported and handled with due diligence.
Schools also need to prioritize infrastructure safety to be adequately prepared for emergencies and disasters such as bomb threats, fires, earthquakes etc. A comprehensive safeguarding policy is essential, outlining risk assessment and mitigation systems, defining the role of various stakeholders, ensuring infrastructure safety, providing communication guidelines, and establishing a behavioral code of conduct. This policy sets clear standards and protocols to be followed, ensuring each stakeholder understands their responsibilities.
Development Organisations and CSR Programs
Safeguarding in development organizations and CSR programs is crucial, particularly when children are involved in their initiatives. It is their responsibility to protect children from any form of harm or abuse. Safeguarding measures include implementing policies, systems, procedures, and practices that ensure the well-being and safety of children. This also involves fostering risk awareness among all staff to consistently minimize risks to children and promote a protective environment. A robust reporting and redressal process must be in place for instances of harm or potential harm.
Sports Institutions
Child safeguarding in sports facilities and training institutions is essential for protecting children from abuse and promoting their overall well-being. Children are particularly vulnerable as they are often placed at the bottom of the hierarchy, with adults in positions of trust, making it easier for them to manipulate. Infrastructure safety is also a critical aspect of safeguarding, often overlooked. Effective safeguarding practices prevent misconduct by coaches, staff, and older children, encouraging more participation in sports and fostering a culture of safety and awareness within sports institutions. Conducting safeguarding risk assessments, implementing safeguarding policies, and performing regular risk and safeguarding audits are essential prerequisites for making spaces safer for children.
Public Spaces and Entertainment Spaces
Ensuring child safeguarding in public and entertainment spaces is crucial for creating environments where children can enjoy themselves without fear of harm. Organizations managing these spaces have a legal and ethical duty to protect children, with safeguarding measures helping prevent exploitation and inappropriate behavior by staff and other adults. Adequate measures must be in place to ensure that individuals recruited or hired for services are safe for children. Additionally, regular risk assessments, comprehensive safeguarding policies, and continuous training and audits are essential to maintaining safe environments for children.
Online Platforms
Due to the vast exposure to technology, children can easily access different online and gaming platforms. However, this increased online presence brings various risks, such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and engagement in unsafe activities. Child safeguarding in online spaces is now essential, as privacy concerns arise from children unknowingly sharing information with unknown sources. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to implement parental controls, educate children about online safety, monitor their activities, enforce platform policies, and provide effective reporting mechanisms.
Why should your organization be Safeguarding Compliant ?
Acknowledging the possibility of the harm
Safeguarding is a proactive approach that begins with acknowledging that there is possibility of harm to children, women and the marginalized people from organizational pursuit and most of these harm can be prevented.
Accountability to the communities
Safeguarding reflects a commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights of dignity, respect, and safety for those you work with or on behalf of. It is both an ethical and legal obligation for every organization, ensuring that the organization and its employees are accountable to the communities and children they serve.
Institutionalising risk management
By setting and codifying high standards for conduct and risk management, you embed these practices into your organization's brand identity.
Building trust
By prioritizing well-being in all your work and programs, you establish yourself as a trusted partner for stakeholders, demonstrating a commitment to high standards and fostering confidence and reliability in your organizational practices.
Legal compliance
The Safeguarding processes also facilitate adherence to the standards enumerated in international conventions, alignment to national policy and legal compliance as per the statutes in the country.
Upholding organisational reputation
Safeguarding is a requisite ingredient in building organizational reputation. In times of crisis, safeguarding systems create readiness to intervene, and manage crises with minimal loss of reputation.