The safety of vulnerable people is paramount. To help partners act on their obligations to manage risks towards children and vulnerable adults [1], Porticus requires from its partners the compliance to a set of safeguarding measures. These requirements provide a basis for determining local standards and how these will be met and measured. They may be applied to situations that concern not only children, but all vulnerable people. Four main categories of safeguarding standards have been defined: policy, people, procedures and accountability. In each category Porticus requires its partners to have put in place their standards:
Policy
The partner organisation:
- has a written policy that describes how it is committed to preventing, and responding appropriately to harm to children and vulnerable adults;
- openly communicates a lack of tolerance towards abuse;
- commits to preventing a person from working with children and/or vulnerable people if this poses an unacceptable risk.
People
The partner organisation:
- places clear responsibilities and expectations on its staff and associates and supports them in understanding and acting in line with these;
- provides safeguarding training for personnel, contractors, volunteers, board members, etc.
- has a safeguarding code of conduct;
- has robust recruitment‐screening processes;
- has employment contracts containing provisions for dismissal, suspension or transfer to » other duties for any employee who breaches the safeguarding code of conduct.
Procedures
The partner organisation:
- has procedures that enable staff, volunteers, board members, beneficiaries and others to report any safeguarding concerns and take action;
- will ensure that violations of local laws are reported to the relevant authorities;
- undertakes a risk assessment that covers its supported activities.
Accountability
The partner organisation:
- monitors and regularly reviews its safeguarding measures;
- has a dedicated person within its organisation responsible for safeguarding;
- has governance mechanisms (such as a key board member for safeguarding) to enforce and review its safeguarding policy.
Porticus expects all partners working with vulnerable groups to meet the requirements set in all four categories. Porticus reserves the right to terminate agreements or relationships with any partner in the event of violation or non‐compliance with safeguarding policies. In some cases, partners may be supported in developing and implementing their own safeguarding policies.
Photo: Students involved in conversations whith residents of the community. Course: Corporate and Social Responsibility and Governance. Partner Community: KAYUMANGGI-Quezon City Chapter. De La Salle University. Philippines. Asia & Ocenia Hub.
[1] A child is anyone under the age of 18 years, irrespective of the age of majority in the country in which the child lives. A vulnerable adult is a person, 18 or above, who, by reason of disability, age or illness, the context they are in or as a result of social and other inequalities, is or may be unable to take care of or to protect himself or herself against significant harm or exploitation.
