7.5.7.1.1 Aim
7.5.7.1.1.1 To ensure that GoTeach is adopting and applying appropriate safeguarding measures to all of its activities and interactions with volunteers, participants, charity partners and third parties (such as schools).
- Ensuring a consistent approach to safeguarding across all regions and countries
- Ensuring all participants and volunteers adhere to safeguarding regulations
- Ensuring there are clear reporting procedures in place for safeguarding concerns and a safeguarding log is kept to document the process and escalation of every safeguarding incident.
- Ensuring there is ongoing dialogue with charity partners where the other party is alerted if there is a safeguarding breach and appropriate details are shared
- Educating all participants on safeguarding, specifically defining:
- How to behave as a volunteer with Go Teach, dos and don’ts and guidelines
- Training for key volunteers to ensure that they understand the importance of safeguarding
- How to keep themselves safe as participants
- How to report a safeguarding concern and ensuring discretion and confidentiality
7.5.7.1.2 Safeguarding responsibilities and documentation
It is good practice is to appoint a safeguarding lead for the global program as well as a lead in each region/country to oversee process.
Clear information and training process must be made available to all program volunteers.
Clear reporting process and escalation process must be cascaded.
Documents that each region/country/program should have in place include:
- Safeguarding policy
- Code of conduct
- Breach process
- Safeguarding log
7.5.7.1.3 Additional support
Other support could come from charity partner and corporate HR safeguarding guidelines and policy. These must also be adhered to.
7.5.7.1.4 Our safeguarding principles
- The welfare of the child or young person is paramount
- Robust steps will be taken to protect children and young people from abuse and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings when they engage with DHL colleagues
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and appropriate action taken to address these swiftly and fully
- Anyone who is bound by this policy has the responsibility to highlight concerns
- Anyone who is bound by this policy has the right to report concerns or suspicions about another individual in confidence and free from harassment
- We will work in partnership with our school and charity partners and all relevant external stakeholders to adhere to their safeguarding policies
7.5.7.1.5 Clear guidelines - DHL colleagues must not:
- Invite children or young people to their home or visit children or young people in their own homes
- Allow their personal beliefs to exploit a child or young person’s vulnerability or incite them to break the law
- Offer a child or young person a lift in a car
- Behave in any way, physically or verbally, that could be offensive to a child or young person
- Make any kind of physical contact with a child or young person that would not be considered appropriate within a school or business environment, and report any inadvertent contact that could be misconstrued. For example, shaking hands as part of a mock interview process is acceptable. Hugging or unprofessional contact is not acceptable.
- Smoke or drink alcohol in the presence of children or young people, or supply them with these substances
7.5.7.1.6 Child safeguarding concern process
All DHL colleagues have a responsibility to be mindful and aware of child and young person safeguarding issues when supporting the GoTeach program. It is not the colleague’s responsibility to decide whether or not the potential child or young person safeguarding incident requires investigation or further action, rather each colleague has a responsibility to act on any concerns by escalating the matter and informing a teacher, charity partner or member of the GoTeach team immediately.
7.5.7.1.7 Good practice
Showcase best practices from across GoTeach to demonstrate the benefits of a global approach, subject to regional variations, with regards to:
- Policy
- Safeguarding lead
- Administration
- Education and volunteer support
- Escalation process
- Log
- Code of conduct
- Periodic review process
- Other considerations
| Chapter lead | Harry Wade |
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