Vulnerable persons protection policy

Streets Ahead Rwanda primarily supports partners who deliver services to vulnerable young persons, some of whom are disabled, in Rwanda. This policy seeks to provide a framework upon which Streets Ahead Rwanda’s engagement with vulnerable persons, directly or indirectly, is based.

Streets Ahead Rwanda, through its work and the behaviour of all trustees and volunteers, strives to ensure that:

(i) Everyone has the right to protection from abuse and neglect and should be able to live a life of inclusion and participation, and

(ii) Everyone has the right to lead a life where they fulfill their potential to have a dignified, healthy and secure life.

Thus, Streets Ahead Rwanda is committed to ensure that all those with whom we work and with whom we have contact can live a life free from: 

  • Sexual, mental and physical abuse

  • Humiliation

  • Fear

  • Neglect and exclusion

  • Discrimination

The organisation seeks to prevent the abuse of anyone by the unquestioning recognition of human rights. As our work grows and develops we will strive to take practical actions to protect all vulnerable young people potentially at risk of harm as a direct result or consequence of our support and programming. We ask of our partners that they adhere to the same principles and codes of conduct, based on the unquestioning recognition of human rights.

This policy seeks to complement and expand on principles set out in Streets Ahead Rwanda’s Code of Conduct (see Appendix 2), specifically in relation to vulnerable adults and children.

Principles

The following protocols should be interpreted with the best interests of vulnerable people as the primary consideration. Those working for Streets Ahead Rwanda should always:

  • Respect everyone as an individual

  • Provide a good example of acceptable behaviour

  • Respect everyone’s right to privacy

  • Try to ensure actions cannot be misunderstood or cause offence and that they are always acceptable within a relationship of trust

  • Show understanding when dealing with sensitive issues including cultural differences and human diversity

  • Be responsive to reports of abuse and investigate appropriately

  • Plan, where possible, to have at least one responsible person with them during activities with a vulnerable person

  • Remember that you are accountable to the vulnerable person and their carer / parents and to Streets Ahead Rwanda

Our partners should never:

  • Permit abusive behaviour

  • Have inappropriate physical or verbal contact with others

  • Jump to conclusions or make assumptions about others without checking facts

  • Make suggestive remarks or actions, even in jest

  • Deliberately place themselves, or others, in a compromising situation

Undertakings made by Streets Ahead Rwanda:

Communications about Vulnerable People

  • Streets Ahead Rwanda will not portray vulnerable people in a manipulative or sensational manner, neither in words nor images. Everyone has a right to be accurately represented and will only be presented by Streets Ahead Rwanda in a manner that preserves dignity

  • Streets Ahead Rwanda will seek to avoid depicting vulnerable persons as helpless victims but instead as dignified humans

  • Any information that could be used to identify the location of a vulnerable person and cause them to be put at risk shall not be used in any form of communication for general, or public, purposes.

Implementation

  • Acceptance of the Vulnerable Persons Protection Policy and Code of Conduct will be signified, respectively, by signing the Statement of Commitment (Appendix 1) and a copy of the Code of Conduct (Appendix 2).

  • All Trustees must read, understand and accept compliance with the Streets Ahead Rwanda Vulnerable Persons Protection Policy and Code of Conduct.

  • All Volunteers must be given information about the policy.

  • Visitors from the UK to projects supported by Streets Ahead Rwanda (whether Trustees or volunteers) should receive a copy of Streets Ahead Rwanda’s Vulnerable Person Protection Policy and Code of Conduct and accept compliance with them.

  • The Trustees will consider at the time of adopting this policy and on an annual basis thereafter whether there are practical reasons for volunteers in UK based roles to sign the Statement of Commitment where they could be particularly involved in communications, and those fulfilling such roles will be required to accept compliance with this policy.

  • Police checks will be undertaken on all Trustees when appointed to ensure that there is no reason why they should not be considered appropriate persons to oversee and direct a children’s charity. Checks on Trustees will be repeated every 3 years. Checks will be undertaken to the extent that the law allows. (At the date of amendment of this policy this was the Enhanced CRB check.) Two Trustees will be appointed by the Board to coordinate checks.

  • Police checks will be undertaken on all visitors from the UK to projects supported by Streets Ahead Rwanda when those visitors are being proposed by Streets Ahead Rwanda to work as volunteers with children in those projects.

  • Information provided through Police Checks will be processed in accordance with data protection principles as set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. The Charity has adopted a Policy for the Secure storage, handling, use, retention and disposal of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates and certificate information which sets down how these matters will be handled.

Education and Training

  • Trustees should be made familiar with this policy as part of their induction.

  • Volunteers with any access to information about the lives of vulnerable people, including contact details, must receive guidance to understand what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable sharing of information regarding vulnerable people

  • If any person working for Streets Ahead Rwanda has any concerns regarding vulnerable people protection they should raise them with the responsible trustee.

Reporting and Reacting

  • When responding to concerns raised regarding vulnerable person’s protection, the best interests of the vulnerable person will always be paramount. Decisions will be made that attempt to ensure the best outcomes for the vulnerable person.

  • Any incidents or concerns shall be recorded in a Vulnerable Persons Protection File and signed and dated by the person who raised the concern and the responsible trustee. If the concern is raised overseas the file will be signed by the responsible trustee and another trustee.

  • All those working for Streets Ahead Rwanda are obliged to report any suspicions, allegations or witnessed actions, however uncertain, that might, in any way, breach the Streets Ahead Rwanda Vulnerable People Code of Conduct to the responsible trustee.

  • Streets Ahead Rwanda will encourage overseas partners to adopt a similar policy of their own that is sensitive to their cultural setting. Principles that Streets Ahead Rwanda would expect to be part of such a policy are set down below.

  • Support will be provided for those involved by the responsible trustee following an incident or allegation.

Vulnerable People Protection Principles expected of Partner Agencies

Partner agencies will be required to adopt a formal policy which incorporates the following principles as a condition of partnership:

  • The organisation’s ethos should support a positive, supportive and secure environment, giving young people a sense of being valued and listened to.

  • Whilst the partner agency will be clear that some behaviour by children is not acceptable, it will also be clear that they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse inflicted on them.

  • Children should know that there are members of staff they can approach if they have concerns for themselves or others.

  • There should be a designated senior person for vulnerable people protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role. All members of staff, volunteers and members of the governing body should know the name of that senior person and their role.

  • All staff, volunteers and members of the governing body should understand their responsibility to be alert to signs of abuse and their responsibility to refer concerns to the designated senior person.

  • Written records should be maintained of concerns about children. Such records should be kept securely, separate from the main file on the child.

  • Procedures should be developed to cover the circumstances where an allegation is made against a member of staff or a volunteer, and such procedures should be followed.

Streets Ahead Rwanda will require a copy of the Partner organisation’s Safeguarding Policy along with procedures the organisation takes when a breach of safeguarding has been reported internally, prior to any funding agreements being signed off.

Reviewed 17 November 2020

Next review date: November 2021

Appendix 1

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO STREETS AHEAD RWANDA’S VULNERABLE PERSON PROTECTION POLICY

 ‘I, ............................................,  have read and understood the standards and guidelines outlined in Streets Ahead Rwanda’s Vulnerable Person Protection Policy.  I agree to abide by the principles contained therein and accept the importance of implementing child protection policies and practice while working with Streets Ahead Rwanda.  I will adhere to Streets Ahead Rwanda’s Code of Conduct at all times.’

                                                                                   

(Print name)

                                                                                   

(Signature) 

                                                                                   

(Date)

Appendix 2

CODE OF CONDUCT

As a Volunteer / Trustee for Streets Ahead Rwanda, your behaviour should illustrate, through example and action, model ways of working with vulnerable people. By always striving to attain the highest standards of interaction with, and support for, clients and other stakeholders, you will not only contribute to the success of Streets Ahead Rwanda, but will also be working to directly and positively impact on vulnerable people, their families and communities.

  • The Code of Conduct should be interpreted in a spirit of transparency and common sense, with the best interests of vulnerable people as the primary consideration.

  • The Code of Conduct sits alongside the Vulnerable People Protection Policy, and must be considered as an integral part of it.

Ethical Behaviour

  • Demonstrate respect for all human rights and challenge discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion and any other criteria

  • Treat everyone with dignity and respect and create an environment that prevents physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect

  • Take positive action to reduce the risk of harm to vulnerable people

  • Always ensure that dignity for clients and field partners is paramount

  • Actively work to eliminate discrimination, harassment, abuse and exploitation, including those of a  sexual nature that infringe the rights of others

  • Be respectful of local customs and cultures

Relationship to local cultures and communities

  • Take all responsible action to avoid prejudice to Streets Ahead Rwanda’s reputation by refraining from inappropriate behaviour or action that might offend local sensitivities

  • When involved in local political, religious or community leadership activities, commit to ensure that Streets Ahead Rwanda’s mission and objectives in the country are not compromised

Duty to Report

  • Report, immediately, any breaches of this Code to the Board

  • Ensure that all information about breaches of this Code is handled with the utmost discretion

  • All suspected breaches of the Code will be thoroughly investigated and treated with confidentiality

I have received Streets Ahead Rwanda’s Code of Conduct, which I have read and understood.

I understand that failure to comply with any principles of the Code of Conduct may result in an investigation by the Board of Streets Ahead Rwanda into the appropriateness of my continued involvement with the organisation, and, where applicable, in legal or criminal prosecutions. 

NAME_________________________________________

SIGNED_______________________________________

DATE__________________________________________