Child safeguarding is the responsibility of everybody working in organisations to ensure they do no harm to children. This means doing all they can to prevent exploitation and abuse, and if abuse occurs, respond appropriately.
Recognising the risks
The first step is to understand where your organisation comes into contact with children through it’s staff, programmes, operations or partners and what risks this may pose. This could be via face-to-face or online contact with a child, or as a result of poorly designed programmes or operations.
Closing the gaps
Any gaps should be closed with robust safeguarding measures that create safer organisations. This means: developing a child safeguarding policy and a code of conduct that sets out acceptable and unacceptable conduct around children. Implementing safer recruitment processes to keep out abusers, training staff on how to prevent abuse and their obligation to report concerns. Developing a network of Focal Points to champion child safeguarding and establishing rigorous monitoring and accountability systems.
However, even with the most robust child safeguarding measures, abuse may still take place from within your organisation. At that point, it is how your organisation responds that is crucial for the child and for the organisation. Every organisation needs to have safe systems for reporting and responding to abuse and protecting the rights and dignity of victims and survivors.
Prioritising the best interests of the child
All actions on child safeguarding should be taken in the best interests of the child or children, which are paramount. This means ensuring you communicate with children about your safeguarding policy, so they understand what they should expect from staff. It also means consulting with children and families about child safeguarding measures, so they are accessible and appropriate. And it means establishing child-friendly reporting and response systems to protect abused children from the risk of further harm such as re-traumatisation, stigma or re-victimisation.
Developing a culture of safeguarding
Developing a culture of safeguarding means putting the rights and safety of children at the heart of your mission. It means appointing and evaluating staff and leaders based on their values and commitment to safeguarding children, and tackling bullying and discrimination, so everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
How we help your organisation
We are here to accompany your organisation as you put child safeguarding at the heart of your mission.
Get started
Try our free, confidential online child safeguarding self-assessment tool.*
Get support
Join our global members’ network for support and guidance on implementing the ICS Standards.
Get recognised
Quality-assure child safeguarding in your organisation with KCS Certification and kite-marking.
| We are here to accompany your organisation as you put child safeguarding at the heart of your mission. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Get started Try our free, confidential online child safeguarding self-assessment tool.* | Get support Join our global members’ network for support and guidance on implementing the ICS Standards. | Get recognised Quality-assure child safeguarding in your organisation with KCS Certification and kite-marking. |
Help us close the gaps
Let’s end child abuse in organisations. Help us close the gaps:
- Join the KCS global members’ network and help make your organisation safer for children.
- Donate to KCS and help us end the exploitation and abuse of children in all organisations.
