Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
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Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy Purpose and Scope This Policy exists to protect children and other vulnerable adults from abuse in the delivery of Kids Alive International (KAI) programmes. It affirms Hope for Kids International’s commitment to the safety and protection of children and vulnerable adults and to ensure that in our work we do not perpetuate or reinforce systematic or structural abuse and discrimination of children. This Policy outlines our guiding principles, roles, responsibilities, and approach towards implementation, which will ensure that this commitment is integrated into all areas of our work The Policy applies to anyone who represents (or is associated with) Hope for Kids International, including, but not limited to, staff, volunteers, partners (local NGO’s, affiliates, and government counterparts), contractors, donors, and board members. Introduction Since KAI oversees the activities of the various Kids Alive network partner programmes around the world, Hope for Kids International will abide in full with the policies adopted by KAI. We will also maintain a monitoring role to ensure that the KAI policies meet or exceed UK accepted best practice in regard to child and vulnerable adult protection. The May 2018 version of the KAI Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy is included in full at Appendix A and, in our view, represents current best practice. For the sake of clarity, Hope for Kids International will ensure that all of its staff, missionaries, volunteers, teams, and trustees: • Have an up-to-date Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check upon commencing employment or service as a trustee (and then renewed every three years) or prior to engaging in voluntary work of team visits with Hope for Kids International; • Sign a “Code of Safe Conduct and Declaration” (included at the end of the KAI policy document) when a visit to a programme site is anticipated. Note – a condensed version of the policy, specifically aimed towards Service Team members and including the Code of Safe Conduct and Declaration, is included at H05 of the HFKI Operations Manual. HOPE FOR KIDS SAFEGUARDING POLICY FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS Revised June 2018 Page 1 of 15 Appendix A Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy Revised: May 2018 Purpose and Scope This Policy exists to protect children1 and other vulnerable adults from abuse in the delivery of our programs. It affirms Kids Alive International’s commitment to the safety and protection of children and vulnerable adults and to ensure that in our work we do not perpetuate or reinforce systematic or structural abuse and discrimination of children. This Policy outlines our guiding principles, roles, responsibilities, and approach towards implementation, which will ensure that this commitment is integrated in to all areas of our work The Policy applies to anyone who represents (or is associated with) Kids Alive, including, but not limited to, staff, volunteers, partners (local NGO’s, affiliates, and government counterparts), contractors, donors, and board members. Introduction Child abuse is more than just a global problem – it’s a tragedy. Abuse occurs in all countries and in all societies and includes physical violence, sexual molestation and exploitation, emotional cruelty, and neglect of children’s basic needs. It is nearly always preventable. At Kids Alive International, the child’s best interests are our primary concern and consideration. We believe: • Children have the right to a happy, healthy, and secure childhood • The abuse of children is an abuse of their rights • Child abuse is never acceptable Abuse of minors, which includes child molestation, is a serious moral fault and is subject to criminal charges in most societies. Child abuse takes advantage of the vulnerability of children. It violates Biblical standards of holiness and the mandate to genuinely love and seek the good of others, and causes deep spiritual and psychological wounds. Kids Alive International will ensure that anyone who represents Kids Alive International, including, but not limited to, staff, volunteers, partners (local NGO’s affiliates and government counterparts), contractors, donors and board members around the world: • Are aware of the problem of child abuse and of situations where children may be at risk • Actively safeguard children from abuse through good practice 1 For the purposes of this Policy, (i) a child is defined as a person under the age of 18, and (ii) a vulnerable adult is defined as an individual aged 18 or older who is a beneficiary of a Kids Alive International program or is otherwise in an at-risk situation in a community where we serve. HOPE FOR KIDS SAFEGUARDING POLICY FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS Revised June 2018 Page 2 of 15 • Report all concerns about possible abuse • Respond appropriately and quickly when abuse is suspected or discovered Any person representing Kids Alive International will have to read and sign the Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Policy, as well as the related Code of Conduct, before they engage with any Kids Alive program operations. This Child Protection Policy is based on Kids Alive International’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child2; and the guidance provided by other organizations, including the “Keeping Children Safe” network3 and the “Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service”4. The principles in this Policy are applicable to all children and vulnerable adults, whether or not they are beneficiaries of a Kids Alive International program. This Policy is approved by the Board of Kids Alive International. It is the responsibility of the President, through the vice presidents and directors, to ensure that all Kids Alive International personnel and associates are aware of and agree to abide by this Policy and other applicable local procedures while working for Kids Alive. This Policy is binding for all Kids Alive International programs. Based upon this Policy, each program country shall define clear reporting and responding structures and crisis management plans. Each program country office should ensure that their in-country Policy is aligned with that country’s legislation. Kids Alive International must be informed of any additional regulations and guidelines adopted by program countries in their Child Protection policies. However, the following minimum guidelines must be maintained. Types of Abuse Kids Alive International defines abuse as follows: Physical abuse and neglect Physical abuse includes inflicting physical injury upon a child. This may include burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating, or otherwise harming a child. It may be the result of over-discipline or physical punishment which is not appropriate to the child’s age. Physical neglect may include failing to provide any of the following: adequate food, appropriate clothing, medical care, supervision, or proper protection from harm. Emotional abuse (also known as verbal or mental abuse or psychological maltreatment) Emotional abuse can include caregivers threatening or terrorizing a child, using extreme and/or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement in a closet or a dark room, or tying a child to a chair. Other forms of emotional abuse may include ignoring, belittling, rejecting, using derogatory terms, excessive blaming, or excessive isolating. Emotional neglect may include a lack of love, emotional support or attention, or excessive inconsistency. Sexual abuse Sexual abuse ranges from inappropriate contact to rape, as well as non-contact abuse such as forcing children to observe sexual acts and pornography. Child grooming is befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child (and sometimes the family) to lower a child's inhibitions for child sexual abuse; this is also a criminal offense in many countries. 2 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx 3 Keeping Children Safe network: http://www.keepingchildrensafe.org.uk 4 Churches Child Protection Advisory Service: https://www.ccpas.co.uk HOPE FOR KIDS SAFEGUARDING POLICY FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS Revised June 2018 Page 3 of 15 It should be noted that sexual abuse may occur between people of the opposite sex and between people of the same sex. Spiritual abuse All children who enter a Kids Alive program are expected to participate in all spiritual activities provided for them. This expectation is made clear to the children and their families. While children’s participation is essential, Kids Alive will seek to safeguard children from any form of spiritual abuse. Spiritual abuse, as with all forms of abuse, is about the misuse of authority to promote the interests of the abuser rather than the best interests of the child. Spiritual abuse can take the form of: • Authoritarianism which demands unconditional submission to spiritual leadership • Refusal by a caregiver to respect a child’s opinions or views on spiritual issues • Valuing an individual for their performance rather than their worth to God • Unbalanced and excessive focus on particular points of theology • Manipulation through fear and condemnation Orientation and Screening of Program Staff Kids Alive International will carry out a thorough background check on all new employees in the US, and missionaries and interns applying to serve with Kids Alive. This will include an interview, criminal background checks, and obtaining references. The Country Director and