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International Safeguarding Policy and Procedure

The International Safeguarding Policy applies to the safeguarding of staff, students and research participants overseas.

In an emergency

If a 果冻影院 student or member of staff is in immediate danger or at risk of harm to themselves or others call the local emergency services, if appropriate to that country, or the relevant Consulate. You should inform the person you report to at 果冻影院 as soon as possible and they should inform the relevant Designated Safeguarding Lead at 果冻影院 London:

Designated Research Safeguarding Lead:

  • Claire Glen, Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services听
    c.glen@ucl.ac.uk听+44 (0) 203 108 7918

Designated Student Safeguarding Lead:听

Designated Staff Safeguarding Lead:

Chief Safeguarding Lead:听

Contents

Introduction and principles

1. 果冻影院 recognises that it has social, moral and legal obligations to safeguard (or protect) the wellbeing and safety of children and vulnerable adults who may be participants in international development research; recipients of international aid or programmes; or who may come in contact with students or workers of 果冻影院 who are working abroad. 听In addition, 果冻影院 has an obligation to protect its staff and students from harm. 听听

2. 果冻影院 acknowledges that it can be difficult balancing the protection of individuals while being culturally sensitive to local norms.听 However, culture must not be used as an excuse for 果冻影院 students or staff to abuse children, young people or vulnerable adults.

3. 果冻影院 also acknowledges that staff and students may be involved in active research on topics which involve criminality, safeguarding and wellbeing, where the purpose is to research the topic and not report it.听

Scope

4. This policy applies to:听果冻影院 staff, students, workers or sub-contractors including emeritus and honorary staff who usually live and work in the UK and who are abroad on behalf of 果冻影院 both during and outside normal working hours. These will be referred throughout as 果冻影院 staff and students.

5. Throughout this procedure the term 鈥淢补苍补驳别谤鈥� will refer to a Head of Department,听 Director, Dean, Principal Investigator, PHD or Research Supervisor, or Line Manager.

6. 果冻影院 staff and students should read this policy in conjunction with 果冻影院鈥檚听Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure (Staff and Students).听

7.听 Where this policy conflicts with local legislation, local legislation must be followed with guidance from the local partnership organisation or from a 果冻影院 Designated Safeguarding Lead.

8.听听果冻影院 staff听and students should be aware of the local legislation and customs of any country they are travelling to. There may be serious repercussions or penalties for doing something that might be legal in the UK but illegal in the country you are visiting.听 果冻影院 staff听and students who have a protected characteristic (such as women; those within the LGBT+ community; those who practise a religion) may need to take particular care when travelling to countries where anti-discrimination or harassment laws may not exist or may not be as robust as those in the UK; or where certain practices are forbidden. The government has published foreign听for each country, with further advice specifically for听听and those in the听.

9. Breaches of this policy by 果冻影院 staff or students will be investigated under the relevant disciplinary procedure which may result in dismissal or expulsion and referral to the police or relevant authority.

10. Breaches by UK partners or partner organisations may result in termination of the partnership agreement and reporting to the police, relevant authorities or bodies.

11. Where partnership organisations have their own International Safeguarding Policy, 果冻影院鈥檚 Policy will take precedence, unless the partnership organisation鈥檚 policy and procedure is equally or more robust.听 听

Definition of safeguarding

12.听The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) has agreed the following definition of safeguarding with UK funders and an expert advisory group:

鈥淧reventing and addressing any sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment of research participants, communities and research staff, plus any broader forms of听violence, exploitation and abuse relevant to research such as: bullying, psychological abuse, and physical violence."

This is a narrow definition and applies to research development work only.听

13. Therefore 果冻影院 defines safeguarding in the context of working abroad as:

鈥淧reventing and addressing any sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment of individuals, communities, colleagues or staff, plus any broader forms of violence, exploitation and abuse relevant such as: bullying, harassment, psychological abuse, and physical violence.鈥�

14.听听It should be noted that this definition is different to the legal definition usually applied in the UK which covers children and adults at risk only (see Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure (Staff and Students)).

Safeguarding roles and responsibilities

15.听The 果冻影院 Designated Safeguarding Leads are based in London and are responsible for:

  • Reporting to and supporting the Vice President Operations with regards to safeguarding matters.
  • Monitoring, promoting and reviewing the policy, guidance documents and resources.
  • Ensuring the dissemination of the policy to all 果冻影院 staff through forums, committees and stakeholder meetings.
  • Acting as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns and providing support.
  • Ensuring referrals to the relevant authorities happen without delay.
  • Providing support to, and dealing with any queries from, members of staff or students who have been accused of misconduct related to a safeguarding issue.
  • Keeping records of all safeguarding referrals and outcomes.
  • Working collaboratively with the Executive Director of Human Resources, Students Union 果冻影院 and 果冻影院鈥檚 network of safeguarding contacts.
    听

16. All 果冻影院 departments are responsible for ensuring that this policy is incorporated as听part of any UK partnership agreement or third-party contract which involves overseas work, and that their UK based staff and volunteers abide by a code of conduct pursuant to the standards of this policy. The failure of partnerships or individuals, as appropriate, to take preventive measures against sexual exploitation, abuse and听harassment, to investigate and report allegations thereof, or to take corrective actions, shall constitute grounds for 果冻影院 to terminate such agreements.
听

17.听鈥淢补苍补驳别谤蝉鈥� who are involved with sending staff and students abroad, 听or hiring UK staff or volunteers who will work abroad, on projects with children or vulnerable adults are responsible for ensuring that such staff and students are vetted appropriately with a criminal background check, where possible; that a risk assessment is undertaken and that they are briefed on this safeguarding policy.听 听They should also ensure that those going abroad are briefed on the local culture, customs and law. 听听
听

18.听果冻影院 staff and students and those working in partnership with 果冻影院 are in a position of trust. It is important that you demonstrate exemplary behaviour. Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well intentioned. You should always give due consideration as to what is an appropriate environment and what is appropriate conduct in relation to the activities you are undertaking.

19.听 听 听 You should:

  • Read, understand, and follow this policy as well as the Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and the Personal Relationships Code.
  • Ensure that you are familiar with the local culture, customs and law.听听
  • Complete the 听
  • Act as an appropriate role model and provide an example you wish others to follow
  • Challenge unacceptable behaviour of 果冻影院 students or staff, including abusive activities, bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, including online behaviours
  • Avoid use of language, terminology or behaviour which could be interpreted as having a sexual connotation or innuendo
  • Challenge the use of inappropriate or offensive language by 果冻影院 students or staff
  • Report any potential safeguarding concerns (see definition para. 3.2) to a 果冻影院 Designated Safeguarding Lead.

20.听 听 听 You should not:

  • Engage in sexual behaviour with someone with whom you are in a position of trust.
  • Engage in private social media correspondence with someone with whom you are in a position of trust.
  • Engage in sexual activity with children under the age of 18 regardless of the age of consent locally.听 Mistaken belief in the age of the child is not a defence.
  • Engage in the exchange of money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour. This includes buying sex or giving additional assistance over and above what is due to programme participants.

21.听 听 听You should not normally:

  • Give children, vulnerable adults, research participants or recipients of aid or programme funding, your personal mobile number or personal email address unless there is no alternative. 听

Training and support

22. Staff and students who will come in contact with children and vulnerable adults must complete the 听

23. 果冻影院 provides a free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to staff. The EAP employs professionally qualified Counsellors and Information Specialists, who are experienced in helping people to deal with all kinds of practical and emotional issues including Safeguarding.

24.听果冻影院 Report and Support also provides an opportunity for support regarding any bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct experienced by the 果冻影院 community.

Recognising concerns in a participant, recipient or colleague

25. The behaviour of a participant, recipient or colleague may cause you concern or you may feel that circumstances that have arisen could lead you to be the subject of a false allegation relating to your conduct.

This includes:

  • A relationship developing which is an abuse of a position of trust
  • A child or vulnerable adult is becoming attracted to a colleague
  • A child or vulnerable adult is becoming attracted to you
  • A child or vulnerable adult has misunderstood or misinterpreted听 something you have done or said
  • Needing to physically restrain a child or vulnerable adult to prevent them from 听harming themselves or others or from causing significant damage to property

26. If you have concerns relating to a participant, a recipient, yourself or a fellow worker you should discuss this, in the first instance, with the 鈥淢补苍补驳别谤鈥� or the safeguarding lead in country.听

Responding to someone who raises a concern

27. If someone tells you directly about a concern relating to their wellbeing you should:

  • Remain calm
  • Offer reassurance that they have done the right thing in telling you
  • Listen attentively and show you are taking what you are being told seriously
  • If they are under 18, explain that you have a responsibility to tell someone else about what you have been told because you want to keep them safe
  • If they are a vulnerable adult, it is good practice to gain the person鈥檚 consent to share your concern. If information has been shared with you in confidence, a safeguarding concern may mean that there is justification to share the information without consent. 听
  • Explain to them what will happen next

28.听Do not:

  • Interrupt or stop them from speaking freely
  • React strongly for instance saying, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 awful鈥� or 鈥淗ow could someone do that?鈥�
  • Jump to conclusions about what happened or who is to blame
  • Ask leading questions to gain more information; you can ask questions to clarify, for example 鈥淎re you telling me that鈥�?鈥� using their own words
  • Promise confidentiality

Safeguarding allegations

29. This is where a 果冻影院 student or worker has allegedly:

  • Behaved in a way that has harmed a child or vulnerable adult, may have harmed a child or vulnerable adult or might lead to a child or vulnerable adult being harmed.

  • Possibly committed or is planning to commit a criminal offence against a child or vulnerable adult or related to a child or vulnerable adult or

  • Behaved towards a child or vulnerable adult in a way that indicates they are or听would be unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adult.

30. The allegation may:

  • Involve a child or a vulnerable adult
  • Not directly have an identified victim as such. For example, if someone is looking at abusive images of children online or using the internet to groom children with the intent to harm in future.
  • Be about any type of abuse.

31. A safeguarding allegation may arise when:

  • A child or vulnerable adult makes a disclosure about themself
  • A third party reports or makes an allegation about a 果冻影院 student or employee
  • Harmful behaviour is observed
  • 果冻影院 is informed by the police or local authority or an individual that they are the subject of a child/adult protection and/or criminal investigation

Recording and reporting concerns

32.听As soon as possible after noticing or being told of a concern (that does not form part of your academic research) you must:

  • Report such concerns to the local organisation in charge of the project and/or your 鈥淢补苍补驳别谤鈥� (if appropriate or applicable) and the Designated Safeguarding Lead at 果冻影院 (London).
  • Record your concern using the Concern form at Appendix A, providing as much detail as possible, following the guidance on the form.
  • Be precise and use their own words where possible
  • You can give an opinion if it relates to their behaviour or demeanour if you note that it is your opinion
  • Send the form to the Designated Research Safeguarding Lead at 果冻影院 Andrew Cooper, 听听+44 (0) 203 108 5416

33. You should not:

  • Discuss the concern with anyone other than your 鈥淢补苍补驳别谤鈥�, the local safeguarding lead听 听and the Designated Staff Lead at 果冻影院 听
  • Investigate any allegations

34. After you have reported your concern:

  • Hearing about suspected or actual abuse can be upsetting. If you need advice and support you can contact your 鈥淢补苍补驳别谤鈥� the Wellbeing team, or the Employee Assistance Programme.

35. The Designated Safeguarding Lead may:

  • 听Arrange for the child or vulnerable adult to be contacted to offer support
  • Refer the child or vulnerable adult to a local external support agency.
  • Contact the local police
  • Contact a local medical service
  • Convene an Interim Measures Panel (see Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy)
  • Recall the student or staff member to the UK and instigate an investigation under the Disciplinary Policy.

Working with other organisations

36. 果冻影院 may work with other organisations to deliver activities. As part of these activities 果冻影院 will agree which organisation will take lead safeguarding responsibility. When planning to work with an external organisation 果冻影院 representatives must ensure that as part of due diligence they:

  • Have the name and contact details of the other organisation鈥檚 safeguarding lead
  • Agree the process for reporting safeguarding concerns
  • Agree responsibility for any risk assessments to be carried out
  • Agree the responsibility for gaining consent and other permissions relating to confidential data
  • Ensure that staff have the appropriate training, qualifications and country specific police checks to work with children or vulnerable adults

Record keeping

37. The appropriate Designated Safeguarding Lead at 果冻影院 will keep records of safeguarding concerns or allegations including details of how they were resolved,听details of decisions reached and how those decisions were arrived at. These records will be kept securely for 6 years.听听 听 听 听听听

Review of Policy

38. This policy is not contractual and may be varied from time to time following consultation with 果冻影院鈥檚 recognised trade unions.

Appendix 1

    Managers' Toolkit

    Contact

    For queries on this policy email hr-services@ucl.ac.uk

    Policy Owner

    HR Division: Employment Policy

    听