Our child safeguarding policy

The protection of children and young people in our care is central to all we do.

At the heart of our work is the conviction that every child has the right to a caring, supportive and safe family-like environment in which to thrive. Creating a safe environment for children, young people and families - within our programmes and in the wider community and society – is an integral part of everything we do.

We have a strong Code of Conduct for all our staff and volunteers as well as clear reporting and responding procedures. We take swift and determined action if staff members fail to adhere to our policies and expectations for child safeguarding.

There is no doubt that the intense proximity of our care, combined with the challenging needs of the children and the difficult circumstances in which we operate, mean there is greater child safeguarding risk in our work. In recognition of this we created our own reporting and record-keeping system for child safeguarding in 2008, building on our universal child safeguarding and reporting policies and procedures.

In September 2017 we became one of only four organisations in the child care sector globally to be granted Level 1 Certification by Keeping Children Safe (KCS), a well-respected international child safeguarding organisation that developed the International Child Safeguarding Standards.

Along with our NGO peers, we are also participating in sector-wide efforts to develop common standards and systems related to improving the safety of children around the world.

You can read our full child safeguarding policy at the link below.

Our safeguarding policy

As part of a global organisation working with children who have lost parental care, or who are at risk of losing it, SOS Children's Villages UK does not tolerate any form of child abuse, exploitation, neglect or violation of a child’s privacy and rights.