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• The document provides guidance on how to interpret safeguarding self-audits for medium and high-risk grant recipients.
• It explains the table headings used in the self-audit and the rationale behind each section

Expectations

• This section states the expected safeguarding measures an organization should have.
• These are based on the Oak Child Safeguarding Standards outlined in the policy.

Why We Ask About This

• Explains the reasons for requiring adherence to a specific expectation or standard.
• Child protection matters can be complex with critical implications for an organization.
• Child focused commitments are a priority, even if the organization does not primarily work with children.

Evidence

• Indicates where proof of implementing safety measures is located.
• It urges grantees to actively seek and verify the existence of safeguards, rather than assuming they are in place
• This column ensures the person filling out the self-audit consults relevant colleagues, especially the safeguarding person.

Status

• This indicates whether the measure is met, in progress, or not met, and the actions planned to address any gaps.
• It encourages grantees to consider how they will address any shortcomings.
• The self-audit can be used as an action plan to measure progress.

Interpreting Self-Audit Findings

• The document is designed to help programming staff understand the organization's responses.
• The document will help highlight any potential warning signs which may merit additional scrutiny. These expectations appear in the same order as in the grantee self-audit tool

What You Need to Know About This Expectation

• When organizations rarely work with children, it is important to ensure that safeguarding is prioritized.
• A strong statement endorsed by a senior leader, reinforcing the organization's commitment to child welfare above all else.

Positive Signs

• Policy statements reflect the ways in which the organization may contact children.
• Recognizing children remain as such until they reach 18 years old.
• Clearly stating who is responsible for reviewing the policy.

Look Out For

• Statements that focus on the organization rather than the child, or those that appear defensive in tone.
• Statements that are not signed off by a senior person.
• Statements that are not dated or reviewed on time.
• Clues which suggest an improper review has been performed.

Expectation 2: Policy Applicability

• The strategy should clarify who it applies to within the organization.
• Organizations working in partnership or using contractors may face ambiguity about policy adherence

Positive Signs

• Clarity that the policy applies to everyone in the organization, regardless of their capacity.
• Documents which acknowledge how the firm operates.
• Clarity on how safeguarding processes work with partner organizations.

Look Out For

• Indicators that policy has not carefully considered the organization's operations, or referenced relevant parties.
• How the policy and procedures are shared to parties who need understanding of the contents should be considered.

Expectation 3: Designated Responsibility

• Designating a senior person responsible for safeguarding.
• Safeguarding concerns are not a daily occurrence, making it key to name someone with responsibility

What You Need to Know

• Both aspects of the operational and strategic considerations should be covered by the named senior person.
• Operational focuses on the person making decision about specific cases.
• Strategic concerns focuses on how well the organization is dealing with the issue.
• These different responsibilities may be held by different people.

Positive signs

• Include a designated person who wants to do the job and understands the issues.
• Include that responsibility for safeguarding is included in the job description.

Look Out For

• No named person should be an indicator.
• The named person cannot have sufficient seniority.
• Both aspects of the role should be recognized for the role

Expectation 4: Staff Support for Safeguarding

• Staff should be supported to recognize and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.
• Adults the organization works are parents of children, and their problems create vulnerabilities or risks.

What You Need to Know

• Staff need recognition when children's well-being is at risk from any source.
• Support can include training, management supervision, and clear information.

Positive Signs

• The organization acknowledges they notice issues affecting children.
• Organization provides resources when safeguarding.

Expectation 5: Staff Recognition of Safeguarding Concerns

• Staff should be able to recognize safeguarding concerns and different causes they arise through.
• Documentation should help staff see abuse forms and ways they can become aware, even without directly.

Positive Signs

• Staff are able to recognize and respond to concerns even when abuse is unclear.
• Include referral pathways for incidents are in policy document.

Look Out For

• Focus on responses of direct disclosures of abuse.
• Concerns from one particular source.

Expectation 6: Staff Response to Safeguarding Issues

• Staff must appropriately respond to a child or adult who makes them aware of a safeguarding issue. For organizations that do not have frequent dealings with children, it may be tough to respond to concerns that occur
• Staff should have guidance on what to do if they come across concerns.

Positive signs

• Need a detailed code of contact adapted to the organization.
• Clarity about the limitations of their role in responding.

Look Out For

• The organisation does not give guidance when to approach parents about concerns and when it is or is not.
• Absence of recognition of the emotional impact that can have

Expectation 7: Staff's Ability to Inform About Any Safeguarding Concern

• All staff must know about any safeguarding concerns.
• Arrangements should account the organization's operations like locations and numbers of the staff.

Positive signs

• A named designated officer with clear contact details.
• Staff should be communicated when they join.

Look Out For

• 1 person covering an unreasonably large area or number of staff.
• No deputizing arrangements that are in place.

Expectation 8: Referral of Important Matters

• It is important for the organization to have people with responsibility to refer matters to the police, especially with statutory duty
• It indicates a lack of thought been given, for how to respond.

Positive Signs

• Information about referral pathways.
• When recognizing different referral when concerns happen about behavior of staff or volunteers,

Look Out For

• A lack of understanding about whose makes the decision.
• Actions taken that are not following procedures.

Expectation 9: Process for Recording Concerns Securely

• The organization needs a process to record concerns confidently and securely.
• The organization needs a process to record concerns.

Look Out For

• The system manages securely and confidently.
• Information on storage is not written.

Positive Signs

• Informs how the records are to be referred and managed.
• Informs the period of recording in the system

Expectation 10: Appropriate Steps During Recruitment

• It should be expected how someone will be hired in the organization, if they are committed to safeguarding children.

Positive Signs

• Have steps to make recruitment processes safer.
• Consistency using processes

Section on Intermediary and Re-Granting

• These questions are for organizations the re-grant.
• While they rarely have contact with children, they need safeguards because they re-grant.

Positive Signs

• They have associate safeguarding policy on issues harressment etc.
• Include a reporting framework for complaints.

Additional Expectations

• This organisation must have a reporting framework to place for safeguarding.
• The re-granting organisation also has to discuses the topic with prospectives.

Look Out For

• The organization not believing it isn't their responsibility to to consider safeguarding.
• Policies and procedures are not described and safeguarded for responsibilities

Supervision, Arrangement And Access DSO

• Staff, volunteers and contractors operate remotely, making support difficult.
• Makes supervisory arrangement important, assessing staff ability.

Positive Signs

• Agreement to state they have safeguarding causes
• Has deputizing arrangements, to see if the DSO are available.

Lack Of Positive Signs

• Lack of any formalizes arrangements that are in place.
• Supervisory are not mentioned or set up.

Records, Retainment, And Storage

• This section included b/c organization held personal information about children on their records - area vulnerability!
  • Identify that grooming processes can be used.

Positive Signs

• What information is held and covered.
• What and why are arrangements covered with electronic and paper resources.

Working In Other Countries and Where Protection Well Enforced

• Structural and the legislative affect cultural of child welfare
• Children also face type of risk.

Working In Other Countries and Where Protection is Poorly Enforced - The Organization Response to These Variations Can Be

• Acknowledge cultural differences, maintaining children needs a concern
• Charity set standers and principals for international

Demonstrating Understanding

Records, and the Knowledge of compliant with government.

No Evidence of Staff

• Not being made aware of arrangements and safe guarding practice
• Lack the preparing other countries and the project

Online Interaction With Children

• The organization interaction activity is through the computer.
• Online safety can be integrated properly even engagement has been anticipated from the start.

Photography with Children

• Some of the organization has used photography for family or children.
• This common difficulty appropriate steps.
• Should not be accompany by their name.

Positive Signs

• Be aware of that information can increase vulnerability.
• Take active steps for parties at events.
• Communicate that they have clear expectations for there safeguard when external.

Look Out For

• Not have a well know understanding with that identified can increase risk
• The use of images with no time or amount.