Safeguarding

We are committed to ensuring that everyone who encounters EDT receives the same level of respect and protection by our vigilant and dedicated people.

Safeguarding is at the heart of all that we do. EDT prioritises its commitment to safeguarding everyone. We believe it is our moral responsibility to ensure the highest standards of care and protection when working with children and adults around the world and seek to fulfil our safeguarding responsibilities to the highest standard.

A vigilant, safe culture    

We believe that a vigilant, safe culture is about our people coming together around our values  and putting them into practice. Through the course of our work, we aim to:  

• promote a vigilant and responsive safeguarding culture  
• implement excellent safeguarding procedures based on best practice to ensure the safety of everyone who comes into contact with us  
• act with integrity ensuring that safeguarding runs as a golden thread through everything we do  
• work collaboratively to take action when a child or adult is at risk of abuse or harm   
• hold ourselves accountable for implementing the highest safeguarding standards so that the public have confidence in our work  
• operate in a respectful and inclusive manner, ensuring that individuals’ voices are heard, and their views are respected and responded to
  

Safeguarding governance  

Our global safeguarding arrangements are monitored for both compliance and effectiveness by our Corporate Safeguarding Committee comprising members of the Trustee Board, Leadership Team, senior managers and designated safeguarding leads. The committee overseas the work of EDT’s Corporate Safeguarding Adviser, who works with a global network of safeguarding officers and designated safeguarding leads to implement the highest safeguarding standards both in the UK and in our diverse portfolio of international work and programmes.

Safeguarding policies and procedures  

 We have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to ensure that all employees, and anyone who comes into contact with us, know how to report concerns to us.  Our policies set out the standards of behaviour and professional conduct expected of all EDT employees and associates. All employees know that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and that prompt reporting of incidents and concerns will enable a swift response to mitigate further harm.

Click here to download our safeguarding policy

Click here to download our code of conduct

Safer recruitment

Our recruitment procedures are consistent throughout our organisation, and include comprehensive safer recruitment processes to deter, detect and reject unsuitable candidates who do not reflect our values in their behaviour and attitudes. Candidates interviewing for roles in regulated activity in the UK or those that come into regular contact with child and adult programme participants, are interviewed by panels that include individuals who have completed safer recruitment training.   

All roles are subject to corporate and local safeguarding induction, followed by a closely monitored probation period, where competencies, attitudes and behaviours are monitored prior to confirmation into role.  

Employee references are sought from previous employers and provided to potential employers with relevant safeguarding information, to enable safe recruitment decisions.

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS)  

EDT is a participating member of the MDS and is committed to sharing employee sexual misconduct information with other participating organisations to stop known abusers moving between organisations undetected.

Whistleblowing

 Whistleblowing procedures enable all our people and partners to raise legitimate concerns without fear of reprisal and with the confidence that all concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.