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.
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:
Our global safeguarding arrangements are monitored for both compliance and effectiveness by our Corporate Safeguarding Committee comprising members of the Trustee Board, Executive, and Strategic Leadership Team. The Head of Safeguarding works with a global network of GEDSI and 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.
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.
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.
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 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.