High profile safeguarding incidents sent shockwaves through the charity sector last year. And like many other charities, we have responded by putting even more focus on safeguarding and ensuring our framework is better communicated and understood. Last year, we commissioned an independent review of our safeguarding culture and practices. The recommendations set out by this report have been approved by MAG’s Board of Trustees and we are moving forward to promote these high standards.
The review has shown us that MAG has a good framework in place, but we must ensure that it is consistently and effectively implemented throughout the organisation.
Since the review was completed, we have appointed an organisational safeguarding lead and a safeguarding lead trustee. We have also developed and implemented a clear and efficient reporting system and an organisational safeguarding strategy, work plan and budget. Further, safeguarding training for all staff has now been completed in most of our programmes. We will continue to ensure that all of our staff have read and understood our policy on personal conduct.
MAG’s Leadership Team has approved a budget that will support further safeguarding training and provide the organisation with access to external guidance and support. We will ensure our safeguarding framework is consistently and effectively implemented.
Read the broad summary below and access the full summary by clicking the button at the foot of the page.
1. Get the organisational culture right
We must build one organisational culture that works for everyone. MAG’s culture needs to promote and enhance our values while supporting individuals who challenge behaviour that does not meet our standards.
2. Hold leadership to account
Pro-active and consistent leadership is key to ensuring the effectiveness of MAG’s safeguarding goals. All leaders across the organisation must be accountable for the implementation of our safeguarding framework.
3. Simplify safeguarding messages
We must simplify our guidance so that it can be better understood across the many countries where MAG works.
4. Deliver the message
Safeguarding training is essential to ensure that all MAG staff remain safe and supported in their roles. Mandatory training should be implemented at induction with regular refresher and update sessions throughout employment.
5. Empower champions, encourage ownership
The review highlighted that the safeguarding policy is most effective where staff are engaged and committed to the work. At MAG, we want to champion these methods so they are replicated wherever possible. We plan to ensure that there is genuine shared ownership of values across our programmes.
We have made significant progress, but recognise there is still much more we can do. MAG will continue to work with partners, colleagues and experts across the sector to put in place not just a safeguarding culture at MAG, but across the sector.
