3.1 Volunteers Role Safeguarding Children & Young People
WAGGGS volunteers contribute to a safe and supportive environment for children and young people. As well as staff, it is critical that they carry out their safeguarding duties, are aware of safeguarding risks, always abide by the WAGGGS Code of Conduct and never do anything to harm a child or young person, intentionally
or unintentionally. It is also important that volunteers can foster healthy and positive relationships with children and young people. To achieve this, the following processes should be in place:
3.1.1 Recruitment & Onboarding
- Reference checks are completed for all new volunteers before they commence their role with WAGGGS in the form of a endorsement from their Member Organisation (MO) or a member of the global team will affirm the volunteer's suitability to work in a child and youth-focused organisation. The volunteer support form includes sections that the MO/supporter must fill to confirm that the applicant is not pending investigations or disciplinary procedures and that the volunteer applicant is deemed suitable for working with children and young people.
- All WAGGGS Volunteer roles are risk assessed at team level or within the team with an updated register to understand the level of contact with children and young people and where applicable roles are subject to advanced vetting (as below) and updated at a minimum every 3 years.
- Volunteer Terms of Reference clearly state safeguarding responsibilities
- Role description/specifications for all key positions and any other role that deals with young people/children should include the responsibility of the volunteer to keep them safe.
- All new volunteers will discuss this policy and the specific guidance detailed below with their Staff Lead or Lead Volunteer
- All WAGGGS volunteers are endorsed by their Member Organisation for their suitability to work with children and young people
- Every WAGGGS volunteer must be endorsed by their Member Organisation, confirming their participation in WAGGGS activities or programmes, which also encompasses online platforms and activities.
- No WAGGGS volunteers are ever to be in unsupervised contact with children and young people during WAGGGS activities
- All WAGGGS volunteer roles will be risk assessed at team level or within the team with an updated register to understand the level of contact with children and young people and where applicable roles are subject to advanced vetting (as below) and updated at a minimum every 3 years.
3.1.2 Appropriate training, information, and guidance
- All volunteers complete Safeguarding training and Behaviours of WAGGGS Volunteers training and any refresher or additional training where required.
- A ‘snapshot’ of key information is provided to volunteers and includes an overview of the policy, Code of Conduct, how to respond to a disclosure and report a safeguarding concern, and who their Safeguarding Focal Point (SFP) is.
- Safeguarding practices are integrated into volunteer appraisal and learning discussions, encompassing interpersonal relationships, behaviors, and attitudes.
- Volunteers are informed and supported to follow the procedures and policies to support their wellbeing and ensure the effective implementation of the safeguarding policy.
3.1.3 When working directly with children and young people and representing WAGGGS, volunteers should
- Conduct or familiarise themselves with the risk assessment and any steps they must take to keep people safe
- Ensure they know who and how to contact either a WAGGGS or MO key contact in the event of an emergency or urgent situation, including safeguarding/child protection concerns
- Retain appropriate boundaries with children and young people they interact with. This means not favouring any individuals, recognising any power they may hold and always acting as a positive role model. It also means to not request or accept friend requests with children on social media or initiate contact outside of their WAGGGS role
- Maintain the ‘two-adult’ rule – never work alone with a child. This includes online interactions.
- WAGGGS must ensure that volunteers understand the need to always abide by the Code of Conduct. This includes time spent officially representing WAGGGS as well as outside of official WAGGGS duties