Governance
Child Protection Policy
The aim of this policy is to promote good practice, providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Dr. Phil-Afel Foundation, and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.
As a child-centered organization working in the context of education and community development, we come into contact with many children on a daily basis. We have a duty of care to these children — a moral and legal responsibility to protect them from harm. In this policy, a "child" is anyone under the age of 18, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Our policy is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Section 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, and the Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005).
Effective date: 19 August 2024 · Version 1.0
"Child Protection is everyone's business!"
Our responsibility to children:
- Do no harm: it is our duty to not harm the children that come into our care.
- Protect children: it is our duty to protect the children that come into our care, through the child protection policies we have in place.
- Develop children: assist children with tools and skills to cope better, and provide a safe space, safe adult, and challenging opportunity.
Our core commitments
At Dr. Phil-Afel Foundation, we are committed to the following principles:
- The welfare of the child is paramount
- All children, whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity/orientation should be able to participate in our programs in a fun and safe environment
- We take all reasonable steps to protect children from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings
- All suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
- All Dr. Phil-Afel Foundation employees will be recruited with regard to their suitability for that responsibility, and will be provided with guidance and/or training in good practice and child protection policies, laws and procedures
- We will work in partnership with schools, parents and children (and other community and network partners) in order to ensure the protection of children
How we keep children safe
Safeguarding standards
Safe recruitment
All staff and volunteers complete an application form with self-disclosure of any criminal record, undergo criminal background checks before working with children, and provide two confidential references — including one regarding previous work with children — confirmed through telephone contact. Anyone with a previous conviction for offences related to abuse against children is automatically excluded from working with children.
Training
All new staff and volunteers receive induction training covering the Child Protection Policy, recognising signs of abuse, reporting procedures, the code of conduct, and creating safe environments for children — with regular refresher courses and specialised training for Child Protection Officers, coordinators, and counsellors.
Good practice
Always work in an open environment, treat all young people equally and with respect and dignity, always put the welfare of the young person first, avoid unnecessary physical contact, work in pairs where supervision is required, and gain written parental consent for any significant travel arrangements.
Images & stories
We obtain informed consent from the child and their parent/guardian before taking or using a child's image or story, portray children in a dignified way, do not use children's full names, and never disclose information that could identify the location of a child's home or community.
Child participation
Children are capable of making effective decisions and choices and should be given the means to explore their agency and express their needs. We create safe spaces for children to express their views, involve children in program planning and evaluation, and regularly review and adjust programs based on children's feedback.
Digital safety
We use official Foundation accounts for all digital communication with children, avoid one-on-one private communications online, always have at least two adults present in virtual sessions with children, and never share children's personal information or images on social media without proper consent.
Responding to concerns
If a child tells you something is wrong
It is not the responsibility of anyone working at Dr. Phil-Afel Foundation to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns — whether the concern arises within our programmes or elsewhere. If a young person says or indicates that they are being abused, you should:
- 1. Stay calm so as not to frighten the young person
- 2. Reassure the child that they are not to blame and that it was right to tell
- 3. Listen to the child, showing that you are taking them seriously
- 4. Keep questions to a minimum — only ask questions to clarify
- 5. Record all information
- 6. Report the incident to the Dr. Phil-Afel Foundation Child Protection Officer (CPO)
Reporting channels
- Child Protection Officer (Dr. Phil-Afel Foundation)
- Email admin@drphilafel.foundation or WhatsApp +27 74 831 5961 — marked for the attention of the CPO.
- National Child Protection Hotline
- 0800 055 555
- Police emergency (South Africa)
- 10111
If a child is in immediate danger, contact the police first. A person who makes a report in good faith is protected by law and is not liable to civil action on the basis of the report.
The full policy and manual
This page presents the key sections of our Child Protection Policy and Procedures Manual. The full document includes our reporting form for child protection concerns, risk assessment templates for activities involving children, the staff and volunteer code of conduct, guidelines for using children's images and stories, our child-friendly complaint mechanism, parental consent forms, referral pathways, and provisions for digital environments and emergencies.
Full policy and manual available on request from admin@drphilafel.foundation.