Understanding effective safeguarding culture

Organisational culture is the basis for safeguarding to be practiced well in an organisation: where anyone in, or impacted by, an organisation is empowered to report concerns wherever they may arise.

Organisations often find it difficult to analyse or critique their own organisational culture. This tool has been designed to help facilitate conversations within organisations, at all levels, to improve the collective understanding of what constitutes a positive safeguarding culture. It describes behaviours that are often indicative of an organisational culture that is non-compliant with good safeguarding practice. The tool also helps organisations to move towards a positive culture, one where best safeguarding practice is genuinely valued and is part of the lived experience of those within, or impacted by, the organisation.

The tool cover six areas:

• Policies and procedures
• Safer programming
• Survivor-centred approach
• Awareness raising
• Safer recruitment
• Reporting

The tool can be used in conjunction with our upcoming safeguarding culture tool for leaders, which will be launched on 22 March. We’ll be demonstrating the tool at a webinar for CEOs and one for safeguarding practitioners on 22 March.