Safeguarding vulnerable people remains a priority for Heartlines

As we focus more on youth in our Fathers Matter programme, we remain committed to safeguarding vulnerable groups, especially young people, and cautious of how others may be affected by secondary trauma.

Taking into consideration that our work is rooted in research that informs our projects and resources, during our recent Safeguarding Learning Session, Steven Wetton from Give a Child a Family, Oak Foundation's safeguarding partner in Southern Africa, suggested these action steps that we as an organisation can put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of participants during interviews or during workshops:

1. Before you start a presentation or conducting the research, you should clearly explain the purpose of the study/workshop, what participation entails, and any potential risks. It is always advisable to obtain written consent before proceeding and if attendees are younger than 18,  make sure you have their parent/guardian’s informed consent.

2. Assure participants that their responses will be kept confidential and tell them how the information will be used.

3. Conduct interviews in a comfortable, private setting where participants feel safe and secure. If you are a facilitator, ensure that the space where you are conducting the workshop feels safe and secure for participants.

4. We have a number of resources available on our site to help support your sessions. You can also provide participants with information about support services available to them, especially if the session involves sensitive topics.

5. During your sessions remember to emphasise that participation is voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time without any consequences.

6. After the interview or session offer a debriefing session where participants can ask questions and express any concerns about the process.

Heartlines Efficiency & Operations Manager, Lara Maré says: “Heartlines takes a zero tolerance approach to abuse or exploitation. Remember the responsibility that comes with the work we do, protection of vulnerable groups is paramount. Also keep in mind that our work has the ability to trigger secondary trauma so be prepared to handle disclosures sensitively and with discernment.”

To familiarise yourself with our children safeguarding policy, click on this link and to report any safeguarding concerns please reach out to our Safeguarding Officer, Thabisa Dyala on thabisa@heartlines.org.za.