Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Policy statement

ARFET Global Consultancy Services Ltd (“ARFET”) is committed to protecting the safety, dignity, rights and wellbeing of every child who participates in its educational programmes, tutoring, examination preparation, language classes, STEM activities, online learning, counselling or other services.

ARFET has zero tolerance for child abuse, sexual exploitation, grooming, physical violence, humiliating treatment, harassment, neglect, trafficking, bullying or retaliation against a child who reports a concern.

The child's best interests, safety and dignity shall guide safeguarding decisions.

Scope

This Policy applies to all ARFET directors, employees, tutors, teachers, consultants, volunteers, contractors, representatives, approved partners and other adults acting on ARFET's behalf.

It applies during online and in-person classes, tutoring, counselling, educational events, school-related projects, digital communications and any other activity connected with ARFET services.

Definitions

For this Policy:

Child: A person under 18 years of age, subject to applicable law.

Safeguarding concern: Any information or observation indicating that a child may be experiencing, or be at risk of, abuse, exploitation, neglect, bullying or other harm.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): The person formally appointed by ARFET management to receive reports, coordinate safeguarding responses and maintain confidential records.

Parent or guardian: A person with legally recognised parental responsibility or guardianship, subject to applicable legal restrictions.

Safeguarding responsibilities

ARFET management shall:

• Appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead and an alternate;
• Ensure staff understand reporting procedures and professional boundaries;
• Conduct appropriate recruitment checks and reference checks where lawful and available;
• Provide safeguarding induction and periodic training;
• Assess risks associated with online learning, communications, events and technology;
• Maintain a confidential incident register;
• Review safeguarding concerns and corrective measures; and
• Cooperate with competent child-protection and law-enforcement authorities where appropriate or required.

All staff and contractors must report concerns promptly. Staff must not investigate serious allegations independently or promise a child absolute secrecy.

Prohibited conduct

Adults representing ARFET must never:

• Physically punish, threaten, humiliate or intentionally frighten a child;
• Engage in sexual conduct with a child or exploit a child's dependence or vulnerability;
• Groom a child or solicit sexual images or inappropriate personal information;
• Use discriminatory, degrading, abusive or sexually suggestive language;
• Arrange secret or inappropriate private contact with a child;
• Ask a child to conceal communications or interactions from a parent or guardian without a legitimate safeguarding reason;
• Share a child's personal details, images, recordings or academic records without lawful authority;
• Use personal messaging or social-media accounts to bypass approved safeguarding arrangements;
• Retaliate against a child, parent, staff member or reporter who raises a concern; or
• Ignore a credible indication that a child may be at risk.

Professional boundaries

Staff must maintain appropriate teacher-student and adult-child boundaries.

Communications with children should occur through approved platforms and be limited to legitimate educational or service-related purposes.

Where practicable, parents or guardians should be included in communications about scheduling, attendance, welfare and significant concerns involving younger learners.

One-to-one sessions must use appropriate scheduling, supervision and communication arrangements proportionate to the child's age and the activity.

Staff must not use their position to obtain personal favours, money, gifts, private meetings or unrelated personal information from a child.

Online learning and digital safety

For online classes and learning platforms, ARFET shall adopt reasonable safeguards including:

• Appropriate account access controls and participant verification;
• Rules for live classes, chat, direct messaging and screen sharing;
• Procedures for reporting bullying, harassment or inappropriate content;
• Restrictions on unauthorised recording and distribution of sessions;
• Safe handling of student assignments, photographs and recordings;
• Suitable adult supervision and escalation arrangements; and
• Reasonable moderation and access restrictions where necessary.

Recording a class must have a legitimate educational or operational purpose, appropriate notice and any required consent. Access to recordings should be limited to authorised persons and the retention period documented.

CCTV and monitoring technology must be used only for lawful and proportionate purposes, with appropriate notice, access restrictions and safeguards.

1. Photographs, videos and publicity

ARFET shall obtain the necessary permissions and lawful basis before using identifiable images, recordings, testimonials or personal stories involving children.

Where required, parent or guardian consent and the child's age-appropriate assent must be obtained.

Refusal to participate in promotional photography must not result in unfair treatment or loss of an unrelated educational benefit.

Images must not be used in a sexualised, humiliating, exploitative or misleading context.

Consent may be withdrawn for future use where applicable, subject to legal obligations and reasonable limits on material already lawfully distributed.

Recruitment and suitability

ARFET shall use proportionate recruitment and suitability procedures for roles involving children, consistent with applicable law.

Depending on the role and local requirements, these may include identity verification, references, qualification checks, lawful background checks and safeguarding declarations.

A person who presents an unacceptable safeguarding risk must not be assigned duties involving children.

Allegations against staff shall be handled fairly, confidentially and promptly, with appropriate protective measures while the matter is assessed.

Reporting a concern

A child, parent, employee, contractor or other person may report a safeguarding concern through:

Safeguarding email: info@arfet-global.com.ng

Reports should include, where known:

• The nature of the concern;
• The child or persons involved;
• The date, time and location or online platform;
• Relevant messages, records or observations; and
• Any immediate safety risk.

A report may be made even if the reporter is uncertain whether abuse has occurred.

If a child is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate local emergency service or child-protection authority first. Notify ARFET when safe to do so.

Reports must not be delayed merely because complete evidence is unavailable.

Response to allegations and incidents

The Designated Safeguarding Lead shall:

1. Assess whether immediate protective action is required.
2. Ensure the child is treated respectfully and is not subjected to repeated or leading questioning.
3. Record the report accurately, distinguishing observations from allegations and opinions.
4. Notify the appropriate management representative, unless that person is implicated.
5. Refer the matter to the relevant child-protection or law-enforcement authority where required or appropriate.
6. Inform parents or guardians when appropriate, unless doing so may increase risk to the child or interfere with an authorised investigation.
7. Maintain confidentiality and restrict information to persons who need it to protect the child or fulfil a legal duty.
8. Document actions taken and follow-up measures.

ARFET shall not conduct an internal process in a manner that compromises a criminal investigation or places a child at further risk.

Confidentiality and data protection

Safeguarding records shall be stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel.

Information may be shared without ordinary consent where a lawful basis permits or requires disclosure to protect a child or comply with legal obligations.

Records shall be retained according to a documented retention schedule and applicable legal requirements.

Protection against retaliation

No person shall be punished, threatened, disadvantaged or harassed for raising a safeguarding concern honestly or assisting an authorised investigation.

Knowingly fabricated allegations may be addressed through a fair process, but uncertainty, an unsubstantiated concern or a report made in good faith must not itself be treated as misconduct.

Training and compliance

Personnel whose roles involve children shall receive safeguarding induction before undertaking unsupervised duties and further training as appropriate.

Failure to comply with this Policy may lead to removal from child-facing duties, disciplinary action, termination of engagement or referral to the relevant authorities.

Review

Management shall review this Policy at least annually and following any serious incident, material legal change or significant change in the services offered to children.