Policy owner: Villa Teag Children's Home management
Effective date: 17 October 2026
1. Purpose and scope
This policy sets out the standards Villa Teag Children's Home expects when protecting children connected with its work. It applies to staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors, contractors, partners, photographers and other people acting on behalf of the home.
2. Our safeguarding principles
- The safety and best interests of every child come first.
- Every child must be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
- Listen to children and consider their views in an age-appropriate manner.
- Concerns must be treated seriously, promptly and sensitively.
- Do not retaliate against a child or adult who raises a concern in good faith.
- Share information about a child only for an appropriate and legitimate reason.
3. Preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation
Abuse, neglect, bullying, grooming, exploitation, humiliating treatment and inappropriate physical, emotional or sexual conduct are unacceptable. Adults must maintain appropriate boundaries and never use their position to intimidate, manipulate or exploit a child.
- Conduct recruitment and role checks in accordance with applicable law and approved organisational procedures.
- Provide staff and volunteers with appropriate safeguarding orientation and training.
- Interactions with children, including transport and one-to-one contact, must follow approved safety procedures.
- Concerns about the conduct of any person must be reported through the appropriate channel.
4. Visitors, volunteers and partners
Visitors must follow the home's instructions and respect children's privacy and boundaries. Unsupervised access to children must only occur when expressly authorised under the home's procedures.
- Visitors must not photograph children without appropriate authorisation.
- Visitors must not request children's private contact details or arrange unauthorised private meetings.
- Adults must not make promises of secrecy about possible abuse.
- Gifts, communications and other interactions must follow the home's approved safeguarding procedures.
5. Photographs, videos and children's stories
Photographs and stories communicate the home's activities. Publicity and fundraising never take priority over a child's dignity, privacy or safety.
- Publish identifiable photographs, videos, and personal stories only with appropriate, documented authorisation.
- Seek the child's assent where appropriate, considering their age and understanding.
- Explain how and where the image or story will be used.
- Do not publish humiliating, distressing, intimate or unsafe images or stories.
- Avoid unnecessary identifying details, including full names, school information, daily routines and precise locations.
- Store photographs securely and restrict access to authorised people.
- Permission to take a photograph does not grant permission to publish it online.
6. Online and digital safety
Children's personal information must not be shared through personal social media accounts or unapproved communication channels. Digital communications with children must be appropriate, transparent and consistent with the home's approved procedures.
Report suspected online exploitation, harmful contact, or unauthorised disclosure of a child's information promptly.
7. Reporting a safeguarding concern
Report any concern that a child is at risk promptly to Villa Teag management by emailing villateag@gmail.com or contacting the home on WhatsApp at 0722 221 267.
- Listen calmly and take the child's concern seriously.
- Do not promise absolute secrecy.
- Do not confront an alleged offender or conduct an unauthorised investigation.
- Record factual observations and the information received in accordance with the home's secure record-keeping procedure.
- Share information only with appropriate people who need it to address the concern, subject to applicable law.
When a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services or child-protection authorities without delay, then notify Villa Teag management.
8. Confidentiality and records
Keep safeguarding reports and records accurate and secure, limit access to authorised people, and retain records in accordance with the home's retention schedule and applicable law. Never use confidentiality as a reason to ignore a risk to a child.
9. Responsibilities and policy review
Management is responsible for this policy, ensuring relevant people understand their duties, and reviewing safeguarding procedures. Everyone covered by this policy must follow it and raise concerns promptly.
Management reviews this policy at least annually and after an incident, organisational change, or change in legal requirements that requires an earlier review.
10. Legal framework
Apply this policy in accordance with applicable Kenyan child-protection and data-protection laws.
Send questions about this policy to villateag@gmail.com or use the details on the Contact Us page.