safeguarding risk management. • The federation published two policy
goal of helping the organisation to reduce risks in programmes today and in the
documents in January 2020 to offer youth
future. At the time of writing this report, the
aid professionals support and guidance:
review has been concluded and presented
• The SOS Parent User Guide, which sets
to the SOS Senate. More on page 63.
out the professional requirements for SOS parents;
5.3.2 INTEGRITY POLICY
In addition there is an international, online
• The reference policy has been expanded
whistleblower channel for reporting possible
in association with partners in the DRA
integrity violations. This is an additional
and the Inter Agency Misconduct Scheme
International
channel, for both internal and external
has been implemented. This means that
In all its activities SOS Children’s Villages
individuals. Our employees can also use it, in
we must request any potential candidate
imposes strict requirements related to
addition to submitting an internal report.
in the Netherlands as well as the countries
Keeping Children Safe Network
openness, transparency and integrity. We
in which we operate to provide references
SOS Children’s Villages International is a
adopt the following SOS Children’s Villages
In the Annual Corruption Case Report of
in a pre-defined manner. Including written
which provides guidelines related to care
member of the ‘Keeping Children Safe’
International guidelines for integrity:
SOS Children’s Villages International,
confirmation from an integrity coordinator/
for, working with and supporting young
(KCS) network; an international child
• ‘Good Management and Accountability
available at www.sos-childrensvillages.org/
HR adviser from a previous job, stating
people.
protection organisation that developed the
Quality Standards’ – the guidelines
integrity-and-compliance (under: We
that the person concerned has not been
• The Youth Development User Guide,
‘International Child Safeguarding Standards’.
related to planning, monitoring, reporting
promise), we provide an insight into the
improve has been the Independent Child
In 2017 SOS Children’s Villages was
and communicating, anti-fraud and
reports submitted and the actions and
Safeguarding Review, a project that started
awarded the KCS ‘Level 1’ certification, we
corruption and the protection of data and
measures we have taken.
in 2017. We retained the services of the
are currently in the process of recertification.
assets.
expert international organisation Keeping
Our Child Protection Policy is monitored
Children Safe to conduct the review, which
annually using an internal study, based on,
focuses on understanding past cases and
for example, the following criteria: the policy
the circumstances that contributed to the
in practice, compliance by staff and risk
occurrence of child abuse, with the ultimate
assessment.
• Another important element of our efforts to
• Anti-fraud and anti-corruption guideline
fixed component of our onboarding process. All new colleagues followed this
In the Netherlands
training course in 2020.
– supplementary guidelines for tackling
In 2020, the following activities were under-
fraud and corruption.
taken to further develop the integrity policy
end of 2020, with several focal persons
and make it part of the HR policy.
from the organisation, so the topic is a
• Child protection policy: Child safety is everybody’s business – the basis of our approach (see page 49 in Chapter 5.3.1
• An integrity team was put together at the
shared responsibility of the organisation • The Integrity Action Plan by the charities
and MT. It meets on a monthly basis and
sector was used by an external integrity
integrity and child safeguarding is placed
• Our Code of Conduct.
adviser to adapt the HR policy and
on the MT agenda once a quarter.
• Sexual Misconduct Regulations – interna-
Integrity policy. This resulted in an
• An internal and external confidential
Child safeguarding).
tional policy to prevent and protect
addendum to our Code of Conduct, in
against sexual intimidation, aggression,
which the correct approach to the three
violence, exploitation and abuse, if
areas of integrity violations: Interpersonal
situations such as these arise within the
violations, Financial violations, Abuse of
federation.
power, are described in greater detail.
counsellor has been appointed. • The external integrity adviser has handed over his role as integrity coordinator to the HR adviser. • During the year, attention was repeatedly
• Separate guidelines apply to the Simba
devoted to moral judgement forming and
Within SOS Children’s Villages International
Family Care project, established in a
recognising underlying power structures
there is an Integrity and compliance network.
Simba Family Care Code of Conduct,
and power balances, including practical
1. Local management is responsible for
and a Simba Family Care reporting
discussion sessions. Basic rules on moral
procedure was set up.
judgement forming in MT decisions were
integrity and compliance within the local office concerned.
• The recruitment and selection policy and reference policy have been fine-tuned. In
2. The local integrity and compliance staff
subsequently drafted. • Risk analyses were compiled and
member supports employees, local
the job vacancy descriptions we refer to
performed by all teams using the integrity
management and the Supervisory Board.
the Child Protection Policy and Code of
policy and existing procedures. These are
Conduct as standard. Everyone: from a
safeguarded through monitoring by the
staff member supports the regional office
potential colleague, consultant and
integrity team and an inventory is
and the local integrity and compliance
volunteer to a photographer, and people
performed every six months. See also
who have to travel to our projects:
Chapter 5.6 Policy, Finances and Risk
• Must be able to present a recent
Management, page 52.
3. The regional integrity and compliance
staff member. 4. The Integrity, Compliance and Legal
department at the international office
Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).
supports the three previous layers and
The VOG is designed as a resolutive
In 2020, no internal and/or external reports of
condition;
integrity violations were received in the
provides everyone with resources and advice. 51 | SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ANNUAL REPORT 2020
involved in any misconduct. • The Partos Integrity training course is a
• Signs the Code of Conduct.
Netherlands.
