POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS

ACHDS Postgraduate Diploma in Safeguarding of Children and Adults, I would structure it as a 10-module professional postgraduate programme, with a strong humanitarian/NGO focus.

The outline below is informed by current safeguarding frameworks, including UNICEF’s emphasis on preventing harm, risk assessment, reporting, organizational accountability and survivor-centred responses. UNICEF’s child safeguarding training also emphasizes responsibilities, risk identification and mitigation, confidential reporting, and overcoming barriers to safeguarding.

Duration: 12 Months
Mode: Online / Self-Paced
Language: English French
Level: Postgraduate Diploma
Target Group: NGO and humanitarian professionals, safeguarding officers, child protection practitioners, social workers, programme managers, HR personnel, teachers, healthcare workers, community development professionals and organizational leaders.

Programme Aim

The programme equips professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills to prevent, identify, report, respond to and manage safeguarding risks affecting children and adults, particularly within humanitarian, development and community-based organizations.

Safeguarding is treated as an organizational responsibility extending from programme design and recruitment through implementation, reporting and accountability. UNICEF similarly emphasizes that safeguarding should be embedded across organizational processes and should address physical and psychological harm, abuse, exploitation and neglect.

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MODULE 1: FOUNDATIONS OF SAFEGUARDING

1.1 Introduction to Safeguarding

• Definition of safeguarding
• Purpose and importance of safeguarding
• Safeguarding versus protection
• Child safeguarding
• Adult safeguarding
• Do-no-harm principle
• Safeguarding as everyone’s responsibility

1.2 Principles of Safeguarding

• Dignity and respect
• Equality and non-discrimination
• Best interests of the child
• Empowerment
• Prevention
• Proportionality
• Accountability
• Confidentiality
• Participation

1.3 Understanding Harm

• Physical harm
• Psychological/emotional harm
• Sexual harm
• Neglect
• Exploitation
• Abuse of power
• Institutional and organizational harm
• Online and technology-related risks

1.4 Safeguarding in Humanitarian and Development Settings

• Safeguarding in NGOs
• Safeguarding in refugee and displacement settings
• Safeguarding in health programmes
• Safeguarding in education
• Safeguarding in community programmes
• Safeguarding during emergencies

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MODULE 2: CHILD RIGHTS, CHILD PROTECTION AND CHILD SAFEGUARDING

2.1 Child Rights Framework

• Child rights principles
• Rights-based approaches
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Best interests of the child
• Child participation

2.2 Child Protection and Safeguarding

• Child protection
• Child safeguarding
• Violence against children
• Abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Difference between child protection and safeguarding

UNICEF training specifically emphasizes the importance of distinguishing child safeguarding, child protection and PSEA, while understanding how they complement one another.

2.3 Vulnerability and Risk

• Children with disabilities
• Children in displacement
• Unaccompanied and separated children
• Children living in poverty
• Children affected by conflict
• Children in institutional care
• Gender-related vulnerabilities

2.4 Child Participation and Voice

• Listening to children
• Safe participation
• Child-friendly communication
• Feedback mechanisms
• Children’s rights in decision-making

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MODULE 3: ADULT SAFEGUARDING

3.1 Understanding Adult Safeguarding

• Definition of adult safeguarding
• Adults at risk
• Vulnerable adults
• Principles of adult safeguarding
• Safeguarding responsibilities

3.2 Forms of Abuse Against Adults

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional and psychological abuse
• Financial abuse
• Neglect
• Discriminatory abuse
• Domestic abuse
• Organizational abuse
• Exploitation

3.3 Capacity, Consent and Autonomy

• Informed consent
• Decision-making capacity
• Supported decision-making
• Respect for autonomy
• Confidentiality
• Balancing autonomy and protection

3.4 Adult Safeguarding in Humanitarian Settings

• Older persons
• Persons with disabilities
• Refugees and displaced adults
• Survivors of violence
• Adults dependent on assistance
• Risks associated with aid distribution

Contemporary adult safeguarding frameworks emphasize empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability, with particular attention to informed consent and the wishes of adults at risk.

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MODULE 4: SAFEGUARDING RISKS, ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

4.1 Types of Safeguarding Violations

• Abuse
• Neglect
• Exploitation
• Violence
• Harassment
• Sexual exploitation
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual harassment
• Financial exploitation

4.2 Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

• Understanding SEA
• Power and unequal relationships
• Prohibited conduct
• Risk factors
• Prevention
• Reporting and response

4.3 Gender-Based Violence and Safeguarding

• GBV concepts
• Gender and power
• Sexual violence
• Exploitation
• Risks affecting women and girls
• Risks affecting men and boys

4.4 Online Safeguarding

• Online abuse
• Cyberbullying
• Grooming
• Digital exploitation
• Social media risks
• Photography and filming
• Online communication with children
• Data and privacy protection

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MODULE 5: SAFEGUARDING RISK ASSESSMENT AND PREVENTION

5.1 Safeguarding Risk Assessment

• Identifying safeguarding hazards
• Identifying vulnerable groups
• Risk probability and impact
• Risk rating
• Risk registers
• Risk mitigation

5.2 Programme Safeguarding

• Safeguarding in project design
• Safeguarding during implementation
• Safeguarding in monitoring and evaluation
• Safeguarding in field activities
• Community engagement

5.3 Organizational Risk Management

• Safeguarding policies
• Codes of conduct
• Standard operating procedures
• Safeguarding focal points
• Reporting structures

5.4 Preventive Measures

• Safe programming
• Safe recruitment
• Staff training
• Supervision
• Community awareness
• Environmental safeguards

UNICEF’s safeguarding approach places particular emphasis on identifying and reducing risks of harm and embedding safeguarding throughout programme and operational processes.

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MODULE 6: SAFEGUARDING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS

6.1 Developing a Safeguarding Policy

• Purpose and scope
• Policy principles
• Roles and responsibilities
• Standards of behaviour
• Prohibited conduct
• Reporting requirements

6.2 Code of Conduct

• Expected staff behaviour
• Professional boundaries
• Appropriate interaction with children
• Appropriate interaction with adults
• Conflict of interest
• Abuse of power

6.3 Safeguarding Governance

• Board responsibilities
• Senior management
• Safeguarding focal points
• HR responsibilities
• Programme staff
• Volunteers
• Partners and contractors

6.4 Safeguarding Mainstreaming

• Safeguarding in HR
• Procurement
• Finance
• Programme management
• Partnerships
• Communications
• Monitoring and evaluation

Organizations should ensure safeguarding policies are understood and implemented by staff, volunteers and partners rather than treating policies as documents only.

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MODULE 7: SAFE RECRUITMENT, STAFF CONDUCT AND PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

7.1 Safer Recruitment

• Safeguarding in job descriptions
• Application screening
• Reference checks
• Background checks
• Interviewing
• Identification of safeguarding concerns

7.2 Staff Induction and Training

• Safeguarding induction
• Mandatory training
• Refresher training
• Staff acknowledgement of policies

7.3 Professional Boundaries

• Appropriate relationships
• Power dynamics
• Staff conduct
• Communication boundaries
• Working with children
• Working with vulnerable adults

7.4 Volunteers, Consultants and Partners

• Safeguarding obligations
• Partner due diligence
• Contractor requirements
• Volunteer supervision
• Third-party risks

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MODULE 8: REPORTING, REFERRAL AND RESPONSE TO SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS

8.1 Recognizing Safeguarding Concerns

• Warning signs
• Disclosure
• Suspicion
• Third-party reports
• Immediate safety concerns

8.2 Reporting Mechanisms

• Internal reporting
• External reporting
• Safeguarding focal points
• Confidential reporting
• Anonymous reporting
• Whistleblowing mechanisms

8.3 Receiving a Disclosure

• How to respond
• Listening without judgment
• Avoiding leading questions
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Immediate safety considerations
• Documentation

8.4 Referral Pathways

• Child protection services
• Health services
• Psychosocial support
• Legal services
• Law enforcement where appropriate
• Specialized protection services

8.5 Survivor-Centred Response

• Safety
• Dignity
• Respect
• Confidentiality
• Informed choice
• Non-discrimination

UNICEF guidance emphasizes safe and confidential reporting and timely, survivor-centred responses to safeguarding concerns.

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MODULE 9: SAFEGUARDING INVESTIGATIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND CASE MANAGEMENT

9.1 Managing Safeguarding Cases

• Case intake
• Initial assessment
• Risk classification
• Case management
• Referral
• Follow-up
• Case closure

9.2 Safeguarding Investigations

• Purpose of investigations
• Investigation principles
• Confidentiality
• Evidence and documentation
• Interviews
• Avoiding re-traumatization
• Conflict of interest

9.3 Accountability Mechanisms

• Complaints mechanisms
• Community feedback
• Whistleblowing
• Reporting channels
• Management accountability

9.4 Data Protection

• Confidential records
• Information sharing
• Data minimization
• Secure storage
• Consent and confidentiality
• Information management

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MODULE 10: SAFEGUARDING IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION, MONITORING AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

10.1 Safeguarding in Humanitarian Programming

• Emergency response
• Refugee and displacement settings
• Food assistance
• WASH
• Health
• Education
• Cash and voucher assistance
• Protection programming

10.2 Safeguarding in the Project Cycle

• Needs assessment
• Project design
• Implementation
• Monitoring
• Evaluation
• Learning
• Project closure

10.3 Safeguarding Monitoring and Evaluation

• Safeguarding indicators
• Compliance monitoring
• Safeguarding audits
• Incident monitoring
• Staff compliance
• Community feedback

10.4 Building a Safeguarding Culture

• Leadership
• Organizational values
• Staff accountability
• Continuous learning
• Speaking up
• Zero tolerance for abuse and exploitation

10.5 Safeguarding Action Plan

Learners develop an organizational or programme-level Safeguarding Improvement Action Plan.

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FINAL RESEARCH PAPER

Students should complete a Safeguarding Research Paper or Organizational Safeguarding Assessment

FINAL EXAM

Assessment Structure

• 8 Continuous Assessments / Assignments – 60%

• 1 Final Term Paper – 30%

• 1 Final Examination – 10%

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💡 Mode of Delivery

• Fully Online

• Self-paced and flexible to fit your schedule

• Downloadable materials and tutor support included

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📝 How to Apply

1. Request and complete the application form

2. Email your form to: info@humanitarianstudies.org

3. Reach out on WhatsApp: +254 782 755 754 for any assistance