The Safeguarding Coordinator will champion and lead the safeguarding of all students, staff and associated adults related to AKES A’s programmes in accordance with the AKS Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. S/he will drive local implementation of the policy and operating guidelines in order to facilitate identification of key risk areas, make recommendations, monitor and report accordingly.

Major Responsibilities:

• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure safeguarding is at the heart of the schools’ ethos/culture, policy and practices.
• Ensure that all students and adults are treated equally, irrespective of their age, disability, gender, race, religion, belief or marital status.
• Ensure all employees, students and adults know how to keep themselves and others safe.
• Serve as an advisor and strategic partner for school leaders to support sound internal control practices locally ensuring the Operating Guidelines are operationalized
• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for staff, and specifically liaise with the head teachers, regional managers and other stakeholders to keep them informed of any safeguarding issues especially ongoing enquiries and cases, on a need-to-know basis
• Keep up to date with best practices within the field and work with safeguarding teams across the network to participate in continuous improvement.
• Represent AKES, A in global safeguarding forums and meetings.
• To carry out the roles and responsibilities in a way which reflects AKES, A’s commitment to protecting children, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees in accordance with the AKS Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Operating Guidelines
• Liaise with schools’ staff to identify risks early and plan mitigation steps as appropriate
• Carry out other duties as directed by the line manager

Training & Code of Conduct

• Conduct training on Safeguarding, whistle-blowing and other behavioral policies.
• Ensure that every AKES, A employee has understood the safeguarding policies and signed the code of conduct.
• Ensure that all personnel provide the safest environments for everyone who comes into contact with them.
• Assist HR team with candidates’ background checking and due diligence

Responding to Incidents

• Respond to incidents and drive incident management to resolution as required

• Liaise with the local safeguarding and child protection authorities if a concern has arisen regarding a member of staff after liaison with the Safeguarding/HR Lead and CEO
• Escalate significant safeguarding issues to the HoHR and CEO on a timely basis.
• Liaise with staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant authorities.
• Refer cases of suspected abuse in coordination with HoHR to appropriate local authorities, and support staff who have raised concerns about a child.

Monitoring & Reporting

• Ensure full compliance with HR policies and Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies
• Advise all personnel to ensure that records are made, retained and stored in line with AKES, A Safeguarding and Child protection Policy
• Ensure that all incidents are recorded at country level and reported to Head of HR and the country board.
• Carry out annual/regular risk evaluations to identify, mitigate and monitor significant risks and develop an annual safeguarding plan.
• Develop a database and send daily, monthly, quarterly and annual reports of staff and student related incidents

Occasional Responsibilities

• Facilitate recruitment and onboarding processes as and when needed.
• Conducting Trainings
• Conducting Internal Audit related to Safeguarding