SAFE FROM HARM

SAFE FROM HARM

SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
A self-assessment tool to strengthen the
capacity of your National Scout Organization
© World Scout Bureau Inc.
SAFE FROM HARM
February 2019

World Scout Bureau,

Global Support Centre
Kuala Lumpur

Suite 3, Level 17,

Menara Sentral Vista, No 150
Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad
Brickfields, 50470
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tel.: + 60 3 2276 9000

Fax: + 60 3 2276 9089

worldbureau@scout.org
scout.org

Reproduction is authorized to
National Scout Organizations and
Associations which are members of
the World Organization of the Scout
Movement. Credit for the source
must be given.

2
SAFE FROM HARM
SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
A self-assessment tool to strengthen the
capacity of your National Scout Organization
 BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE
AND ADULTS
BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN ADULTS

RELATIONS

SAFE FROM HARM ENCOMPASS THE TOTALITY OF

PERSONAL INTEGRITY
PHYSICAL SAFETY
AND DATA PROTECTION

DIFFERENT
SITUATIONS

EMOTIONAL SAFETY CYBER SECURITY

PROMOTING HEALTHY
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY SAFETY OF PLACE AND LIFE STYLE
EQUIPMENT USED IN THE
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

4
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
Where does your National Scout

SAFE FROM HARM

Organization stand on keeping Scouts
safe from harm?
World Scouting is committed to maintain a safe environment for young people
in the Scout Movement, and beyond. A safe environment enables the self-
development of young people as well as the creation of positive and healthy
interpersonal relationships between all.

The World Safe from Harm Policy aims to keep Scouts safe from harm by supporting the
development of national frameworks that are effective in addressing local needs and will
promote the well-being, healthy development, and safety of young people by providing
them with a safe environment throughout their time in the Scout Movement.

The policy sets a minimum level of implementation consistent with the expected
performance of National Scout Organizations (NSOs) and Scout associations
(NSAs1) regarding the World Safe from Harm Policy, and should complement other
national policies, guidelines, and procedures.

The phrase “Safe from Harm” used in the

following context encompass the totality of the:
• relations between young people and their peers, young
people and adults, or between adults and their peers;
• different situations, for example, physical, emotional
and psychological safety, promoting a healthy
lifestyle, safety of the place and equipment used in
the educational process, personal integrity and data
protection, Cyber security, and any other situations
which may bring any kind of risk to all involved.

1
Later in the text, NSO stands for both cases NSO and NSA.

5
Strengthening the Capacity
of NSOs Through Self-assessments
The capacity strengthening of NSOs is an integral aspect of achieving Vision 2023. The
Capacity Strengthening Cycle is built on the principles of continuous improvement, where
NSOs can assess their capacity, prioritise their actions, receive support, and monitor their
progress.

The Safe from Harm self-assessment tool helps your NSO to assess the level of
development and consistency with the Safe from harm rules and procedures introduced in
the World Safe from Harm Policy.

By answering the following questions, you will be able to identify areas of implementation
that meet the expected minimum level of performance as defined in the World Safe from
Harm Policy and reflected in WOSM’s Quality Standard – the Global Support Assessment
Tool (GSAT ).

The results are for your own benefit and will help you to identify areas for improvement in
the area of Safe from Harm, so that further development or requests for support can be
made.

What is GSAT?
GSAT is a Quality Standard owned
by WOSM that assesses the
compliance of an NSO towards
international best practices in Good
Governance and Quality Scouting.

6
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
RELATED GSAT CRITERIA
FOR SAFE FROM HARM

In the Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT), under dimension 4 – integrity

management, there is a quality standard that requires NSOs to have a Safe from Harm
Policy which includes:
• a code of conduct for NSO activities
• a commitment to fulfil its legal compliance obligations
• a mechanism to receive and manage complaints of abuse involving children, young
people, or adults
• a system to oversee Safe from Harm matters at the highest level of the NSO

This policy is implemented and disseminated at all levels within the organisation.

Also, under dimension 6 – Adults in Scouting, NSOs are required to have processes and
procedures in place for all adults to ensure the implementation of the Safe from Harm
Policy. These include:
• appointing adults after ensuring that all appropriate checks are in place and in
compliance with local legislation
• incorporating the Safe from Harm framework as part of training processes and
contents

Additionally, under dimension 8 – Youth Programme, NSOs, through the Youth

Programme’s educational objectives, are required to help young people to develop the
competencies necessary to remain safe from harm.

7
HOW TO USE THIS TOOL

To achieve a greater awareness and understanding, you should involve relevant

stakeholders such as national board and executive team representatives, Youth
Programme and Adults in Scouting commissioners, and other relevant committees or
departments in this self-assessment process.

Responses to the criteria should be, to the best of your ability, based on evidence which
can be provided towards each criterion and be completed by drawing on your team’s
knowledge.

The following self-assessment criteria encompass international best practices and provide
an in-depth look at the recommended standards of WOSM. However, note that not all
criteria may be applicable to an NSO considering the cultural, legal, and local contexts.

To use this tool, please go through each of the self-assessment criteria and identify your
NSO’s capacity by giving a response of either RED, YELLOW, LIGHT GREEN, or DARK
GREEN based on the explanations below.

8
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
STATUS EXPLANATION IN OTHER WORDS…

No evidence at all My NSO hasn’t done

exists that the NSO anything around this
NON COMPLIANT
has done anything criterion. It may be
around this criterion. time to start!

Evidence exists My NSO has done a

that the NSO bit of work on this
IN ACCORDANCE has done some criterion, but there
WITH FEW ITEMS things (but not are so many other
all) around this things we can still
criterion. explore.

Evidence exists My NSO is working

that the NSO has on many of the items
here, but there are
IN ACCORDANCE most things around
some missing parts
WITH MOST ITEMS this criterion. It
that we can look into
is up-to-date and to make them even
implemented. better.

Evidence exists My NSO has fulfilled

that the NSO has this criterion. We will
everything around this keep up the good
FULL COMPLIANCE criterion. It is up-to- work and review it
date, implemented, along the way. We
regularly evaluated could even share it
and refreshed. as a best practice.

Not applicable
due to the local
NOT APPLICABLE circumstances or in
relation to another
non compliant
criterion

Important note: this tool is not intended to be a scoring exercise, but to be

used as a capacity strengthening resource by your NSO to identify strategies for
improvement.

9
 CRITERIA OF TOOL

# Criteria Status

The NSO has a framework in place which

covers the areas of Safe from Harm in an
1
NSO (e.g. Youth programme, Adults in
Scouting, NSO structures, and events).

The NSOs’ existing Safe from Harm

2 framework has been reviewed in the past
three years.

The NSO has structures (e.g. committees

and teams dedicated to promote Safe from
3 Harm within different departments) which
support the implementation of the Safe
from Harm framework.
GENERAL

The NSO provides opportunities (e.g.

workshops, forums, and meetings) for
young people and adults to discuss Safe
4
from Harm issues (e.g. positive changes
in terms of values and behaviour against
violence, harm, and abuse).

The NSO is consistent with the legal

framework of its country, when addressing
5
the area of keeping young people and
adults Safe from Harm.

The NSO has external partnership(s) in the

area of Safe from Harm (e.g. with another
6
NSO, non-governmental organisations, and
governmental or public institutions).

10
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
# Criteria Status

Components of the NSO’s Youth Programme

are designed to encourage and empower
7
young people to protect themselves from
harm.

The NSO promotes dialogue between young

people and adults to develop awareness
8 in the areas of keeping them safe from
harm, through ensuring that the needed
mechanisms are in place.

For each programme activity of the NSO,

promoting a safe environment (e.g.
supporting personal growth and fulfilment,
9 being able to trust, and possessing an
YOUTH PROGRAMME

inner state of freedom) is incorporated

into the implementation of the educational
objectives.

Components of the NSO’s Youth Programme

are designed to support the development
10 of young people’s self-awareness,
self-protection, and self-confidence in
relationships with others.

The elements of the Scout Method are

used in a positive way that enables a
young person to benefit from them in all
activities (e.g. use of small teams as a
11
way to participate in collaborative learning
as well as using positive life experiences
and reflections to facilitate ongoing
development).

The NSO has embedded into the process

of delivering the Youth Programme ways of
enabling young people to keep themselves
12
safe from harm (e.g. council of young
people, youth forum, youth in decision
making structures).

11
 The NSO has procedures in place to ensure
that consideration is given to protect young
people from harm and other non-desirable
13
outcomes when organising programme
activities that are challenging, appealing,
and rewarding.

The NSO has a system in place to monitor

14 and evaluate programme activities from
YOUTH PROGRAMME

the Safe from Harm perspective.

The NSO has in place clear requirements

for assessing the safety of facilities to
15 ensure prevention of harm and abuse, and
outcomes of the assessment are acted upon
and recorded.

The NSO ensures that personal data

protection regulations and laws are met
16 when managing personal medical, dietary,
and developmental needs data of young
people and adults.

The NSO has in place guidelines which

promote the safety of young people in
17 online interactions during their participation
in Scouting either between young people
themselves or young people and adults).

12
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
# Criteria Status

The NSO has integrated into all role

descriptions of adults who work with young
18
people, the responsibility to keep the young
people safe from harm.

The NSO has integrated the Safe from Harm

aspects in the recruitment, appointment,
19 and induction process of adults (e.g. job
advertising, references, background check,
and Safe from Harm training).

The NSO has guidelines for communicating

the Safe from Harm standards and
procedures of the NSO to parents,
20
organisations, civil society, and authorities.
The guidelines are disseminated it to its
ADULTS IN SCOUTING

adults.

The NSO includes Safe from Harm training

in all its introductory training for adults
(volunteers and professional staff). The
Safe from Harm training includes the
following topics – creating situational
21
awareness, signs and symptoms of abuse,
dealing with different forms of abuse,
providing information about the existing
mechanisms and procedures of the NSO,
etc.

The NSO has a process which is

implemented to regularly review its
training content in the area of Safe from
22
Harm (e.g. to ensure inclusion of changes
of legal frameworks and trends in harm
prevention).

The NSO has included Safe from Harm

elements in its adults’ performance
appraisal system (e.g. looking at risk
23
planning and management in activities
as well as facilitating interpersonal
relationships, attitudes, and behaviours).

13
 The NSO has resources, made available
through expert guidance (e.g. professionals
24 on child and youth protection as well as
psychologists), to support all adults in
keeping young people safe from harm.
ADULTS IN SCOUTING

Procedures are set in place for the NSO to

deal with topics related to Safe from Harm
(e.g. Code of Conduct, Whistle-blowing
25 Policy, and Bullying and Harassment Policy).
These procedures describe how adults (at
all levels) are expected to properly react to
reports of abuse.

The NSO has a system in place for

documenting and storing reports of abuse,
or any internal process to avoid the
return of adults deemed inappropriate to
26
be a member of the organisation. Such
documentation and reports should be kept
confidential to avoid inappropriate and
accidental disclosure.

14
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
# Criteria Status

The NSO engages young people and their

27 families in the development and review of
the National Safe from Harm Policy.

The NSO ensures easy access to its Safe

from Harm procedures, mechanisms,
28 guidelines, tools, and other resources
available, and has disseminated them to all
its members.

The NSO has a system in place to report

abuse to the national level, directly through
29
an assigned person or department in the
NSO.

The NSO has a system in place to make

internal or external experts available
30 to all parties involved in a Safe from
Harm incident, to ensure immediate and
NSO STRUCTURES

continuous support.

The NSO produces and requires an annual

Safe from Harm report for its National
31
Board. This report is treated as “strictly
confidential.”

The NSO has in place mechanisms to learn

from the previous situations (reporting)
32
and update the procedures and policy
accordingly on at least an annual basis.

The NSO has a committee department, or

33 team appointed to oversee work in different
areas related to Safe from Harm.

The NSO continuously learns from other

34 organisations which have the expertise in
the area of Safe from Harm.

The NSO has procedures in place for

communicating with external stakeholders
(e.g. media, ministry, and local authorities)
35
in relation to situations of abuse and shares
on a regular basis messages about positive
Safe from Harm practices.

15
 # Criteria Status

The NSO ensures that each national Scout

event has a team that is responsible for
36 all aspects of Safe from Harm before
(planning), during (monitoring), and
immediately after (reporting) the event.

The NSO has a Safe from Harm plan for

each national Scout event, considering local
37
legislation and culture and, if present, the
international dimension of the event.

Before each national Scout event, the NSO

informs the participants and adults about
38
the event’s Safe from Harm rules and
procedures.
SCOUT EVENTS

The NSO requires Safe from Harm training

39 for all adults involved in its national Scout
events.

During each national Scout event, the NSO

sets in place a system (e.g. stewards or
40
listening ears) for young people and adults
to report harm or abuse.

For each national Scout event, the NSO

uses a database (meeting local legislation)
of the personal, medical, and dietary needs
41
of each participant, and makes this data
easily accessible to authorised people in
emergency situations.

The NSO has measures in place to ensure

that for each national Scout event,
individual needs are addressed to ensure
42
proper inclusion (e.g. access for persons in
wheelchair and walkways for the blind or
partially sighted people).

16
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
ANALYSE THE RESULTS

The answers which were identified with: After the assessment, share your results with

You should consider planning the necessary

non-compliant steps to implement the requirements of the
World Safe from Harm Policy immediately.

in accordance You should consider finding out if you plan

of action is feasible and that you have all
with few items the resources needed for its implementation.

You should consider conducting a midterm

in accordance monitoring/evaluation, assessing your
current progress, and making necessary
with most items changes to meet the requirements of the
World Safe from Harm Policy.

You should consider analysing how you

can achieve the standards set, determine
full compliance if there is room for improvements, and
find out how you can maintain the current
standard.

the relevant persons in your NSO. Subsequently, present and discuss with the National
Board after a reflection period. The results should help with discussions to clarify your
NSO’s situation, raise awareness of human resource and other needs, and find a way
forward in building the capacity of your NSO.

Make sure you have a system of continuous follow-up and updates to assess the
current and potential needs of the NSO with regard to the World Safe from Harm Policy.
 

17
NEXT STEPS TO CAPACITY
STRENGTHENING

After completing a self-assessment and analysing the results, schedule a meeting for
action planning. Don’t forget to involve relevant stakeholders such as National Board and
executive team representatives, Youth Programme and Adults in Scouting commissioners,
and other relevant committees or departments. Various possibilities for follow-up include:

Prioritise
After reviewing your results, prioritise key actions to take. Link it with your strategic
planning to prioritise your actions. If you don’t have a strategic plan, examine criteria that
would potentially prevent the growth of your organisation.

Coordinate
Establishing NSO structures (e.g. Safe from Harm committee) to work on the issue of
keeping young people safe from harm and to prepare an implementation plan. Appoint a
leader who will be in charge of the follow-up of the overall process.

Create a Network
Together with other interested NSOs, create or join the Regional Safe from Harm network
(involve the Regional structures). Prepare a common project and apply for external funds.

Find resources
At the Safe from Harm Service Area (https://services.scout.org/service/6), you can
access a wide range of resources ranging from policies, toolkits, and guidelines to
e-learning courses, in-person support (both online and in-person), workshops, and
training courses. These include not only resources produced and provided by Scouting at
World and Regional levels, but also NSO best practices and relevant external resources.

18
 SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
SAFE FROM HARM
Ask for support
Consider reaching out to the WSB Regional Support Centre for support and advice. Having
completed this self-assessment should help you to provide a clear request for service. You
can submit a Service Request through the WOSM Service Platform at services.scout.org or
contact the World or Regional Support Centres.

Work on continuous assessment

Continuous improvement is important for all organisations. This is achieved through
evaluating and monitoring your progress, as well as reassessing your capacity. Decide if
you would like to complete other self-assessment tools or go through the overall GSAT
assessment process. You can learn more about GSAT at services.scout.org/service/9.

Every young person and adult, has a part to play

in creating what is needed, to the extent of their
abilities and responsibilities, to ensure the safety,
personal development, and the well-being of all.

Scouts create a Safe from Harm World

19
© World Scout Bureau Inc.
SAFE FROM HARM
FEBRUARY 2019

World Scout Bureau,

Global Support Centre
Kuala Lumpur

Suite 3, Level 17,

Menara Sentral Vista, No 150
Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad
Brickfields, 50470
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tel.: + 60 3 2276 9000

Fax: + 60 3 2276 9089

worldbureau@scout.org
scout.org