Safeguarding and Whistleblowing

 

Tearfund is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of integrity, accountability and openness as an organisation.

Tearfund staff– along with staff of our partner organisations who help us to fulfil this work – are obliged to conduct themselves in keeping with these high standards.

As Christians, we believe that every human has immeasurable value and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Whether you are a member of staff (at Tearfund or a partner organisation), a beneficiary, or a member of the public, the following will help you report any concerns you may have about the behaviour of Tearfund staff or representatives.

 

Safeguarding

Tearfund is committed to promoting the protection and wellbeing of beneficiaries, volunteers, and staff. We are also committed to the safety, security and dignity of children, vulnerable adults, and all other adults with whom it comes into contact.

Tearfund proactively encourages a culture of ‘zero tolerance’ towards all forms of abuse and seeks to ensure that staff and representatives ‘do no harm’ while working for or with Tearfund. Tearfund commits to doing all it can to prevent abuse and to report any abuse, suspected or discovered.

Any allegation or concern regarding the abuse of a child, vulnerable adult, or any other adult, will be treated seriously and should be reported within 24 hours of the abusive behaviour being observed or suspected, when an allegation is made or disclosed, or where there are indicators (signs and symptoms) of suspected abuse on the victim.

How to report a concern:

  • Email directly to concerns@tearfund.org.nz or call 0800 800 777 (available only in New Zealand)
  • If your concern is in relation to Tearfund’s CEO or Senior Executive, email the Board Chairman directly at board@tearfund.org.nz
  • If your concern is in relation to the Board Chair or Board Member, email CID (Council for International Development) at director@cid.org.nz
  • All concerns will be investigated thoroughly, and action taken in line with Tearfund’s policies.

 

Whistleblowing

When someone discovers information which they believe shows serious malpractice, unacceptable behaviours, practices or wrongdoing by Tearfund staff or representatives (including staff working for our partners) it is essential that the individual is able to report concerns internally without fear of reprisal, and independent of immediate line management. The list below shows the types of malpractice or wrongdoing that should be reported; however, this is not an exhaustive list:

  • Fraud/theft or bribery has, will or is likely to take place. A person has, will or is likely to abuse or exploit a child or vulnerable adult/adult at risk - see the Safeguarding section above for further details.

  • A person has, will or is likely to engage in or facilitate the human trafficking of another person.

  • Any other criminal or illegal activity has, will or is likely to take place.

  • The organisation – or a person within the organisation – has, will or is likely to engage in unacceptable fundraising practices.

  • A person has, will or is likely to endanger the health and safety of another person or the environment.

  • A person has, will or is likely to corrupt/abuse an organisational practice/procedure – eg, within an operational programme, HR, finance, or logistics.

  • A person has, will or is likely to do something illegal eg, breach of contract, negligence, damage/misuse of company property.

  • A person has, will or is likely to victimise another person – eg, by using their position or authority within Tearfund to abuse/victimise another person.

  • A person has, will or is likely to behave in a way that is not in line with Tearfund’s expected behaviours.


If you have any concerns or allegations about the conduct of a Tearfund staff member or representative, including partner staff, please contact our whistleblowing channel where all comments will be dealt with in confidence. Issues will be investigated, and action taken in line with Tearfund’s policies.

How to report a concern:

Email directly to whistleblowing@tearfund.org.nz or call 0800 800 777 (available only in New Zealand)

If your concern is in relation to Tearfund’s CEO or Senior Executive, email the Board Chairman directly at board@tearfund.org.nz

If your concern is in relation to the Board Chair or Board Member, email the Executive Director of the independent CID (Council for International Development) at director@cid.org.nz

All concerns will be investigated thoroughly, and action taken in line with Tearfund’s policies.
 

Other concerns

Contact us if you have:

  • have broader questions or concerns about Tearfund’s work or ethos

  • are unhappy about an interaction you have had with anyone from, or connected to, Tearfund (apart from issues of Safeguarding or Whistleblowing, which are covered above)

 

 

 

 

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