CHILD SAFEGUARDING FAQs
QUICK GUIDANCE FOR COMMON QUERIES
What is the difference between Child Safeguarding and Child Protection?
Child Safeguarding is about making the organisation safe for children. It refers to the policies and practices that an organisation puts into place to ensure they do no harm to the children they engage with. Child Protection is about making the world safe for children. It refers to the local laws, regulations, and expectations that address harm to children that arises from the wider community. Learn more about Child Safeguarding here.
Who should be responsible for Child Safeguarding in our organisation?
It is everyone’s responsibility to keep children safe. Based on different job roles, staff and representatives across all levels of your organisation may have different parts to play in maintaining a robust child safeguarding culture. Your organisation should also identify a Child Safeguarding Lead(s) who can provide safeguarding advice, receive and handle child safety concerns, and support teams to uphold safeguarding across operations.
Are there any mandatory reporting requirements in Hong Kong?
Yes. Under the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance (implemented on 20th January 2026), professionals from 25 specified professions must report suspected cases of serious harm or risk of serious harm to the authorities. Those from other professions not covered under this Ordinance are strongly encouraged to report concerns to protect children. Learn more about Mandatory Reporting here.
What should organisations include in their Child Safeguarding Policy?
A robust Policy should provide a holistic view of the protocols and standards that the organisation has implemented to keep children safe. Every organisation is different and their safeguarding approach should reflect that. We encourage organisations to use our ‘Key Child Safeguarding Components’ framework to ensure their Policy covers all areas of the organisation’s operations.
How often should staff receive Child Safeguarding training?
At minimum, staff/representatives at all levels of the organisation should receive induction training on the organisation’s Child Safeguarding Policy and practices before starting work with children. This should be followed by in-depth training on the staff members’ safeguarding responsibilities based on their specific job role within the first 3 months of work. Refresher training for all staff should be conducted every 1 – 2 years, with additional training provided if there have been changes in local laws and regulations or if a staff’s role and responsibilities change.
Can Save the Children Hong Kong help my organisation improve our Child Safeguarding protocols and practices?
Absolutely! Our Child Safeguarding Service offers training workshops and policy writing services tailor-made to each organisations’ unique services and work with children. We aim to provide sustainable solutions that are flexible to your needs, resources, and timelines. Contact us to arrange a meeting!