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Official programme prospectus
Child Protection & Safeguarding
Practical safeguarding skills for staff, volunteers, teachers and community workers who work around children.
- Duration
- 3 months / about 12 weeks
- Fee
- SLE 2,500
- Delivery
- Online · Face-to-face · Blended
- Level
- Foundation
SLIHSD · Child Protection & Safeguarding · Programme prospectus
1. About SLIHSD
Sierra Leone Institute for Humanitarian and Sustainable Development is a developing professional education, training and capacity-development institute focused on practical, accessible learning for humanitarian, community and sustainable-development practice.
2. Why this programme?
Practical safeguarding skills for staff, volunteers, teachers and community workers who work around children. The programme is structured for learners who need practical, assessable capability they can connect to real responsibilities while continuing work or other commitments.
3. Programme at a glance
- Category
- Protection, Gender & Child Rights
- Level
- Foundation
- Duration
- 3 months (about 12 weeks)
- Study modes
- Online · Face-to-face · Blended
- Indicative programme fee
- SLE 2,500
- Registration fee
- SLE 100
- Location
- Mile 91, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone
- Application deadline
- 31 March 2026
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
4. Target audience
- • Protection, safeguarding, education and community-service personnel.
- • Volunteers and focal persons who support children, survivors, families or at-risk communities.
- • Learners seeking practical, ethical foundations for protection-related work.
5. Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
6. Learning outcomes
- • Recognise and respond to protection concerns appropriately
- • Apply case referral pathways and confidentiality rules
- • Draft and roll out a basic safeguarding policy
7. Course structure and modules
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Child rights and the protection framework |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Identifying abuse, neglect and exploitation risks |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Case identification, referral pathways and documentation |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | PSEA awareness and survivor-centred practice |
8. Detailed module breakdown
1. Child rights and the protection framework (Weeks 1–2)
Apply child rights and the protection framework through systematic risk identification, proportionate controls, safe documentation and escalation.
- • Hazards, exposure and professional responsibilities within child rights and the protection framework
- • Prevention, control and response measures
- • Inspection, recording, referral and improvement actions
Assessed work: Complete a scenario-based risk, control or referral exercise for child rights and the protection framework.
2. Identifying abuse, neglect and exploitation risks (Weeks 3–4)
Apply identifying abuse, neglect and exploitation risks through systematic risk identification, proportionate controls, safe documentation and escalation.
- • Hazards, exposure and professional responsibilities within identifying abuse, neglect and exploitation risks
- • Prevention, control and response measures
- • Inspection, recording, referral and improvement actions
Assessed work: Complete a scenario-based risk, control or referral exercise for identifying abuse, neglect and exploitation risks.
3. Case identification, referral pathways and documentation (Weeks 5–6)
Study case identification, referral pathways and documentation in the context of protection, Gender & Child Rights, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
- • Essential concepts and terminology within case identification, referral pathways and documentation
- • Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- • Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying case identification, referral pathways and documentation to a realistic setting.
4. Safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting (Weeks 7–8)
Apply safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting through systematic risk identification, proportionate controls, safe documentation and escalation.
- • Hazards, exposure and professional responsibilities within safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting
- • Prevention, control and response measures
- • Inspection, recording, referral and improvement actions
Assessed work: Complete a scenario-based risk, control or referral exercise for safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and reporting.
5. PSEA awareness and survivor-centred practice (Weeks 9–12)
Study PSEA awareness and survivor-centred practice in the context of protection, Gender & Child Rights, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
- • Essential concepts and terminology within PSEA awareness and survivor-centred practice
- • Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- • Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying PSEA awareness and survivor-centred practice to a realistic setting.
9. Practical project / portfolio
Draft a safeguarding policy and referral pathway for your own organisation.
10. Teaching & learning approach
- • Tutor-led explanation and demonstration focused on the published module topics.
- • Guided practice using cases, scenarios, templates or production tasks relevant to the programme.
- • Individual and group feedback that helps learners improve work before final submission.
- • Flexible online, face-to-face or blended participation, with evening and weekend scheduling where available.
11. Assessment & completion
- • Short applied tasks linked to the published modules.
- • Practical component: Draft a safeguarding policy and referral pathway for your own organisation.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
12. Career & professional pathways
- • Apply the programme’s tools in field, programme, coordination or community-facing responsibilities related to protection, Gender & Child Rights.
- • Use the completed project or portfolio as evidence of applied professional development.
- • Progress to related SLIHSD intermediate or advanced professional learning where available.
13. Learner support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
14. Fees & enrolment
Indicative programme fee for this course is SLE 2,500, plus a one-off registration fee of SLE 100. Final fees and any instalment arrangement are confirmed with you in writing before you commit.
| Course length | Indicative fee |
|---|---|
| 1 month short courses | SLE 150 – 750 |
| 1–3 months | SLE 2,500 |
| 3–6 months | SLE 3,500 |
| 6–18 months | SLE 5,000 |
15. Quality, recognition & regulatory notice
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Completion records an SLIHSD professional short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
16. Contact & application
Learn. Build skills. Make a difference.
Apply online at slihsd.org/admissions, message us on WhatsApp +232 73655013, call +232 73655013, or email info@slihsd.org.
Sierra Leone Institute for Humanitarian and Sustainable Development (SLIHSD) · Mile 91, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone · WhatsApp Business +232 73655013 · info@slihsd.org · slihsd.org
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Certificates issued reflect completion of SLIHSD short courses and are not presented as accredited academic awards.