1. Session Aims: By the end of this session we expect you to:
Pre-departure Briefing Session:
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Session Aims: By the end of this session we expect you to:
Understand Lattitude’s policy and processes in relation to managing risk and responding to incidents and be familiar with how Lattitude will respond to more common incidents
Understands how you will be supported by Lattitude and your host at your placement
Have reflected on your main vulnerabilities overseas, be aware of the common threats you may face and understood advice for keeping safe and well and how to reduce risk or respond to them

2. Lattitude’s Health, Safety and Security Policy is underpinned by and informed by our Mission and Values. We aim to balance independence and support appropriately to enable young people to develop and enhance their life skills, personal responsibilities and resilience
Health, safety and security considerations are central to everything we do
We base our practice on advice and guidance from relevant governments including British FCO and Australian DFAT
We only work in countries and locations that are deemed as safe to travel by those governments
We work with external H&S consultants to review and improve our H&S framework

3. Context: understanding individual vulnerability
It is important that you understand what could you vulnerable. What examples can you think of?
Many volunteers will be experiencing independent living for the first time
Volunteers will be a long way from home
Placements are in unfamiliar environments
Being from a different culture
Some placements are in challenging locations
Being female
Standing out because of ethnicity
Countries or locations can vary considerably in terms of infrastructure and facilities

4. Health and Safety Framework
Governance: Trustee Safety and Quality Committee 
Senior Leadership Team: Lattitude Quality Standards
Polices and processes:
Country, Placement and Event Risk Assessments
Ladder of Support and Incident Management Framework
Incident Reporting process
Lattitude staffing
Pre-departure preparation and in-country orientation
Three-way Division of Responsibilities
Review

5. Duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual or organisation requiring that they adhere to a standard of reasonable care while performing acts (or omissions) that present a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to others
Volunteers are selected and matched
Countries are risk assessed and placements vetted
Volunteers briefed for placement, risks and challenges
Supported on arrival through an orientation
Ongoing support from Lattitude and placement

6. Keeping Safe & Well
Personal Safety (including petty crime, money and valuables)
Relationships (including sexual assault)
Transport
Accommodation
Water Safety
Civil Unrest/Political Tension
Terrorism
Natural Disasters and Severe Weather
Health Issues

7. Lattitude Ladder of Support
6. Lattitude CEO/Board
5. Regional Director
4. Country Manager
3. Local Representative
2. Placement Host
1. Volunteers, local staff and placement mentor
Why aren’t parents at the top of the list?
Think about who is best placed to help

8. Level 1 Issues
Minor injuries or illness
Unsure about things at your placement, including work role and accommodation
You need additional support to help you with your role
Theft/loss of personal items
Home sickness
Talk to your placement mentor/host and if you need further support contact your Lattitude Representative

9. Level 2 Incidents Involve Lattitude
Medical treatment or hospital admission
You haven’t been seen or gone to work for 12 hours
There are issues around your work/attitude/well being
Adverse weather warnings
Security advice levels have changed in another part of the country
Involve Lattitude
Continue to communicate closely with your placement
We work with you and your host to resolve the problem
Your emergency contacts may get informed

10. Level 3 Serious Incidents
Physical assault or safety incident
You have a serious health issue
You have breached the Code of Conduct
You may need to return home for personal reasons or misconduct
Emergency security incident or adverse weather near your locality
We work with you to agree a plan of action
Lattitude develops an Incident Plan
Your emergency contact will be informed, if appropriate
Lattitude sending office involved
We continue to support you and monitor your well being

11. Level 4 Critical Incidents
Natural disaster or terrorist incident directly affecting volunteer
Missing person
Death or life-threatening incident
Serious sexual assault
Arrest
Regional Director coordinates Critical Incident Plan
Emergency contacts involved
Lattitude sending office involved

12. Summary Your health, safety and welfare is of paramount importance
Always follow Lattitude’s advice and the Code of Conduct
You have responsibility for your own health and safety and the choices/decisions you make will impact on your wellbeing
Develop good communication with your host, familiarise yourself with your local area and your local support structure
Always keep your host informed especially if you are going to be away from your placement
We cannot support you out of your placement country
Follow the Lattitude ‘Ladder of Support’
Always ask questions and raise concerns

13. Recap of Aims We would now expect you to:
Understand Lattitude’s policy and processes in relation to managing risk and responding to incidents and be familiar with how Lattitude will respond to more common incidents
Understands how you will be supported by Lattitude and your host at your placement
Have reflected on your main vulnerabilities overseas, be aware of the common threats you may face and understood advice for keeping safe and well and how to reduce risk or respond to them