DCTT welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. As an organisation we have a responsibility to ensure a safe environment for all users of our site, this includes staff, volunteers, trustees, and visitors; regardless of their age or physical ability.

Our Safeguarding Policy is written to ensure that all children and vulnerable adults are guaranteed appropriate and safe treatment in all circumstances while they are visiting our centre and caverns. It applies to all staff and volunteers as well as external contractors working on behalf of Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust.

Our Responsibilities

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
• all children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• some children and vulnerable adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• working in partnership with children and vulnerable adults, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults

We will seek to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and vulnerable adults, and two Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officers, (DDSO)
• adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring any person in a paid, voluntary or freelance capacity, when meeting the definition of regulated activity (See Section 8), have a clear Enhanced DBS Check
• recording and storing information professionally and securely
• using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children and vulnerable adults, parents, families and carers appropriately
• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance