Safeguarding Statement
Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) has a duty of care to safeguard from harm and protect all
children and young people attending our centres or participating in our activities
through adherence to our Safeguarding Policy and accompanying procedures. All
children and young people have a right to protection and the welfare of
children and young people is paramount. In addition to this, SLT also has a duty of
care, to protect all adults at risk of abuse and safeguard their welfare,
irrespective of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, gender identity, religion
or belief and sexual orientation. The needs of disabled children and young people and others who may
be particularly vulnerable will be taken into account.
- Everyone has the right to live their life free from violence, fear and abuse.
- All adults have the right to be protected from harm and exploitation.
- All adults have the right to independence which
involves a degree of risk.
The aim of the SLT Safeguarding
Policy is to promote good practice through:
- Providing children, young people and vulnerable adults with
appropriate safety and protection whilst accessing the services provided
by SLT;
- Allowing all staff to make informed and confident responses to child protection and adult safeguarding issues.
If you are concerned about a safeguarding issue during a session in an SLT facility, follow the advice below:
- Record what the person has said or what has been seen. Include dates and times & ensure confidentiality is maintained on a need to know basis.
- Report your concerns to the Facility or SLT Duty Officer, who will contact a designated SLT Safeguarding Officer and or report matters of whistleblowing for internal investigation - 07810 850939
Other points of contact include:
- Sandwell Children's Safeguarding Partnership - 0121 569 3100
- Birmingham Children’s Advice & Support Service - 0121 303 1888 or out of hours 0121 675 4806
- Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership - 0300 555 0050 or out of hours 0300 555 8574
- Wolverhampton Safeguarding - 01902 555392 or out of hours 01902 552999
- Walsall Children’s Services - 0300 555 2866
- NSPCC - Worried about a child? Email [email protected] or call 0808 800 5000
SLT has a Safeguarding Policy available upon request and an internal Whistleblowing Policy that will be instigated for employee investigations.
Our Commitment
- Accept the moral and
legal responsibility to provide for the health, safety and welfare of
children, young people and vulnerable adults who use our service and will
implement procedures to safeguard their well-being and protect them from
abuse regardless of their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial
origin, religious belief or sexual identity.
- Respect and promote
the rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- Recruit and train its
employees in best practice to safeguard and protect children, young people
and vulnerable adults from abuse.
- Require all staff to
comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Policy.
- Respond to any
allegations appropriately and take action in accordance with the Trust’s
Safeguarding Policy/Procedure and Disciplinary Procedure where
appropriate.
- Provide support to employees
against whom allegations are made and take appropriate action where false
or malicious allegations are made.
- Work within the
framework of the Sandwell Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and Sandwell
Safeguarding Adults Board.
- Promote the safeguarding
of children, young people and vulnerable adults through inter-agency
working.
- Make referrals to statutory bodies, where required to do so.
- Monitor the operation of the
Safeguarding Policy and record appropriate data.
- Review this policy on a 3-yearly basis or if there is a major change in the organisation or in relevant legislation.
SLT has an Equality and
Diversity policy available upon request, to view our Equality and Diversity statement visit here.
If you require further information relating to
SLT’s Safeguarding Policy please send an email to [email protected]