Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults

A couple of years ago on the thread about getting young people involved, safeguarding was mentioned. I wondered if there are good examples from within preservation of policies and practice, and how small groups say for loco or carriage restoration can comply with legislation. For example if the host railway has a safeguarding policy and officers could a small group piggyback onto it, or would they have to have their own policy and officers with DBS checks?

Many thanks
Dave

 

I am unable to say whether any lines do have policies for safeguarding but any line that involves having children and older people, other than as passengers, should have. Safeguarding is not just about children. I would hope that some of the more well organised lines probably do.

 

The HRA guidance note 'Working with Young Volunteers, may be of interest. . .
See https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...0300-Is02+-+Working+With+Young+Volunteers.pdf

 

I should imagine it depends on the nature of the relationship between the small group and the host railway. If, as working members of that small group, you have a work permit issued by the host railway, then absolutely I should think. Beyond that you'd probably need to pin down a specific agreement but I don't see why it can't be done.

 

In layman's terms children are not allowed to work in an industrial environment.
What they do on a railway has to be classed as education with appropriate risk assessments etc.
Standing on top of a loco cleaning cannot be classed as education.

If there is an accident and the insurance company gets involved and if what they have been doing is classed as work then the insurance policy is invalid as by the letter of the law the railway is breaking the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Employment of Women Young Persons and Children Act 1920. Employing Children according to these Acts is a criminal offence.

If what children do on a railway can be classed as education then that is permissible.

 

Hopefully this may get changed soon, the parliamentary committee for heritage railways gas recommended these laws are overhauled for young volunteers.

 

I did mention in my previous post that safeguarding is more than safe environments for children. Some adults are vulnerable or at risk in various ways.
A line I was previously associated with had two young - late teen - volunteers. They got a lot of paint on themselves and on surfaces that were not supposed to get painted. Instruction and other safety advice fell on deaf ears as they say. Sadly they were 'an accident waiting to happen' as the expression goes and had, quite politely, to be told they could not sat as volunteers. It was a pity as they were enthusiastic, however, the insurance clauses and reputation of the line, plus the safety and well being of its other volunteers and most certainly the passengers needed to be foremost in this instance.
Without doubt other lines will have had similar cases.

 

Safeguarding is also making sure you the adult are not put in a vulnerable position and left open to allegations.