Safeguarding policy & procedure

This policy sets out Ort Gallery's approach to safeguarding children, young people, and adults, including audiences, participants, and employees. It takes a "radical safeguarding" stance that rejects blanket vulnerability labelling and instead treats all individuals holistically, combining anti-discriminatory practice with collective care, consent, and warm working. The document covers the responsibilities of the designated safeguarding lead, DBS check requirements, staff and volunteer conduct, lone working, restraint guidance, photography permissions, and step-by-step procedures for reporting suspected abuse. A notable feature is its explicitly non-punitive ethos: it advocates believing those who report harm, using empathy when reviewing DBS convictions, and pursuing mediation and counselling rather than purely punitive responses.