Safeguarding
Safeguarding Information & Contacts
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
- protecting pupils from abuse and maltreatment
- preventing harm to pupil’s health or development
- ensuring pupils grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
- taking action to enable all pupils to have the best outcomes
Safeguarding Team
In school, Adam Bradford leads our safeguarding team, with support from Geoff Cherrill (Headteacher), Jo Snow and Michelle Boreham. Please do not hesitate to contact one of the team if you have any questions or information.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
Police & Safer Schools Community Team (SSCT) Young People
Winchelsea School is committed to providing the highest possible standards in all safeguarding issues
Maintaining the highest possible standards means that:
- We are committed to ensuring that all members of our community are safe and happy at school
- We are vigilant in ensuring that no risks to health or safety go unchallenged
- We are vigilant in ensuring that no person without proper identification goes unchallenged
- We are mindful of all the different individuals that make up our community, their needs, concerns and difficulties
- Should we believe or suspect any pupil in our care is suffering any type of abuse, maltreatment or neglect, we will always act immediately and follow up
- All members of our community understand their responsibilities in safeguarding and know who to report their concerns to
- We are committed to ensuring all members of our community are respected, valued and nurtured irrespective of background, race, gender, sexual orientation or differing ability
- We are committed to supporting any member of our staff who is the subject of a malicious accusation
Domestic Abuse Alerts and Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Our designated safeguarding Lead is Adam Bradford
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Geoff Cherrill and Jo Snow
Key Adults
The Key adults are Adam Bradford, Geoff Cherrill and Jo Snow
Our school is part of Operation Encompass.
Operation Encompass is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse.
Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Bill. Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.
All Key Adults (Designated Safeguarding Leads/Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads) have attended an Operation Encompass local briefing as well as national online training
Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school. The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. The Key Adult has also led training for all school staff about Operation Encompass, the prevalence of Domestic Abuse and the impact of this abuse on children.
We have also discussed how we can support the our children who are experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse on a day to day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification. We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Governors. All information is anonymised for these reports.
The Key Adult has used the Operation Encompass Toolkit to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.
Click on the image below to view/download pdf
Useful Contacts
Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through.
You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you.
Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. You can talk to them:
By calling 0800 1111
By email
Through 1-2-1 counsellor chat.
Ofsted, Inspection & National Guidance
Democracy is embedded at our school. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully.
Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through:
- School and Sports Council – members are voted into office by their class peers.
- We take part in the voting of Youth Parliament.
- Pupil questionnaires on aspects of school life.
- Pupil voice reports for Annual Reviews.
- Active involvement in the selection processes of new staff.
- Influence over the reward system that underpins the school behaviour management policy.
Local Support
What to do if you’re worried about a child
If you’re worried about the wellbeing of a child, want to report abuse or aren’t sure what to do, please get in touch.
The Children’s Service First Response Hub provides the public and professionals with advice, information and support for children who are vulnerable and at risk.
Children’s First Response Hub can help if you:
Are worried about a child or young person who is at risk of (or is being) hurt or abused
Know of a child or young person who may be vulnerable without additional help and support
Want to know more about services to support children, young people and their families
Need support to agree an Early Help offer
If you’re concerned, but not sure a child is at risk? Discuss the circumstances with the Children’s First Team.
Contact Children’s First Response Hub
If you are a member of the public please telephone or e-mail the team.
01202 123 334
Email: childrensfirstresponse@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
The First Response Hub is open during the following hours:
Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5:15pm
Friday, 8.30am to 4.45pm
Urgent help out of hours
The ‘out of hours service’ offer emergency support for any child who is in crisis, needs urgent help or is at serious risk of significant harm. Their phone number is 01202 738256.
In an emergency, or if you believe a child is at immediate danger or risk of harm, call the police on 999.
Online Safety
Click above and complete your details. Once you are set up, you will be able to choose ‘Parent/Carer’ as your user type and get instant access to all training and resources.
Department for Education – Online safety guidelines
The South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL)
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust – Depression – let’s get talking
Kooth – Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools Departmental Advice for School Staff
Information Sharing
Domestic Abuse Support & Information
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children aged under 18 years who see, hear, or experience the effects of the abuse, as a victim of domestic abuse, if they are related or have a parental relationship to the adult victim or perpetrator of the abuse.
Help for those who have experienced domestic abuse can be found on the following link.
Prevent
Anyone can be vulnerable to extremism and radicalisation, but children are particularly at risk. Both links below offer lots of useful information.
Educate Against Hate – Prevent Radicalisation & Extremism
ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation
Refer any Prevent concerns to police using the Home Office Prevent Referral Form Report online material promoting terrorism or extremism – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or for advice e-mail DorsetPrevent@Dorset.pnn.police.uk or immediate response call the Anti Terror hotline on 0800 789 321
In an emergency, or if you need urgent police assistance, you should always dial 999.
Drugs & Alcohol
Are you struggling with smoking cannabis? Drinking too much? Are you using other drugs and need some support to stop or get it all under control?
Is your relationship with your family being affected by your drink or drug use, are you missing school or getting into trouble?
Do you ever feel like you have no-one who understands or can help you with what you are thinking or feeling?
If so, then EDAS or We Are With You may be able to help.
With You (www.wearewithyou.org.uk)
Police & Safer Schools Community Team
The SSCT is a partnership between Dorset Police, The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service with a remit to prevent/reduce anti-social behaviour, crime and wrong-doing amongst children and young people and help keep them safe in a digital world.
Child Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child abuse and is illegal.
It is the deliberate exploitation of a child purely for the sexual gratification of adults.
Child Criminal Exploitation is when someone uses a child (under 18 years old) to commit crimes for them.
Child criminal exploitation | Child abuse | Dorset Police
Please note: Links to other sites from this page are for information only. We have no responsibility or liability for access to them, the content, accuracy or opinions. Use of a link does not constitute a recommendation or agreement with its objectives. It is your responsibility to ensure the service is appropriate and suitable for your needs.
Safeguarding Adults
The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Safeguarding Adults Board (BCPSAB) is a strategic partnership working to protect vulnerable adults in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
www.dbcpsafeguardingadults.org.uk
Reporting Abuse
If you believe that someone is being abused contact Adult Social Care or the Police. Adult Social Care and the Police will then coordinate investigations into alleged abuse.
Contact as soon as possible:
For Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Telephone 01202 123654
- Or Dorset Police: telephone 101
- In an emergency, please call 999
- Send the completed Referral form directly to the BCP Contact Centre at asc.contactcentre@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Out of Hours Service
Tel. 0300 1239895 Evenings and weekends, including Bank Holidays.
Useful Links
Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has a range of policy initiatives, press releases and consultation responses.
Care Quality Commission – The independent regulator of health and social care in England which helps make sure better care is provided for everyone.
Citizens Advice helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.
Dorset Advocacy works to provide relief for people living in the Dorset area with a learning, physical or mental disability, and those suffering frailty with age, assist them to protect their rights and gain equality of opportunity.
Hourglass A charity working to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults. Helpline 08088088141.
Mencap information and advice for parents, carers, family members, someone with a learning disability, professionals.
No Secrets Department of Health webpage. Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
Nursing and Midwifery Council regulates nurses and midwives in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands. They maintain the largest register of healthcare professionals anywhere in the world, ensuring that they are properly qualified and competent to work in the UK.
The Ann Craft Trust – protecting people with Learning Disabilities from abuse.
Trading Standards is a local authority service. Online help may be available through your local trading standards service website for both consumers and business. Use the post code search to find your local office.
Whistleblowing recognises the key role whistleblowing can play in anticipating and avoiding serious risks that arise in and from the workplace.
Women’s Aid is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children.
