Safeguarding Information & Contacts
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
- protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
- preventing harm to children’s health or development
- ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
- taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures, which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
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 child 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
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Adam Bradford
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Geoff Cherrill and Jo Snow
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 half-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.
Operation Encompass Key Principles
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.
Useful Contacts
Child Line
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:
Ofsted, Inspection & National Guidance
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you would like to view the Keeping Children Safe in Education pamphlet in an alternative language,please use the link below
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole - Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (pdscp.co.uk)
What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-do-if-youre-worried-a-child-is-being-abused--2
Working Together to Safeguard Children July 2018
http://www.workingtogetheronline.co.uk/chapters/contents.html
Ofsted Safeguarding Children
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/for-schools/safeguarding-children
Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings
Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Local Support
Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership
Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Family Information Directory and SEND Local Offer
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:
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.
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.
Concerns about child abuse or wellbeing (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)
Online Safety
Department for Education – e-safety guidelines
Vodafone – Digital parenting
http://www.vodafone.com/content/digital-parenting.html
The South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL)
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust - Depression - let's get talking
Charlie Waller Trust, mental health charity
Kooth - Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
CAMHS
Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools Departmental Advice for School Staff
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2
Information Sharing
The Information Commissioner’s Office – Data Protection Act in Schools and Education
Information sharing advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people and families.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-practitioners-information-sharing-advice
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.
Help for those who have experienced domestic abuse (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)
Prevent
Anyone can be vulnerable to extremism and radicalisation, but children are particularly at risk.
Educate Against Hate - Prevent Radicalisation & Extremism and ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation offer lots of useful information.
Refer any Prevent concerns to police using the Home Office Prevent Referral Form) Refer someone to the Prevent Team | Dorset Police or for advice e-mail [email protected] 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.
Home - With You (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.
SSCT Young People | Dorset Police
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.