Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff, visitors and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you have concerns regarding the safeguarding or welfare of any of our pupils, please contact:
Miss Gleeson (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
or
Mr Malley (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
St Joseph’s participates in Operation Encompass. Following the report of an incident of domestic abuse, school will be advised that the child has been involved.
What is safeguarding?
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.
Taken from https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection
What is Operation Encompass?
Background:
Operation Encompass is an initiative that enhances communication between the police and schools where a child is at risk from domestic abuse
The purpose of the information sharing is to ensure schools have more information to support safeguarding of children. By knowing that the child has had this experience, the school is in a better position to understand and be supportive of the child's needs and possible behaviours
Operation Encompass will complement existing safeguarding procedures
Q. What is Operation Encompass?
A. This is a process used to inform schools when the police have attended an incident of domestic violence or abuse, where domestic abuse incidents have occurred in the homes of their pupils since the previous school day.
Q. How will it work?
A. Police automated systems will share information with the school DSLs prior to 8.30am. The school will be informed simply that there was an incident and the name of the child. This will be limited information.
Q. What is the school meant to do with this knowledge?
A. By knowing that the child has had this experience, the school is in a better position to be supportive and understanding of the child's needs and possible behaviours. The DSL will share this information on a need to know basis e.g. the class teacher.
The initial approach is that the sharing of information should not, in itself, provoke a proactive response to individual children by the school, but informs the schools' response to any presenting behaviour. Some schools will have the staff and resources to reassure the child that they know. This can be a real relief to a child as it can give them a tacit permission to talk about how they feel and what has been happening to them. The key aim of this process, however, is to ensure that the child is offered sensitivity and understanding following a distressing incident.
Q. How frequently will schools receive this type of email?
A. Research indicates that around 100 calls will be made across the County each morning.
Q. Will parents be aware of this new process?
A. Schools will need to let all parents know, via newsletter or other appropriate means, that when Police attend an incident of domestic violence/abuse, the school will be informed first thing the next morning. By sharing this information the parents affected by domestic abuse will know that they can approach the school.
Q. What should Schools do to ensure effective participation?
A. There are a number of activities which will support the process:
Trained school-staff will screen a duty Encompass box in Outlook.
Increase awareness amongst staff and parents by sharing/organising media and training
Schools can reference Operation Encompass in their safeguarding policies to ensure that schools staff and parents are aware of the process. Schools can make use of template letters for parents about the scheme.
Q. What is the review/evaluation process?
A. The scheme will be evaluated and reviewed as it evolves. In other areas it has been found to be a very effective way of supporting children at a most difficult time.
Q. Where can I find out more about the background to Operation Encompass?
2023-2024 Online Safety Newsletters
Useful Websites
Guidance
Safeguarding and Remote Education during Coronavirus
On Safer Internet we listened to the story of 'Chicken Clicking' on Youtube. We watched the powerpoint that told us all about how to keep safe online and to tell a grown up if there is something on the screen that we don't recognise or like.
We took part in the online live event on UK Safer Internet Youtube channel and we used the links on the Online Safety Newsletter.
We had a zoom meeting and took part in the live BBC internet safety lesson.
What is ‘Online Safety’?
In simple terms, online safety refers to the act of staying safe online. It is also commonly known as internet safety, e-safety and cyber safety. It encompasses all technological devices which have access to the internet from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets.
Being safe online means individuals are protecting themselves and others from online harms and risks which may jeopardise their personal information, lead to unsafe communications or even effect their mental health and wellbeing.
Operating within an online space is something most of us simply do subconsciously, but have you ever stopped to consider the potential dangers which exist on the web, especially for our children?
The recent Ofcom ‘Children and Parents: media use and attitudes report 2019’ report released last week found that children are more engaged online than they’ve ever been. Ownership of smart devices is increasing and the range of content they are viewing is expanding.
In an ever-changing world, ensuring pupils’ safety online has never been more important. It’s an all-encompassing duty and something every teacher must be vigilant of. (Taken from nationalonlinesafety.com)
