Are you worried that a child is being abused?

Please call

NSPCC helpline – 0808 800 5000

or email

help@nspcc.org.uk

or call Lancashire Children’s Social Care - 0300 123 6720

Safeguarding at St Joseph's RC Primary School

All schools are expected to play their part in keeping children safe. At St Joseph's RC Primary School we fully recognise the contribution we can make to protect children and support pupils in school. The child's needs are paramount and all professionals will put those needs at the heart of the safeguarding system so that the right solutions can be found for every child. At St Joseph's RC Primary School Mrs Scott, supported by Mrs Howarth takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. Our training in this role is updated every two years. We are expected to refer all cases of suspected abuse to Lancashire Children's Social Care. Where appropriate, parents will be contacted before this referral but this will depend on the circumstances. Where there are radicalisation concerns these will be referred to the Channel programme.  

All staff receive safeguarding training annually.

There are three main elements to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Prevention:

Creating a positive school atmosphere, teaching and pastoral support to pupils where children have opportunities to have a voice and that their wishes and feelings are listened to and taken into account.

Protection:

By following agreed procedures, ensuring staff are trained to recognise possible signs and symptoms of abuse and are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to child protection concerns.

Support:

To pupils and school staff and to children who may have been abused.

School Commitment

We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, peer support and clear lines of communication with trusted adults helps all children, and especially those at risk of, or suffering abuse.

Our school will therefore:

1. Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to. That they have opportunities to talk and their wishes and feelings are listened to and taken into account.
2. Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school who they can approach if they are worried or are in difficulty.
3. Include in the curriculum activities and opportunities for PSHE which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe and / or communicate their fears or concerns about abuse.

If you have concerns about controversial issues please visit www.preventforschools.org

Operation Encompass

The purpose of Lancashire Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or witness to a domestic abuse incident. Domestic abuse impacts on children a numbers of ways. Children are at increased risk of physical injury during an incident, either by accident or because they attempt to intervene. Even when not directly injured, children are greatly distressed by witnessing the physical and emotional suffering of a parent.

Encompass has been created to address this situation. It is the implementation of key partnership working between the police and schools. The aim of sharing information with local schools is to allow ‘Key Adults’ the opportunity of engaging with the child and to provide access to support that allows them to remain in a safe but secure familiar environment.

Following the report of an incident of domestic abuse, by 9:10am on the next school day the school’s Key Adult will be informed that the child or young person has been involved in a domestic incident. This knowledge, given to schools through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with all parents and Governors, is detailed as part of the school’s Safeguarding Policy and published on our school website.

Further Information

Please access the links below for further advice on parenting and how to keep your child safe. 

http://www.lancashiresafeguarding.org.uk/

http://www.lancashiresafeguarding.org.uk/media/5124/Safer-Parenting-Handbook-updated-May-2013.pdf

http://www.lancashiresafeguarding.org.uk/media/5660/LSCB-School-Parents-Bulletin-Apr-2015_GL.pdf

http://www.vodafone.com/content/digital-parenting/learning-and-fun/digital-parenting-magazine.html

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/parents

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/