Safeguarding
Introduction
Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175/157), schools must “make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”. We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.
Parents / carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer, and where possible inform them of the referral to Social Care. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm.
In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.
Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Person for Child Protection) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.
Responsibilities:
Designated Safeguarding Lead Personnel for child protection: Mrs Kim Crisp, Mrs Kim Holtby and Mrs Jane Francis.
Designated teacher for Looked After Children: Mrs Katie Chaudhry
Designated Online Safety Lead: Mrs Kim Holtby
Designated Prevent Lead: Mrs Kim Holtby
Designated Lead for Domestic Abuse: Mrs Kim Crisp
If you have any concerns regarding the safety of a child, please contact the aforementioned staff or access the Safeguarding Children Partnership Board.
https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/children-board/
Operation Encompass
At Great Wilbraham Primary School we are working in partnership with Cambridgeshire Police and Cambridgeshire County Council/Peterborough City Council (delete as appropriate) to identify and provide appropriate support to pupils who have experienced domestic abuse in their home; this scheme is called Operation Encompass. In order to achieve this, Cambridgeshire’s Education Safeguarding Team will share police information of all domestic incidents where one of our pupils has been present, with the Domestic Abuse (DA) Lead. On receipt of any information, the DA Lead will decide on the appropriate support the child may require. The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with the ‘Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Agency Protocol for Domestic Abuse – Notifications to Schools, Colleges and Early Years settings’.