Safeguarding
Safeguarding at our school
Our school takes the safeguarding of all children very seriously.
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.
School staff play an essential role in protecting children from abuse. They have regular contact with children and young people so are in a strong position to identify signs of abuse and neglect.
In school we:
- create a safe environment for children through robust safeguarding practices.
- ensure that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don’t pose a risk to children through rigorous recruitment processes.
- make sure staff are trained regularly, know how to respond to concerns and keep-up-to-date with policy and practice.
- teach children about staying safe through their lessons, discussions and collective worship.
- encourage children to approach any member of staff if they have a worry or problem. These are known as their ‘trusted adults’.
The School’s Safeguarding Policy can be accessed from the School Policy page of this website.
Our Safeguarding Team
| Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) | Mrs Griffin, Headteacher |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
Mrs Hipwell Mrs Donaldson Miss King |
All are trained to support the children, staff and parents regarding the safeguarding of children. To contact them please call 01832 272392.
Safeguarding Team (ID 1120)
In line with current government legislation, we are committed to working within a comprehensive and regularly updated safeguarding policy. We also also operate alongside Northamptonshire’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) which deals with referrals from professionals and members of the public who may have concerns about a child’s welfare. There are a number of other associated national safeguarding agencies which also provide vital care and information.
What should I do if I have concerns about a child or family?
1. Speak with one the safeguarding leads at school who will be able to listen, help or advise the next step.
2. Contact Northamptonshire multi agency safeguarding hub (MASH) on 0300 126 7000. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please call 999.
3. Click on the link below for further advice from Northamptonshire Children's Trust Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or to make an online referral.
4. Speak to the NSPCC:
- Reporting abuse - Help for adults concerned about a child or call 0808 800 5000
- Childline - Help for children and young people or call 0800 1111
What to do if you have concerns about an adult
If you have concerns in relation to an adult's behaviour, contact the North Northamptonshire Designated Officer.
We have a policy on Safeguarding concerns or allegations made against adults which you can find on our Policies page.
Early Help
Every family goes through challenging times at some point. Early help means working with you and your family so that small problems don’t become big problems. Early help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age. And it’s your choice whether to have it or not.
Why would I want early help?
There are lots of reasons why people look for early help. It could be that you’re worried about your child’s health, development or behaviour, or how they’re doing at school, or perhaps because you are caring for a disabled child. It may be that you’re worried about money or housing and how that is affecting your family. Maybe your child or your family is affected by domestic abuse, drugs or alcohol or crime. Perhaps your child is a carer for other people, or maybe you’ve had a bereavement in the family that’s made life a real challenge.
Find out more by clicking on this link – Early help for parents and carers
Speak to Mrs Griffin one of our Family Support Workers (Mrs Hipwell or Mrs Donaldson) if you would like to know more.
Safeguarding themes and information for parents
How to make safe and healthy journeys when travelling with children: Advice for parents and families | Brake
Better health – healthier families: Healthier Families – Home – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
County lines: Safeguarding Network
Support Groups and Organisations for Victims of Domestic Violence
Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS): www.ndas.co.uk
Local charity that has been operating since 1974. NDAS provide safe refuge for men, women and children fleeing domestic abuse. NDAS also provide a specialist refuge for female victims of abuse that also have drug and alcohol addictions.
NDAS also offer:
- Group work
- 12 week intensive support programme for adult victims
- Drop in services
- Specialist training for professionals
NDAS can be contacted in a variety of ways:
- 24 hour helpline: 0300 0120154
- Email: advice@ndas-org.co.uk
- Online chat www.ndas.co
- Facebook messenger: facebook.com/NorthamptonshireDAS
EVE (formerly NVCFR): www.eveda.org.uk
A registered charity working with survivors of domestic violence and abuse since 1984. We are based in Northampton but take referrals for refuge accommodation from all over the Country. We have been running a Family Refuge in Northamptonshire for over 35 years.
Our Restored Programme helps women who are victims of domestic abuse to rebuild their lives and prepares them for a future. We offer therapeutic group work sessions for women, children and families that help them to identify domestic abuse and to develop the resilience and confidence to change their lives. We also train professionals in a range of topics to help them help victims become survivors.
WEN Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk
Women’s Aid have created this space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it’s happening to you. The website has pages aimed directly at children, young people and adults.
Provides safe, secure and confidential accommodation in three refuges within Northamptonshire for women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence. We also provide an Outreach & Support Service for women who live in their own accommodation. www.thehideout.org.uk Women’s Aid have created this space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it’s happening to you.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline 0808 2000 247
Immediate information and support for women experiencing domestic violence.
If lines are busy on the Helpline, keep trying. Quieter periods are after 4pm, evenings, nights and weekends. In an emergency, always call the police by dialling 999.
In addition to the Helpline, the Women’s Aid and Refuge website links can provide immediate online support and information for women experiencing domestic violence.
Domestic Abuse Against Men: NHS Choices
Information and help on the NHS Choices website for men who may be experiencing Domestic Abuse.
Other contacts
- Childline - www.childline.org.uk - 0800 1111
- Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) - www.ceop.police.uk - 0870 000 3344
- 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline - 0808 2000 247
Designated Officer (formerly LADO)
The Designated Officer (formerly known as the Local Authority Designated Officer or LADO) should be informed of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:
- Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child;
- Possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child; or
- Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.
Allegations made against workers who are paid, unpaid, volunteer, agency, casual and self-employed as well as foster carers, and adoptive parents of children on Placement Orders should all be reported to the Designated Officer. This should be done within 24 hours of the incident.
Consultations
Should you need to discuss a case with a Designated Officer, please contact us on the numbers below or alternatively, please complete consultation form here. For urgent child safeguarding matters please contract MASH directly on 0300 126 7000.
You can e-mail your query to LADOConsultations@nctrust.co.uk and a Designated Officer will get back to you as soon as they are able to.
For more information, please click here.
Remember safeguarding is everyones business
