Domestic Abuse Pledge/Offer
As part of our commitment to keeping children safe, we will support children, young people and families experiencing domestic abuse in the following ways:
- Work in partnership with the Local Authority and community services
- Work with the police to ensure the timeliness of alerts being received to minimise any delays
- Provide tailored support to any student including counselling, mentoring, and monitor their attainment and attendance
- Listen to the voice and wishes of the child who has experienced domestic abuse, seeing them as victims
- Follow up non-attendance and contact home when a child may be absent having received an Operation Encompass alert
- Liaise with Social Workers if the child is known to the service
- Undertake the Early Help assessment where appropriate
- Alert the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will then manage any referrals to other services for advice, guidance and further specialist support, such as Fortalice.
- Provide appropriate data and information to our Board of Governors and to the Local Authority
- Ensure our PSHE curriculum focuses on safe relationships
- Include domestic abuse and its impact in our safeguarding policy
- Provide appropriate training to staff to be aware of the impact of domestic abuse
- Gain consent and keep the child (where appropriate) and parent/carer informed on action we take.
Operation Encompass
For a number of years our school has been part of Encompass – this is a project in partnership with Bolton Safeguarding Board and Greater Manchester Police.
The purpose of Bolton Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or witness to a domestic abuse incident. We know that domestic abuse can have a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing, and physical health of children both in the short and long term.
Bolton Encompass is designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which might have an impact on a child attending school the following day. We always endeavour to offer the best support possible to our children and believe that Bolton Encompass is beneficial and supportive for all concerned children and families.
When is the Encompass information shared?
This information is shared on school days during the school term. When incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police contact the relevant school the following Monday. A nominated member of school staff, known as a Key Adult, has been trained to liaise with the police.
Who is the Key Adult in school?
Amanda Hulme is the key adult in school and will use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to ensure that as a school we are able to support children and their families. Information is shared with the key adult by the police where it is identified that a child or young person was present, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
You can find out more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) here:
https://www.joiningforcesforchildren.org/what-are-ace
Click here to see the types of types of childhood experience: ACES
Further support and information
National Domestic Abuse Helpline Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247. Website: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
(access live chat Monday – Friday, 3pm – 10pm).
Let’s Talk (All Change) Let’s Talk is a creative project that involves using the arts to develop innovative services for families affected by domestic violence. Let’s Talk have some good resources to encourage children to talk about their experiences and feelings, including a book of creative ideas. Website: http://letstalkproject.co.uk/?page_id=10
Fort Alice – Charity for supporting people affected by Domestic Abuse and Violence – 01204 365677
Endeavour – Domestic Abuse and Violence Support Services – Endeavour (endeavourproject.org.uk) Tel: 01204 394 842 Email: info@endeavourproject.org.uk Office hours 9.30am – 5.00pm there is an out of hours answer service.
Greater Manchester Victims Services: Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can provide independent emotional and practical support for anyone affected by crime. Website: https://www.gmvictims.org.uk/ or calling 0161 200 1950.
Useful Contacts
Safeguarding in Education Team: 01204 332030/337472
MASSS (Referral and Assessment): 01204 331500
Police – Domestic Abuse Unit: 0161 856 5589 or 0161 8565504