Whilst school is closed due to the Government Coronavirus response you can find more information about child safeguarding and family support services at http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2320/Childrens-Services
St Patrick’s Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
If you are concerned that a child is being harmed or neglected call: 03000 26 7979
If the child or young person is at immediate risk of harm call 999.
We expect all staff, volunteers and visitors, involved in any aspect of school life, to share this commitment. We believe our pupils have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. At St. Patrick’s, we believe safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Areas of safeguarding:
- Staff and visitors – ensuring everyone is adequately vetted, informed and trained;
- Pupil behaviour – promoting safe and positive behaviours and lifestyles;
- Parents and carers – promoting links and supporting families;
- Premises – ensuring our school environment is fit for purpose;
- Curriculum – enabling children to access a broad and balanced curriculum which equips pupils with the skills to make positive life choices and develop positive relationships with others;
- Beyond school – exploring with children how to keep themselves safe when they access a wider range of activities.
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) at St. Patrick’s:
- Designated Lead – Jill Burgess, Headteacher
- Deputy Designated Lead – Louise Gardner, Deputy Headteacher
- Deputy Designated Lead – Christina Charlton, Business Manager
All these DSL member of staff have undertaken relevant training.
General staff training:
At St. Patrick’s, all staff and governors are trained in safeguarding and are aware of procedures to follow. Staff are encouraged to remain vigilant at all times.
All staff and volunteers are directed to our school policy – Keeping Children Safe in School: Child Protection within Safeguarding 2020-21 (see policy section).
Pupil Concerns:
Staff are expected to report any causes for concern to DSL or Deputy DSL. Concerns may range from pupils being upset, absenteeism , lateness, change in character, visible changes to a pupil disclosure. Concerns will be recorded through use of the CPOMS system.
When the school has concerns about a child, the DSL will consider all the information provided and this will determine whether it is necessary to make a referral to relevant agencies. Generally, we will discuss concerns with parents/carers before approaching external agencies and will seek agreement to contact other services. There may be occasions, however, when the school will make direct contact with other services before contacting parents/carers as the DSLs may take the view that to contact parents/carers, in advance of contact with external services, may increase the risk of significant harm to the child.
All safeguarding/child protections information is dealt with in a confidential manner.
Worry Boxes:
If pupils do not want to talk directly to a member of staff, regarding any concerns they may have, worry boxes are available in each classroom. These are checked by staff on a regular basis and can be a way to initiate discreet discussions between staff and pupils.
Safer recruitment:
We follow strict protocols to ensure everyone who works in our school is vetted appropriately. We ensure that a range of staff and governors involved in the recruitment process are adequately trained.
E-Safety:
Guidance about keeping your child safe on-line can be found in the ‘Pupil’ section of our website under E-Safety in school.
Operation Encompass:
We are an Operation Encompass partner school.
Operation Encompass is a Police and Education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people exposed to domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools before the start of the next school day when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening.
The information is given in strict confidence to a school’s DSL to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child.
