Safeguarding Resources for Parents
Holy Redeemer Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy which can be viewed in the policies section on our website.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.
We actively support the Government’s Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Christina Hall. We have two Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads in the school: Rachael Barker and Bee Sanders. All three can be contacted at school on 01386 552518.
Our safeguarding governor is Jim Turner, who can be contacted via the office, or via email: Governor-turner@holyredeemer.worcs.sch.uk
At Holy Redeemer we consider the safeguarding of children to be a priority. All staff receive annual training/updates to recognise the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect alongside other safeguarding concerns. It is estimated that only 1 in 9 sufferers of abuse report it at the time that it is happening. It is vital therefore that staff know what to look for to identify young people suffering abuse who cannot speak out.
Staff understand their statutory duties that are outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (see safeguarding documents section) and will report any concerns, no matter how small, to the Safeguarding Team who will always respond to the concern raised.
Pupils are told that they can speak to any member of staff with whom they feel comfortable. This could be about something they are worried about themselves or if they are worried about another member of our school community. The member of staff will then be able to help the child access the support that they need; often this will be through the Safeguarding Team. Children are always reminded that there can be no confidentiality if a young person is at risk of harm.
As an added safeguard against a number of issues such as radicalisation, grooming and self-harm or suicide, the school uses a monitoring filter on internet searches requested by our children and staff. All concerns raised the by the system are brought to the attention of the safeguarding team and are acted upon.
Worcestershire Children First
The school works alongside the Local Authority services including Worcestershire Children’s First in order to protect young people from harm. The aim of Worcester Children First is to work with parents, carers and young people together to offer advice and support before a situation reaches crisis point.
For information about the guidance and services offered to young people and their families through Worcestershire Children’s First please visit their website:
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren/
Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership WSCP
WSCP has a statutory duty to co-ordinate how agencies work together to safeguard and promote the wellbeing of children and young people in Worcestershire and to ensure the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements. Their webpages contain a huge amount of information for parents and professionals working with young people.
https://www.safeguardingworcestershire.org.uk/
NSPCC SUPPORT
The NSPCC is the leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK. They help children who have been abused to rebuild their lives, protect those at risk, and find the best ways of preventing abuse from ever happening.
You can also visit the NSPCC website for advice and support regarding a number of safeguarding issues
Child Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation of children and young people under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities. Child sexual exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child’s immediate recognition; for example, being persuaded to post sexual images on the Internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. The following are key facts taken from the local authority website:
- It affects both girls and boys and can happen in all communities.
- Any young person can be targeted but there are some particularly vulnerable groups: Looked After Children, Children Leaving Care and Children with Disabilities.
- Victims of CSE may also be trafficked (locally, nationally and internationally).
- Over 70% of adults involved in prostitution were sexually exploited as children or teenagers.
- Sexual violence or abuse against children represents a major public health and social welfare problem within UK society, affecting 16% of children under 16. That is approximately 2 million children.
The Child Exploitation Online Command (CEOP) is a law enforcement agency who pursue those who sexually exploit and abuse children. They prevent people becoming involved in child sexual exploitation, protect children from becoming victims of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and prepare interventions to reduce the impact of child sexual exploitation and abuse through safeguarding and child protection work.
If you are concerned that a young person is being exploited or would like to report exploitation, you can make a report directly to CEOP.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting/
For more information about CEOP please visit the following:
http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/about-us/what-we-do/child-exploitation-online-protection-ceop
There are a number of other avenues for information and support regarding CSE for both young people and their parents:
- Barnardo’s spot the signs and offer advice for parents, professionals and young people on the signs of sexual exploitation and how to keep safe.
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/cse/spotthesigns.htm
- Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE) is the leading national charity working with parents and carers whose children are sexually exploited.
- The NSPCC website offers definitions, statistics, facts and resources about CSE.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/child-sexual-exploitation/
Spotting The Signs of Child Sexual Exploitation from Health Education England:
Child Criminal Exploitation
For further information about Child Exploitation, please visit the Get Safe section of the Worcester Children’s First website
Drugs/County Lines
Misuse of controlled drugs is a crime. The use of such drugs has serious short and long term health risks.
If you think you may know someone who may have a problem, talk to an adult you trust, either inside or outside school, or a recognised agency or contact a helpline.
- Turning Point: 01905 724853 / turning-point.co.uk
- Childline 0800 1111 – for any problems you have
- Talk To Frank 0300 123 6600
- NSPCC 0808 800 5000 / nspcc.org.uk
County Lines
This is where children and young people are being exploited and drawn into drug-related activity by criminal gangs, groups or individuals. Typically, the gang exploits young or vulnerable people to store and/or supply drugs, move cash and to secure the use of homes belonging to vulnerable adults. There is a cross-over between Child Sexual Exploitation and County Lines, and concerns about young people being possibly involved should be passed to the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will refer to the police and Social Services.
County Lines is a very serious issue where criminal gangs set up a drug dealing operation in place outside their usual operating area. Gangs will move their drug dealing from big cities (i.e. London, Manchester, Liverpool, etc.) to smaller towns and rural areas in order to make more money. This can have a really big effect on the community who live there and bring with it serious criminal behaviour.
The UK Government defines county lines as:
County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.
For further information about Child Exploitation, please visit the Get Safe section of the Worcester Children’s First website
Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but where there’s no medical reason for this to be done. FGM is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15, most commonly before puberty starts. It is illegal in the UK and is child abuse. It’s very painful and can seriously harm the health of women and girls. It can also cause long-term problems with sex, childbirth and mental health.
Information and help for anyone affected by FGM can be found on the following webpages:
http://forwarduk.org.uk/key-issues/fgm/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/female-genital-mutilation-fgm/
If a member of staff has reason to suspect that a young person has suffered FGM they have a statutory duty to report it to the police.
Prevent duty – radicalisation
Our Holy Redeemer curriculum promotes fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance towards those with different beliefs.
All staff are trained to protect young people from radicalisation by looking out for the signs and indicators and reporting any concerns. The government guidance for schools on preventing young people from being drawn into terrorism can be found at the following:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-children-from-radicalisation-the-prevent-duty
More information about why the prevent duty is so important in schools can be found at the following:
https://www.educare.co.uk/news/prevent-duty-why-crucial-for-schools
If you are concerned about a young person who may have been subject to and is embracing extremist opinions, please speak to someone.
If a young person makes a disclosure of abuse to a member of staff then the police and local authorities will always be contacted.
Young people are told that they can speak to any member of staff with whom they feel most comfortable and that member of staff will support them.
For information and support on domestic abuse you can call the Freephone 24hr National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. The helpline is run in partnership with Women’s Aid and Refuge.
The Women’s Aid website offers information and guidance for those people who may be suffering domestic violence or people who are worried that someone else is suffering.