Safeguarding and Child Protection

Our Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding Team

Mrs Ham

Mrs Ham

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs Wilkinson

Mrs Wilkinson

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs Frankish

Mrs Frankish

Governor Safeguarding Lead

At St Barnabas, the safeguarding of our children is the highest priority. 

Safeguarding Policies

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Safeguarding Children is Everybody's Responsibility

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

 

Are you concerned that a child is being abused or neglected?

If you are concerned about a child and you feel they are being abused, neglected or at risk of abuse/neglect, then you should consider making a safeguarding child referral.

Contact Blackburn with Darwen Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for confidential advice and consultation. Monday to Friday 08.45-17.00 please call: 

01254 666400

If you are calling outside these hours please contact our Emergency Duty Team on 01254 587547.

You can contact the Blackburn with Darwen Local Safeguarding Children Board by following this link:


 

http://www.lscb.org.uk

You can also report your concerns online:

NSPCC Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Or you can also speak to:

NSPCC 0800 800 5000

Childline 0800 1111

                          

                          

 

 

Our school is part of Operation Encompass.


Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.


Once a Key Adult (DSL) and their deputy/ies (DDSLs) have attended either an Operation Encompass briefing or completed the online Operation Encompass Key Adult training they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other school staff and Governors. All schools staff and Governors can undertake the online training.

Our DSL undertook recent Operation Encompass training on 07/02/22

Our Deputy DSL undertook recent Operation Encompass training on 10/02/22

 

 

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.


As a staff we have  discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification. We have used the Operation Encompass Handbooks to inform our thinking.

We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

 

 

Operation Encompass Documents

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Support and resources for children and parents

NSPCC - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/

 

Childline- https://www.childline.org.uk/

Kooth- https://www.kooth.com/ 

 

Young Minds- https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Bee Yourself-

Bee Yourself is an online platform designed to promote mental health and wellbeing for young people living in Blackburn with Darwen. It offers a range of resources and activities to help young people feel good and have fun while providing information and support for parents, carers, and practitioners working with young people.

https://getstuckin.org.uk/bee-yourself/

Teen Mental Health- A guide for parents-

https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/parents/teen-mental-health-a-guide-for-parents/

Menstrual cycles and mental health- A guide for parents-

https://yoppie.com/menstrual-cycles-mental-health

The Lily-Jo Project- mental health support for children advice for parents

https://www.thelilyjoproject.com/parents?utm_source=Schools&utm_campaign=137a74adb3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_02_21_03_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d5c39f142-137a74adb3-573251270

Mental health and wellbeing support

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Safeguarding guides and support for parents

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Early Help

 

Early help, also known as early intervention, is support given to a family when a problem first emerges. It can be provided at any stage in a child or young person's life.

Early help services can be delivered to parents, children or whole families, but their main focus is to improve outcomes for children. For example, services may help parents who are living in challenging circumstances provide a safe and loving environment for their child. Or, if a child is displaying risk-taking behaviour, early help practitioners might work with the child and their parents to find out the reasons for the child's behaviour and put strategies in place to help keep them safe.

Providing timely support is vital. Addressing a child or family's needs early on can reduce risk factors and increase protective factors in a child's life. 

Protective factors can reduce risk to a child's wellbeing. They include:

  • developing strong social and emotional skills

  • having a strong social support network for the family – including support

  • for good parental mental health

  • income support, benefits and advice

  • good community services and facilities

 

Early help can offer children the support needed to reach their full potential (EIF, 2021). It can improve the quality of a child’s home and family life, enable them to perform better at school and support their mental health (EIF, 2021).

Research suggests that early help can:

  • protect children from harm

  • reduce the need for a referral to child protection services

  • improve children's long-term outcomes

 

What is a Child and Family (CAF) Assessment?

The CAF Assessment is a way of working with children and young people. It involves listening to you and your child to find out your child’s needs, and what is working well in your child’s life. An action plan, agreed with you and your child, is also put in place to make sure your child gets the right sort of help. 

How will CAF Assessment help my family?

The CAF Assessment exists to help you support your child. It can lead to a quick solution or help to identify extra support if needed. The CAF assessment will ensure that everyone involved with your child – such as teachers and health visitors – works together to support your child. The CAF Assessment will help your child receive the right support at an early stage before their needs increase which can be much more difficult to help you with. 

When is The CAF Assessment used?

The CAF Assessment can be used if you or someone who works with your child would like your child to receive extra support. It will help to identify your child’s additional needs, and other workers required to support your family.

The Child & Family Assessment [CAF] is a four-step process whereby practitioners can;

•identify a child’s or young persons needs early

•assess those needs holistically

•deliver co-ordinated services

•review progress

 The CAF is designed to be used when:a practitioner is worried about how well a child or young person is progressing, e.g. concerns about their health, development, welfare, behaviour, progress in learning or any other aspect of their wellbeing

  • a child or young person, or their parent/carer, raises a concern with a practitioner

  • a child's or young person's needs are unclear, or broader than the practitioner's service can address.

  • The process is entirely voluntary and informed consent is mandatory, so families do not have to engage - if they do, they can choose what information they want to share. Children and families should not feel stigmatised by the CAF; they can ask for a CAF to be initiated.

    The CAF should be offered to children who have additional needs to those being met by universal services. Unless a child is presenting a need, it is unlikely the CAF will be offered. The practitioner assesses needs using the CAF. The CAF is not a risk assessment.

    If a child or young person reveals they are at risk, the practitioner should follow the local safeguarding process immediately.

How does it work?

With agreement a professional will ask you and your child some questions to find out what help and support your child might need. This information is recorded on a CAF simple form. You and your child will agree what is put on the form, and you will be given a copy of it.

Older children may feel able to discuss their situation on their own with the worker. A young person’s wish to keep information confidential from parents may be respected by the worker, where this is in the young person’s best interests and welfare.

Confidentiality

As a rule the information which you and your child provide will only be shared with your family’s consent. However there may be certain times when the people working with you need to share information.

For example:

• When they need to find out urgently if a child is at risk of harm;

• To help a child who is at risk of harm;

• When an adult is at risk of harm; or

• To help prevent or detect a serious crime.

Who is a co-ordinator?

If an CAF Assessment is to be completed, you will choose who you would like to be the lead practitioner. This person will keep you informed, listen to your views and support you. The lead practitioner will also co-ordinate all the services supporting your child. At St Barnabas, our lead practitioners tend to be a member of the Safeguarding Team.

For further information please see the link to the local offer:

https://www.bwd-localoffer.org.uk/kb5/blackburn/directory/advice.page;jsessionid=C63ECCD6644F37BE368C1B39FF8C2DD0?id=AH4TiHxgriI

Early Help Services

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