Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Our priority at Manchester Secondary PRU is to ensure that our school remains a safe place for children, staff and visitors. All staff and visitors have a duty of care towards the welfare and safety of the children and adults in the school, this is called Safeguarding. Safeguarding means:
- Children are protected from harm
- Children are quickly identified if they are at risk of harm
- Action is taken to ensure the best outcomes for all children
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Manchester Secondary PRU is Assistant Headteacher, K. Barratt k.barratt@mspru.manchester.sch.uk
There is a trained safeguarding lead at each centre, they are supported by the work of our Pastoral Support Officers who have also completed Designated Safeguarding Lead training.
Five senior staff have completed Safer Recruitment training and at least one member of staff on an interview panel will have completed Safer Recruitment training within the last 3 years.
Reporting a concern
Where staff have a concern about a child, they should continue to follow the process outlined in the school Safeguarding Policy. Staff are reminded of the need to report any concern immediately and without delay.
If parents are worried about their child being at risk of harm, they should contact the centre manager in the first instance. Each centre has a Pastoral Support Officer who has been trained to the level of a DSL, they are supported in their role by the MSPRU DSL, Assistant Headteacher K.Barratt.
During holiday or out of hours, if you have any worries about a child's safety or welfare, in the first instance speak to a Contact Officer at the Manchester Contact Centre on 0161 234 5001. The Contact Officer will then notify the First Response Team of your concerns.
In addition, you can call the NSPCC Child Protection helpline on 0808 800 5000 to discuss your concerns, or ask for advice by email.
The NSPCC also provide a helpline services for children themselves who are looking for someone to talk to (Childline 0800 1111).
Finally, if you think a child is at risk of immediate harm, please contact the police by calling 999.
Operation Encompass
We are an Operation Encompass school. This means that if police are called out to a domestic abuse incident, the school will be notified so that they can care for your child’s needs the following day. Operation Encompass has been 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. This information will be shared on school days during the school term. When incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police will contact the relevant school the following Monday.
A nominated member of school staff, known as a Key Adult, will be trained to liaise with the police. At MSPRU our Key Adults are V.O’Farrell- Deputy Head and K.Barratt- Safeguarding Lead. They will be able to use information that has been shared with them, in confidence, to ensure that the school is able to support children and their families. Information will be shared where it is identified that a child or young person was present, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident.
We always endeavour to offer the best support possible to our pupils and believe that Operation Encompass is going to be beneficial and supportive for all concerned.
If you would like more information about this initiative, you can contact our Key Adult at school on our office number 0161 696 7955
Help & Support Manchester
Details of services, opportunities, advice and guidance to help you and your family improve your lives can be found on the MCC website hsm.manchester.gov.uk
Crimestoppers is an independent charity that works with police forces throughout the UK that people can use to pass on information about a crime anonymously:
- call 0800 555 111 (24 hours a day and 7 days a week) ·
- anonymous online reporting form
- you don’t have to give them your name or any personal information; calls are not recorded and cannot be traced.
Call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 (free 24 hour service) or email them at help@nspcc.org.uk or visit their website www.nspcc.org.uk if you have concerns or are worried about a child or young person.
Responding to abuse – the NSPCC has updated its information on recognising and responding to child abuse; their website includes updated information on: responding to disclosures; information sharing; and consent – visit learning.nspcc.org.uk for more information.
Call Childline on 0800 1111 (free 24 hour service) or visit their website at www.childline.org.uk if you are under 19 and are experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety; or if you are lonely or down and need someone to talk to.
Our School Visitor Gude to Child Protection and Safeguarding is provided in the attached files.