Child Protection and Safeguarding

Pathfield School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils. We are fully committed to ensure that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support our pupils, their families and staff at school.

Keeping Children Safe in Education – 2022-2023

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Promoting safeguarding and child protection is fundamental at Pathfield School. Our Designated Safeguarding Leads ensure that all staff are kept up-to-date with safeguarding training and that they undertake risk assessments and explore and review strategies for keeping everyone safe.

 

Who are Pathfield School’s Designated Safeguarding Leads?

 

Adam James  Designated Safeguarding Lead	Stuart Allman Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead	Anthony May Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead		Vicki Russell Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead Safeguarding Link Governor	Penny Bacon Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead	Karen Goodwill Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead	Pauline Bithell Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead	Nathan Gosling Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead

All our staff will:

Report: Safeguarding concerns, including social and emotional aspects, health and safety, security issues, bullying, racism and discrimination concerns.

Keep the pupils and themselves safe by: following agreed policies such as the Positive Behaviour and Relational Support Policy, Intimate Care Policy, Health and Safety and Wellbeing Policy, Outdoor Education Visits and Off-Site Activities Policy and the Online Safety Policy.

Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team: to support our pupils’ physical and mental health, and social care needs.

 

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Safer Recruitment

When recruiting, we follow the Devon County Council maintained schools Recruitment and Selection Policy which endorses and supports the mandatory guidance in Part 3 of Keeping Children Safe in Education – Safer Recruitment.

We ensure ALL our staff undertake regular Child Protection and Safeguarding Training and that they are fully aware of who the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leads are and how they go about raising any child protection and safeguarding concerns.

All school-based staff undertake enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) checks specifically linked to their eligibility to work in a structured, supervised and monitored day school setting. These DBS checks DO NOT cover any work undertaken outside of school. Parents/Carers must independently check that enablers have appropriate insurance and risk assessments in place.

 

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Report a child safety concern

If you are worried about the safety of a child in Devon and want to speak to someone, or if you are a child worried about your own safety, please contact our Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0345 155 1071 or email mashsecure@devon.gov.uk and give as much information as you can.

If a child is at immediate risk contact the police on 999.

 

Useful documents and resources in relation to Safeguarding:

How to Report Child Abuse Without Any Worries | NSPCC

What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused

Working Together to Safeguard Children

The Devon Children and Families Partnership (DCFP)

Devon Education and Families – Making a MASH contact

 

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Operation Encompass

Pathfield School is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead /Officer (known as Key Adult) prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved.

Information is shared with a school’s Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead or Officer) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

For more information, please visit: Operation Encompass