Child Protection and Safeguarding are the responsibilities of all permanent members of staff, temporary staff, supply or peripatetic staff, volunteers and anyone else coming into contact with children through the school.
The Safeguarding Team
| Safeguarding | Name | Job Title |
| Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) | Mrs K Boddice | Assistant Headteacher Student Welfare and Personal Development |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) | Miss L Bywater | Health and Wellbeing Manager |
| Safeguarding Team Member | Mrs Z Surgey | Assistant SENCO and Safeguarding Officer |
| Safeguarding Team Member | Mrs N Smith | Attendance Officer and Safeguarding Officer |
| Safeguarding Team Member | Rachel Rose | Lay Chaplain |
| Safeguarding Team Member | Mrs M Taddeo | Family Support Worker and Safeguarding Officer |
| Safeguarding Governor | Mrs C Gabriel | Chair of Governors |
Safeguarding Board
The school’s Safeguarding Board (the DSL and all DDSLs) meets weekly to review procedures, review current cases and identify any children at risk and to decide on the action required to keep children safe in school. The Safeguarding Board also reviews recent cases and how they were handled in an attempt to ensure that the most effective practices are adhered to.
Our policies and procedures relating to Child Protection and Safeguarding can be found in the policies section of this website.
Safeguarding and Child Protection considerations underpin everything that is done in the name of Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy. Our actions and protocols are set within the context of the School’s Mission Statement and as such staff will maintain the caring ethos of the school and uphold Gospel values.
Our protocols, which are reviewed and approved by the Governing Body annually as part of our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, apply to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school. Our protocols have six strands:
- Raising awareness of child protection issues with staff and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe
- Ensuring we practice safer recruitment by checking the suitability of prospective staff and volunteers to work with children
- Training and supporting our staff to equip them to appropriately recognise, respond to and support children who are vulnerable and may be in need of safeguarding
- Implement and review regularly, in the light of experience, our procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse
- Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan
- Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop
Operation Encompass
Our school takes part in Operation Encompass, a nationally recognised safeguarding partnership between schools and the police. This initiative ensures that when the police attend a domestic abuse incident where a child is present or lives at the address, the school is informed before the start of the next school day. This information is shared securely with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) so that we can provide immediate, sensitive support to the child.
We understand that children who experience or witness domestic abuse may feel anxious, upset or unsettled when they come to school. Operation Encompass enables us to respond quickly and appropriately, for example by offering a quiet space, additional emotional support, or simply being aware of the child’s needs on that day. To ensure the safety of everyone involved, the school will not routinely approach parents or carers about an Operation Encompass notification, as this could place individuals at further risk or escalate a situation.
In the same way, we do not routinely speak directly to pupils about an Operation Encompass notification. This is because children may not be ready to talk, may not fully understand what has happened, or could feel distressed or unsafe if questioned. Instead, staff remain vigilant and supportive, creating opportunities for the child to talk if they choose to do so. If a child does make a disclosure, this will always be handled sensitively and in line with our safeguarding procedures. All information is treated in strict confidence and only shared with staff on a need-to-know basis. Our priority is always to ensure that every child feels safe, supported and ready to learn.
Support for Students is available within school including:
- Tutors/Teachers/Support Staff who all receive annual safeguarding and child protection training
- Year Leaders as part of their monitoring role
- The Oasis Team where peer support is available
- Our Lay Chaplain who sees students by appointment and from referral
- Senior students who receive training on how to identify students who may be vulnerable
Outside Agencies:
- Derbyshire Police – A PCSO visits school approximately every 6 weeks to liaise and talk to the students and staff. They can be contacted by phoning 0345 123 33334
Other Agencies which offer students support outside of school are as follows:
Childline: 0800 1111
Faith in Families: 0115 9558811
Safe Speak: 01332 349301
Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board: http://www.derbyshirescb.org.uk/
Get Safe Online: https://www.getsafeonline.org/
If you are a student and want to report Child on Child abuse, click on the Report It image below and complete the form
CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind. This can be something that has taken place either online or in ‘the real world’, or both. The CEOP Safety Centre has clear information and advice on what can be reported to CEOP, the reporting process and what will happen if you do decide to make a report. You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre and make a report directly to CEOP by clicking the Click CEOP button.
If you are a student who wants to contact the safeguarding team, email us, using the button below
