Keeping Children and Families Safe

At The Epiphany School we are committed to keeping all our children and family members safe. The school makes every effort to help, support and signpost services available to children and parents. In order to do this successfully the school collaborates with, and receives advice from a number of agencies. At times this may mean that sensitive information needs to be shared. When this is necessary we always adhere to statutory regulations regarding confidentiality and data protection. Below are some useful links.

Safeguarding

The school's Safeguarding Officer and first point of contact if you have any safeguarding concerns is Miss Webster. If she is unavailable, then please speak to Mr. Simpson. Both can be contacted through the school office via e-mail or telephone as follows: office@epiphany.bournemouth.sch.uk or 01202 530960. Miss Webster and Mr. Simpson are also the Prevent (anti terrorism) Lead and Deputy.

One of the safeguarding roles that the Epiphany School signs up to is MARAC which is explained below. This is part of our safeguarding duties where the police inform the school of any incidents that they have been called to at home of a child attending our school. The only details given to the school are the date, time and location of the incident. The school are then requested to closely monitor the child and let social care know if we have any worries or concerns.

MARAC

A MARAC is a Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference. The school receives information from the police to alert the Designated Safeguarding Lead in the school when there has been an incident of domestic abuse in a household where a pupil lives. We (the school) are not informed of the detail of the incident, only that one has occurred. This allows the school to monitor and support the pupil. If we have additional concerns, we will discuss the need for other safeguard actions with Social Care. This information would only be shared with other staff on a restricted ‘need to know’ basis, i.e. those who are immediately responsible for the pupil’s welfare such as the class teacher. Where a MARAC occurs, the school may be asked for information and appropriate school related information may be shared with the school after the meeting. The school website will provide contacts to local domestic abuse services, e.g.

National DV helpline : 0808 2000247
Poole DA Outreach : 01202 710777
Bournemouth DV Outreach : 01202 547755

Additional support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse;

http://www.poolefamilyinformationdirectory.com/kb5/poole/fis/home.page

http://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/safe-schools-and-communities-team

Dorset LSCB Parent Newsletter

http://www.dorsetlscb.co.uk/site/advice-for-parents-and-carers/

NSPCC Parent Helpline

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/services-and-resources/nspcc-helpline/

Online Safety Guidance for Parents

Here are some useful websites that provide up to date information and practical advice on how to keep children safe online.

Online Safety Guides for Parents

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/How-to-guides/

Vodafone - Digital parenting

http:www.vodafone.com/content/digital-parenting.html

CEOP Advice on Online Abuse

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/