Safeguarding is the protecting of children from abuse or neglect, preventing of impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables all children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.’

WHO IS THE SAFEGUARDING TEAM?

James Butterworth – Safeguarding Manager and DSL

Amanda Barr – Safeguarding Team and DSL

Diane Evans - Learning Mentor and Emotional Wellbeing Officer

The Safeguarding Team are available to meet with parents or can be contacted on the usual school number.

We are always here to help!

WHAT DOES THE SAFEGUARDING TEAM DO AT WESTMORLAND?

We support families, parents and children with a wide range of needs on a daily basis. We link families with different and appropriate agencies, sometime Social Care, depending on the concern. In order to help resolve issues we will support families through Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings and invite outside agencies.

DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEADS (DSL)

School have to have a designated safeguarding lead. This person at school has attended rigorous safeguarding training and will make decisions about referring to other relevant services. Our school has several Designated Safeguarding Leads, these are;

M Henderson

K George

J Butterworth

A Barr

WHY MIGHT SCHOOL REFER TO SOCIAL CARE?

School, alongside other agencies and you as parent, have a duty of care to safeguard our children. It is all our joint responsibility to safeguard which means that we may have to contact Social Care, either for advice or to share a concern. Reasons for contacting social care may vary but it does not mean that children will be automatically removed.

DOES SCHOOL OR ANOTHER AGENCY ALWAYS TELL A PARENT OF A REFERRAL TO SOCIAL CARE?

NO – In order to keep children safe sometimes we have to leave it to the experts.

This type of ‘high level’ concern is very rare and in most cases school will speak with parents before referring to another agency.

CAN ANYONE REFER TO SOCIAL CARE?

YES! Anyone who is worried about a child’s welfare has responsibility to report their welfare concerns.

To pass on a concern to Social Care call 0161 217 6028, where you can speak directly to an advisor.

You can also report any concerns anonymously through the NSPCC website

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report/report-abuse-online/

ENCOMPASS

School is part of Operation Encompass, meaning we will receive a notification if children are exposed to domestic abuse in order to support both children and parents.

Parents/Carers can also access parenting drop-in support through schools link School Aged Plus (SA+) workers. Our link workers are Laurie Carefoot and Karen Stansfield. They can provide parents with tips and strategies on challenging behaviour, routines and boundaries.

Parents/Carers can also access drop-in sessions with the school nurse, Carole Taylor. She can support with any worries about your child’s wellbeing or general health, sleep routines, diet and physical activity levels or bladder and bowel issues.