Safer Schools – Safeguarding Alert
Smart School Boy 9
Our online safeguarding team has received reports about someone who may be acting inappropriately online. This individual is potentially masquerading to be a child on social media in order to interact with children.
We have released a Safeguarding Alert our Safer Schools network to professionals, parents and carers providing further advice and information on what this is, the impact and risks and practical tips on protecting children and young people.
Everyone who works with children and young people has a responsibility for safeguarding and acting to ensure that they receive the right support at the right time.
Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:
Protecting children from maltreatment.
Preventing impairment of children’s health or development.
Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome.
(Working Together to Safeguard Children, HM Government, 2015)
Bruntcliffe Academy takes its role in safeguarding extremely seriously and our staff will do everything they can to protect students and children from harm. We acknowledge that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and all of our staff are trained to be vigilant and aware of the signs and indicators of abuse. The viewpoints and voice of students is of paramount importance to our academy and we will always listen to their wishes, thoughts and feelings, as well as identifying and supporting their needs. We will work alongside students to develop trusting, consistent and professional relationships. We advocate early help processes and, where possible, we will identify any difficulties or concerns early in order to act preventatively. We will always provide support and advice for families and parents/carers, whilst acting in the best interests of the student at all times. Safeguarding also includes ensuring we follow safe working practices and provide a secure learning environment for our students and staff.
Bruntcliffe Academy safeguards students by:
Maintaining a secure site and ensuring that all visitors to the Academy are recorded and monitored.
Ensuring that safer recruitment practices are followed to prevent those who pose a risk to children gaining access to our students.
Ensuring that all students understand the importance of e-safety both at the Academy and at home.
Filtering and monitoring all internet traffic into the Academy to ensure that students cannot be exposed to harmful material and communication.
Ensuring that all staff employed by the Academy have received Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance which is recorded in the Single Central Record.
Providing regular training and briefings for all staff in child protection and ensuring that all staff and visitors know who our designated child protection officers and designated senior lead are.
Ensuring that admission and attendance procedures are robust to protect students, ensure that they are safe and prevent students from going missing from education.
Empowering young people to identify risks both within the Academy and in their community; ensuring that they have the skills and confidence to protect themselves and others.
Making sure that all students understand the importance of disclosing concerns about themselves and peers, and giving them the confidence to discuss sensitive issues.
Providing pastoral and inclusion support to ensure that all students have access to guidance and advice, and when needed referrals for additional agency support to meet their needs.
Sharing information with other agencies and services to ensure that students, children and their families have support to meet their needs and prevent children and students from harm.
Taking immediate action and contacting the appropriate agencies when we believe that a student or child is in danger or is at risk of harm.
Keeping your child safe at Clubs and Sporting Events
In addition to the many extra-curricular clubs and activities that you child may take part in at the Academy, they may attend various clubs beyond the school gates. If this is the case, West Yorkshire Sport has published a guide for parents and carers which includes a safe activity checklist. Please take time to read this guide as it will help to keep your child safe.
Where you can get support
| Agency | Contact details | Information provided |
|---|---|---|
The Market Place |
Website: www.themarketplaceleeds.org.uk Telephone: 0113 2461659 due to the COVID-19 pandemic they have developed a telephone support service running between 12-6pm, 7 days a week for ages 11-25 years old. The support sessions offered up to 30 minutes. |
The Market Place offer support for young people aged between 11 to 25 years old. A drop in can be arranged, for support with mental well- being or help with dealing with anxiety and young people who are self-harming (An appointment can be reserved prior to attending). |
Childline –provided by NSPCC |
Website: www.childline.org.uk Telephone: 0800 1111 Ask Sam – through a message board facility Text ‘Shout’ for support on 85258. Contact Childline with SignVideo for children with hearing disabilities. Sign Video lets you contact through a BSL interpreter anytime from Mon-Friday, 9am -8pm. Saturdays, 9am-1pm |
To access a counsellor, they are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about. Or you can have a 1-2- counselling chat online. You can discuss anything you like from a disclosure of pregnancy, being a victim of bullying, feeling low and struggling with sleep patterns; to mental health issues, or general low mood. |
Kooth |
Website: www.kooth.com Visit kooth.com and sign up for the text based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12 noon to 10pm on a weekday and 6pm to 10pm at weekends. |
Kooth is a service which provides support with well-being and resilience. Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to 11-18 year olds who are going through a hard time. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and well-being support. This is designed specifically for young people. |
Samaritans |
Web: www.samaritans.org Email: [email protected] Telephone: 116123 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
Encourages children and adults to talk about their own mental health needs and provides top tips for managing mental health during crisis. |
Young Minds |
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk Text ‘YM’ to: 85258 Parent Helpline:0808-802-5544 |
Text YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. It also provides support and guidance for parents/carers to help support their children with managing their mental health. |
NHS |
Web: www.nhs.uk Go to: 111.nhs.uk Call 111 Accident and emergency at Leeds General Infirmary |
The NHS website offers a range of supportive material and resources from medical professionals. This includes audio narrations, for example, on managing stress, sleep patterns, coping strategies for managing anxiety. Advice can also be sought in terms of any medical issues which arise. If a young person is at crisis point please take straight to Accident and Emergency at Leeds General Infirmary. |
| Cruse
|
Website: www.cruse.org.uk Telephone: 08088081677 |
This is a service which offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. They provide tips to help yourself, or as a parent; how you can support your child. There are video links which explain the grieving process so children/ adults understand each stage of grief. |
Child Bereavement UK |
Website: www.childbereavementuk.org Helpline: 0800 02 888 40 Email: [email protected] Live chat is available via the website |
Child Bereavement UK work to provide support to families of children who have lost a loved one. |
Domestic Violence |
Website: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk 24- hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 08082000247 |
The National Domestic and Abuse Helpline is for women and children who are exposed to domestic violence. This allows you the option to seek help, support and advice. In an emergency, please call 999. |
Leeds Domestic Violence Service |
Website: www.ldvs.uk 24- hour helpline: 0113 2460401 Email: [email protected] |
The Leeds Domestic Violence Service provide women and men with choices from a range of community based services, including temporary supported housing, IDVA(independent domestic violence advocate)support, community outreach support, a telephone helpline, drop-ins and support groups. |
| Duty and Advice | Website: www.leedsscp.org.uk Telephone: 0113 3760336 |
For help and advice regarding the safeguarding of children. |
| Police
|
Website: www.westyorkshire.police In a non-emergency:101 In an emergency:999 |
Use the police to seek for advice regarding an issue which is concerning about the young people. |
Place2Be |
Website: www.place2be.org.uk Email: [email protected] Text ‘Shout’ for support on 85258. |
Well-being activities and ideas for families to complete. Counselling services. Place2Be works in partnership with Shout a 24/7 text messaging service to support anyone in crisis, anytime, anywhere. |
Stop Abuse Together |
Website: stopabusetogether.campaign.gov.uk Email: [email protected] Phone: 0808 800 5000 |
Child sexual abuse is a reality for thousands of children across our country, with at least one in ten estimated to experience sexual abuse before they turn 16. We can all play a part in protecting children and getting them the right help. That’s why it’s important to know how to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support. This website brings together advice and resources to help keep children safe.
|
| Online Safety | Contact details | Information it provides |
|---|---|---|
| NSPCC
|
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact our professional counsellors for help, advice and support. Telephone: 08088005000 Email: [email protected] Under 18 contact number: 08001111 |
This provides a useful resources for parents /carers on social networks, apps. This site also supports with online safety |
Thinkuknow |
Website: www.THINKUKNOW.co.uk | This is an educational programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline for different age groups and supports parents. |
Childnet |
Website: www.childnet.com | Childnet has produced a Parent and Carer Toolkit which is a collection of three resources designed to help you talk to your child about their online life, manage boundaries around family internet use and point you in the direction of where to get further help and support. |
| Prevent team | Website: www.leeds.gov.uk/prevent Email:[email protected] Phone number : 0113 5350810. |
If parents feel that their child has been exposed or have any concerns about radicalisation, parents can also come direct to the Prevent team |
| The UK Safer Internet Centre
|
Website: www.saferinternet.org.uk |
Parents and carers can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online. |
| Teen Connect
|
Phone Number: 08088001212 Text service: 07984355251 Website https://www.lslcs.org.uk/services/connect-helpline/teen-connect/ |
Immediate support helpline for children aged between 11-18 years old. This service provides children with emotional support offering the opportunity to have a one hour phone call each night with a specially trained member of staff. |
Shout |
Text 85258 Website https://www.giveusashout.org/ |
Text service for anyone in crisis. They can speak to someone through a text message and get fast responses. This is a great service to use instead of having to speak top someone over the phone. |
MindMate |
Website https://www.mindmate.org.uk/ | MindMate is for young people to provide a central place for information about common mental health issues and finding support. |
With the increased use of the internet in schools and in the home, it is essential that our students are encouraged to use it to help their learning but keep safe from the risks online. We aim to build in the use of these technologies to ensure students have the necessary skills to access life-long learning and employment.
