Safeguarding

Safeguarding

In relation to children and young people, safeguarding and promoting their welfare is defined in ‘Working together to safeguard children’ as:

• 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 to have the best outcomes

Safeguarding action may be needed to protect learners from:

• neglect
• physical, sexual or emotional abuse
• bullying, including online bullying and prejudice-based bullying
• racist, disability, homophobic or transphobic abuse
• gender-based violence, or violence against women and girls
• radicalisation or extremist behaviour
• child sexual exploitation and trafficking
• the impact of new technologies on sexual behaviour, for example ‘sexting’ and accessing pornography
• teenage relationship abuse
• substance misuse
• issues that may be specific to a local area or population, for example gang activity and youth violence
• domestic violence
• female genital mutilation
• forced marriage
• fabricated or induced illness
• poor parenting, particularly in relation to babies and young children
• any other issues that pose a risk to children, young people and vulnerable adults

At The Link School we are very clear, the welfare of our learners is paramount and we will offer early and additional help to prevent escalation.

Parents/Carers should be aware that The Link School will take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of our learners.

Where we are concerned a learner may be at risk of significant harm, ill-treatment, neglect of other forms of abuse, we have no alternative but to follow Sunderland Safeguarding Partnership’s Procedures which can be found here.

A copy of our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found here:

  Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.pdf 

 Addendum to Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy due to Corona Virus Outbreak.pdf 

 

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The following staff have responsibility for Safeguarding:

Mrs Donna Walker –Head Teacher

Mr Dave Bromby – Head of School

Mr Rob Giles – Designated Safeguarding Lead – Head of School

Ms Wendy Ellison – Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs Andrea Howey – Assistant Head Teacher KS1

Ms Vicki Mitchell – EYFS/KS1 Teacher

Ms Leanne Clark – SENDCo

Our Governor with responsibility for is Safeguarding – Mrs Viv Ingleton

If you would like to speak to someone regarding Safeguarding please call the main school switchboard on (0191) 561 5777 / (0191) 561 4777 and ask for a Designated Safeguarding Lead.

If you are a member of staff and you have concerns, please log into CPOMS (Child Protection Online Management System)

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Updates

We regularly provide updates to staff regarding specific safeguarding issues. Here’s some of the recent updates:

• Safeguarding Induction – For all staff and visitors working with children
• Child Sexual Exploitation
• Prevent Duty
• Abuse in Teenage Relationships
• E Safety Update
• Legal Highs
• Sexting
• LGBTQ
• Pokemon Go
• Snapchat

The Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) website

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Please note that the North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual has been updated:

https://www.proceduresonline.com/nesubregion/

https://www.proceduresonline.com/resources/covid19/

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Update from SSCP Website During the Covid – 19 Pandemic – Click Here 

Please find attached and below a list of resources, these (and lots more) are also available on the SSCP website above.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PZcBUI6Hxs&feature=youtu.be ‘Trusted Professionals’ animation which contains key messages multi-agency staff should be aware of when supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ – Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation protecting children and young people both online and offline
• https://parentinfo.org/ – provides support and advice around matters relating to children and young people in a digital world
• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety
• https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers – advice and resources to support you as you support a child to use the internet safely and positively
• https://reportharmfulcontent.com/?action=saveconsent&cookieconsent%5B%5D=analytics – you can report harmful content found online here
• https://www.ltai.info/staying-safe-online/ – provides support and advice on how to keep children safe from online radicalisation
• https://educateagainsthate.com/parents/ – resources and government advice on keeping young people safe from extremism, including online
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak – government advice on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• A new domestic abuse campaign from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner which all partners are being asked to support (attached) It is based on a call to action aimed at friends, family and communities.
• Brook Street – support for boys and young men – for any professionals working with young people, young people in isolation may be experiencing increased levels of anxiety and need extra support. One to one telephone sessions offer young people the opportunity to address their relationships (including online), attitudes and values, consent, protective behaviours and self-esteem, and reduce risk-taking behaviours. Attached is the updated leaflet which helps young people to decide if the programme is for them, as well as a promotional leaflet for professionals  Contact sunderlandeducation@brook.org.uk.

For further advice click the PDF links below

Sunderland Offer.PDF

They wind each other up all the time.PDF

They drink alot.PDF

Mental Health makes things hard.PDF

The children don’t go to school.PDF

Coping with a disability must be really hard.PDF

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ACT Early 

THE impact of Covid-19, social isolation and a rise in hateful extremism online is creating a ‘perfect storm’ which is making more young people vulnerable to radicalisation and other forms of grooming.

But parents, friends and families can now get specialist support to stop their loved ones being drawn into harmful activities or groups, with the launch of ACT Early – a new dedicated safeguarding website and advice line from the specialists at Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).

This new resource will provide advice, guidance and support for anyone who is concerned that someone they know may be at risk from being radicalised by terrorists or extremist content online.

If you are worried that someone you know is being radicalised, visit http://www.actearly.uk/ You won’t be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.

For help and advice visit www.actearly.uk, or call the national Police Prevent Advice Line on 0800 011 3764, in confidence, and our specially trained Prevent officers will listen carefully to your concerns.

https://actearly.uk