At St. Joseph's, our first priority is the safety and welfare of our pupils. The school has a culture of safeguarding - it is everyone's responsibility and everyone's priority.

We have clear systems and processes in school to ensure all members of our school community understand their duties and responsibilities in safeguarding children. Our staff are committed to ensuring our children are safe, happy and nurtured at all times.

Staff receive regular training around appropriate professional behaviour and conduct in relation to working with children, and are required to report all concerns (no matter how small) about the conduct of other adults working with children in school. 

We seek to continually refine our practices in relation to safeguarding and remain alert to the latest guidance and advice. Staff members attend regular training and we arrange external safeguarding audits regularly to provide an independent review of all aspects of our work in this area.

Sometimes we need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concern's about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our children are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that this would be contrary to their welfare. 

Concerns about the safety and welfare of children:

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child, please act without delay. You can contact our Designated Safeguarding Leads or the Local Authority (details below).

Concerns about the conduct of adults:

If you have concerns about the conduct of any adult working with children in school (no matter how small), please contact the headteacher immediately or contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) - details below. If your concern relates to the conduct of the headteacher, please contact the Chair of Governors or the LADO.

Contact information:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs Katie Cunliffe)

01254 830400

Head@st-josephs-withnell.lancs.sch.uk

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (Mrs Amy Wilkinson)

01254830400

Head@st-josephs-withnell.lancs.sch.uk

Lancashire County Council Children's Social Care

0300 123 6720 (8am - 5pm)

0300 123 6722 (5pm - 8am)

OPERATION ENCOMPASS 

Every school in the LEA receives Police Operation Encompass Notifications as soon as there is an incident in a  domestic setting. School is alerted so that staff can make sure that every opportunity to support the child after what might have been a very frightening experience for them is used. The more information we have, the more we can help the child through the school day.