'Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of child is everyone's responsibility.  Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play.  In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively our approach is child-centred.  This means that we consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.'

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.

PREVENT

As part of St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School's on-going safeguarding and child protection duties, we are fully behind the government's Prevent Strategy.

From 1 July 2015, all schools are subject to a duty under Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism". The duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools.

At St. Joseph's, we build pupils' resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling our pupils to challenge extremist views. You can find out more about our work on British Values under the Curriculum section of our website.

The statutory guidance refers to the importance of Prevent awareness training to equip staff to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas. The Home Office has developed a core training product for this purpose and all our staff have successfully completed the online training course called Channel on what Prevent is about and how to deal with any issues they may see inside or outside school. Our governors are also informed of any updates or developments annually.

Our Parent Prevent leaflet is here.

Safeguarding induction for volunteers at St. Joseph's

We are delighted that you are considering volunteering and giving your precious time here at St. Joseph's. We really value the contributions of all our visitors and volunteers, and the difference that they make.

As part of our Safeguarding Induction, you will find on this page links to documents and policies, slides and a short video.

Please view the resources and links within that, and view the video as it contains the most pertinent overview of safeguarding arrangements and procedures in our school, that everyone - no matter their role - is expected to follow. 

Once you have viewed all of this, and are happy with its messages:

• please complete the 'Agreement to abide by St. Joseph's Safeguarding protocols' form by completing the yellow highlighted parts, sign and date it either digitally or in printed form.
• Please return this to the DSL Mrs Katie Cunliffe  (head@st-josephs-withnell.lancs.sch.uk) and Mrs Wilkinson (amy@st-josephs-withnell.lancs.sch.uk)

 If you have any questions regarding our policy and protocols, please do get in touch with Mrs Cunliffe/ Mrs Wilkinson  on the email address above.

If you do not have a current DBS you will need one, which Mrs Wilsdon can organise if so. Her email address is bursar@st-josephs-withnell.lancs.sch.uk

We very much look forward to receiving your completed Agreement form, and welcoming you into school.

Best wishes form the Safeguarding Team.