Safeguarding

Safeguarding at Sacred Heart School

We all have a statutory duty to “safeguard and promote the welfare of children”.

If you have any concerns about the health and safety of a child at this school or feel that something may be troubling them, you should share this information with an appropriate member of staff straight away.

Some issues e.g. a child’s appearance, hygiene, general behaviour, can be shared with any teacher or member of support staff in this setting. Do not worry that you may be reporting small matters – we would rather that you tell us things which turn out to be small than miss a worrying situation.

However, if you think the matter is very serious and may be related to a child protection concern, where the child has been harmed or is at risk of harm e.g. physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect, you must talk to one of the people below immediately. If you are unable to contact them you can ask the school office staff to find them and ask them to speak to you straight away about a confidential and urgent matter.

Our school policy is an overarching safeguarding policy, beneath which sits all the policies/procedures from Safeguarding Sheffield Children. These policies and procedures can be found at:
https://www.safeguardingsheffieldchildren.org/sscb/education/policies-procedures

The people you should talk to at this setting are:

The Safeguarding Children Team at Sacred Heart School includes:

Head Teacher/Learning Mentor/Deputy Head/Senior Leader

Responsible for implementing policies and procedures, allocating resources to the safeguarding team and addressing staff safeguarding concerns.

• Names: Mrs C Kelly, Mr S Moran, Mrs C Jessop, Ms K Clarke
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

A member of the leadership team (in a post which requires assessment of children) with appropriate authority, responsible for dealing with safeguarding issues, providing advice and support to other staff, liaising with the local authority, and working with other agencies. Cannot be an administrative or finance worker.

• Name: Mrs C Kelly
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Designated Safeguarding Deputies (DSD):

A member of the teaching, support or pastoral staff, (in a post which requires assessment of children), with sufficient status and authority to effectively deputise for the DSL role above. Cannot be an administrative or finance worker.

• Name: Mr S Moran, Mrs C Jessop and Ms K Clarke
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Lead:

Responsible for ensuring that staff understand CSE indicators and how to refer; and that children/young people are taught about CSE and related topics, plus how to protect themselves and others.

• Name: Mrs C Kelly
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo):

Staff member who provides advice, liaison and support for school staff and other agencies working with pupils with special education needs and their mothers, fathers or carers.

• Name: Mrs C Cantrell
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Learning Mentor (or equivalent):

Addresses difficulties preventing a child/young person from reaching their full potential e.g. behaviour, attendance, achievement, timekeeping, homework, safeguarding issues, and develops strategies to overcome these barriers.

• Name: Mr S Moran
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Looked After Children (LAC) Designated Teacher:

Promotes the educational achievement of ‘looked after’ children/young people who are on the school roll, helping staff understand issues that affect how they learn and achieve. Ensures appropriate staff have the information they need to effectively support ‘looked after’ children/young people.

• Name: Mrs C Kelly
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Online-Safety Coordinator:

Develops and maintains a safe online culture within a setting.

• Name: Mrs C Mills
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Education Welfare Officers (or equivalent):

Address difficulties preventing pupils from attending school.

• Name: Mr S Moran
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Your Safeguarding Children Team also links in with the:

Safeguarding/Child Protection Governor:

Together with the rest of the governing body, ensures there are appropriate safeguarding children policies and procedures in place, monitors that they are being implemented and followed, and challenges/remedies deficiencies and weaknesses that are identified.

• Name: Mr Lee Higgins
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Chair of Governors/Management Committee:

Takes the lead in dealing with allegations of abuse made against the Head Teacher/Principal/Senior Manager (and other members of staff when the Head Teacher is not available), in liaison with the Local Authority; and on safe recruitment practices with the Head Teacher/Principal/Senior Manager.

• Name: Mr Lee Higgins
• Tel no: 0114 234 4362

Sacred Heart School recognises that safeguarding encompasses the duties of child protection and promoting the rights and welfare of children.
As such:

• It is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard children
• Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play
• Everyone working with children should make sure the approach is child centred and at all times should consider what is in the best interests of the child

And we believe:

• Schools can contribute to the prevention of abuse.
• All children have the right to be protected from harm.
• Children need support which matches their individual needs, including those who may have experienced abuse.
• Children need to be safe and feel safe in school.

Specifically, these responsibilities apply to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school, to contractors, supply staff and visitors during any interactions they may have with children.