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Monkwearmouth Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our policy on child protection follows the Government guidance laid out in the document ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ DfE.
We will provide and maintain a safe learning environment for our pupils, identify where there are child welfare concerns and take appropriate action to address them in partnership with other agencies. The protection of our pupils is the responsibility of all staff within the academy, and is paramount in all areas of their education. The local authority and the Sunderland Safeguarding Children Board Procedures (SSCB) have clearly defined guidelines that are followed by the Academy.
Aims of the Academy:
► To recognise signs and symptoms of harm and abuse at the earliest possible moment.
► To respond to concerns through the appropriate agencies with due speed and consideration.
► To protect our children and staff.
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.
To achieve these aims we will:
► 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.
If you would like to raise a concern about the safety and/or wellbeing of a pupil please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead Mr Buddle or our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads on 0191 917 2300.
MENTAL HEALTH
We are working closely with SSCP (Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership) to make sure parents can access the support they need when dealing with mental health.
The Hub of Hope is a leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.
To date, the Hub of Hope has directed hundreds of thousands of people to life-changing and even life-saving support and it is now Britain's favourite mental health support signposting tool, with thousands of local, regional and national support groups and services listed.
A guide by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families containing advice for parents regarding mental health and wellbeing.
Click HERE to view as a pdf.
Mind Washington's mission is to work in partnership with our community to promote recovery and improve mental health and wellbeing.
Sunderland Safeguarding Board's guide to SSCB thresholds: assisting practitioners in all agencies working with children in the decision making about which agency should be involved in helping families who have different levels of need.
Click HERE to view as a pdf.
Use the police to seek for advice regarding an issue which is concerning about the young people.
Telephone: Non-emergency 101 or Emergency: 999
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 Sunderland General Hospital.
Telephone: 111
Statutory guidance - working together to safeguard children: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE
Modern technology is an intrinsic part of everyday life. Our pupils use ICT extensively both in the Academy and outside of it. Along with the opportunities that modern technology offers, it also brings with it risks that all pupils need to be aware of and able to manage. At Monkwearmouth Academy we take online security very seriously with a rolling programme of activities to advise and support pupils, parents and staff. For more details of our e-Safety protocols and procedures, please visit the E-SAFETY page of our website.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
CEOP’s ThinkUKnow programme – endeavouring to empower and protect young people from the harm of sexual abuse and exploitation (especially online) through education – has launched two new websites offering information and advice directly to young people.
Click HERE to be directed to the website.
YOUNG CARERS
A young carer is someone aged 2 to 25 years old who lives in a household with someone who has a long term illness, mental health illness, disability or addiction that impacts on that young person. They may also give medicines and tablets to the person they look after or help them to wash or get dressed.
Some may help their brothers or sisters to get dressed and take them to school. A young carer may spend time doing things like cooking, cleaning and shopping. Some young carers may not do any of these things but they may worry about the person with the illness or disability. Because of doing these things young carers can sometimes feel tired and not always able to concentrate on their school work or homework, or they can be worried or feel stressed.
It is important for young carers to be recognised so that they can get the correct support to help them to achieve and have positive childhoods.
For more information and support please see the Sunderland Young Carers website
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