SAFEGUARDING & WELLBEING
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 September 2023.
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.
To achieve these aims we will:
► Identify and train designated child protection staff,
► Elect a member of the Local Governing Body to have specific responsibility for child protection and safeguarding issues,
► Have an up to date knowledge of child protection issues,
► Attend child protection training and be aware of the academy, local authority and SSCB procedures,
► Have regular consultation with external agencies.
If you would like to raise a concern about the safety and/or wellbeing of a pupil please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Graham or our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads on 0191 917 2300.
STAYING SAFE: FINDING THE SUPPORT YOU NEED
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 the UK’s go-to 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.
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE:
Modern technology is an intrinsic part of everyday life. Our students 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 students 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 students, 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