From Monday 29th April 2019, our school will be participating in Operation Encompass. This is a nationwide initiative, thoroughly researched and devolved by the Home Office.
From Information available in April 2018, Operation Encompass was already in place in 33 out of 43 police forces in England and Wales and has been recognised and supported as best practice by the education bodies of both police and education.
Each school will be informed of all Domestic Abuse incidents, not just those where an offence can be identified or those which are graded as high risk. The partnership recognises that all incidents of Domestic Abuse can be harmful to children and young people.
A nominated member of staff known as a Key Adult, has been trained to liaise with the police. At St. Joseph Catholic Primary School the Key Adults are Mrs C Monaghan, Mrs A Ollerton and Miss H Cooper. They will be able to use information that has been shared with them, in confidence, to ensure that the school makes provision for possible difficulties experienced by the children or their families.
The Key Adult will keep this information confidential, and will only share it on a need to know basis, for instance, to teaching staff for the child or young person. It will not be shared with other school students.