Safeguarding

Nothing is more important than children’s welfare. Children who need help and protection deserve high quality and effective support as soon as a need is identified. We want a system that responds to the needs and interests of children and families and not the other way around. ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ December 2023

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

Protecting children from maltreatment
Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

The safeguarding of children attending the East SILC is given the highest priority. We have Designated Safeguarding staff in all Partnerships plus a Safeguarding Team in place on the 3 main sites.

All staff are given individual and whole school training and regularly updated on emerging trends. All staff working with children are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned (as directed in Keeping Children Safe in Education, Sept 2024).

East SILC use the Child Protection Online Management System (CPOMS) to effectively track, monitor, store and analyse Safeguarding, Wellbeing and Pastoral issues. This helps us to deliver our aim of providing a safe, happy environment which supports the learning of every pupil.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Esme Winston.

Safeguarding Bridge

Policies

Useful Support / Information and Advice for Parents and Carers

Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership: https://www.leedsscp.org.uk/Home
Leeds Prevent Duty Advice for Parents and Carers https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ob-fOz4X1wE8vgzHfkKhJFQDKeJ_mK2m/view
Child Line https://www.childline.org.uk/
NSPCC https://www.nspcc.org.uk
MindMate https://www.mindmate.org.uk/
Young Minds https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Leeds SAFE ZONE https://www.lslcs.org.uk/services/safe-zone/
Supporting young people who self-harm or feel suicidal https://www.mindmate.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SH-Guide_HiRes_Digital.pdf

Other Useful Contacts

Agency	Contact details	Information provided
The Market Place	Website: www.themarketplaceleeds.org.uk Telephone: 0113 2461659 due to the COVID-19 pandemic they have developed a telephone support service running between 12-6pm, 7 days a week for ages 11-25 years old. The support sessions offered up to 30 minutes.	The Market Place offer support for young people aged between 11 to 25 years old. A drop in can be arranged, for support with mental well- being or help with dealing with anxiety and young people who are self-harming (An appointment can be reserved prior to attending).
Childline –provided by NSPCC	Website: www.childline.org.uk Telephone: 0800 1111 Ask Sam – through a message board facility Text ‘Shout’ for support on 85258. Contact Childline with SignVideo for children with hearing disabilities. Sign Video lets you contact through a BSL interpreter anytime from Mon-Friday, 9am -8pm. Saturdays, 9am-1pm	To access a counsellor, they are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about. Or you can have a 1-2- counselling chat online. You can discuss anything you like from a disclosure of pregnancy, being a victim of bullying, feeling low and struggling with sleep patterns; to mental health issues, or general low mood.
Kooth	Website: www.kooth.com Visit kooth.com and sign up for the text based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12 noon to 10pm on a weekday and 6pm to 10pm at weekends.	Kooth is a service which provides support with well-being and resilience. Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to 11-18 year olds who are going through a hard time. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and well-being support. This is designed specifically for young people.
Samaritans	Web: www.samaritans.org Email: jo@samaritans.org Telephone: 116123 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year	Encourages children and adults to talk about their own mental health needs and provides top tips for managing mental health during crisis.
Young Minds	Website: www.youngminds.org.uk Text ‘YM’ to: 85258 Parent Helpline:0808-802-5544	Text YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. It also provides support and guidance for parents/carers to help support their children with managing their mental health.
NHS	Web: www.nhs.uk Go to: 111.nhs.uk Call 111 Accident and emergency at Leeds General Infirmary	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 Leeds General Infirmary.
Cruse	Website: www.cruse.org.uk Telephone: 08088081677	This is a service which offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. They provide tips to help yourself, or as a parent; how you can support your child. There are video links which explain the grieving process so children/ adults understand each stage of grief.
Child Bereavement UK	Website: www.childbereavementuk.org Helpline: 0800 02 888 40 Email: support@childbereavementuk.org Live chat is available via the website	Child Bereavement UK work to provide support to families of children who have lost a loved one.
Domestic Violence	Website: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk 24- hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 08082000247	The National Domestic and Abuse Helpline is for women and children who are exposed to domestic violence. This allows you the option to seek help, support and advice. In an emergency, please call 999.
Leeds Domestic Violence Service	Website: www.ldvs.uk 24- hour helpline: 0113 2460401 Email: administration@leedswomensaid.org.uk	The Leeds Domestic Violence Service provide women and men with choices from a range of community based services, including temporary supported housing, IDVA(independent domestic violence advocate)support, community outreach support, a telephone helpline, drop-ins and support groups.
Duty and Advice	Website: www.leedsscp.org.uk Telephone: 0113 3760336	For help and advice regarding the safeguarding of children.
Police	Website: www.westyorkshire.police.uk In a non-emergency:101 In an emergency:999	Use the police to seek for advice regarding an issue which is concerning about the young people.
Place2Be	Website: www.place2be.org.uk Email: enquiries@place2be.org.uk Text ‘Shout’ for support on 85258.	Well-being activities and ideas for families to complete. Counselling services. Place2Be works in partnership with Shout a 24/7 text messaging service to support anyone in crisis, anytime, anywhere.
NSPCC	Website: www.nspcc.org.uk If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact our professional counsellors for help, advice and support. Telephone: 08088005000 Email: help@nspcc.org.uk Under 18 contact number: 08001111	This provides a useful resources for parents /carers on social networks, apps. This site also supports with online safety
Thinkuknow	Website: www.THINKUKNOW.co.uk	This is an educational programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline for different age groups and supports parents.
Childnet	Website: www.childnet.com	Childnet has produced a Parent and Carer Toolkit which is a collection of three resources designed to help you talk to your child about their online life, manage boundaries around family internet use and point you in the direction of where to get further help and support.
Prevent team	Website: www.leeds.gov.uk/prevent Email:prevent@leeds.gov.uk Phone number : 0113 5350810.	If parents feel that their child has been exposed or have any concerns about radicalisation, parents can also come direct to the Prevent team
The UK Safer Internet Centre	Website: www.saferinternet.org.uk	Parents and carers can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online.