Keeping Children Safe
Patchway Community School fully recognises its responsibility under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to work together with other agencies to ensure effective arrangements within our school to identify, assess and support children who are suffering from harm.
Safeguarding our school community is of paramount importance. We ensure that all our staff are aware of, and have the skills to deal with, any child protection or safeguarding concerns. We have robust recruitment procedures and professional development programmes which ensure that all our staff uphold our strong ethos and values. All of our staff receive yearly updates as part of their child protection training.
Key School Contacts
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Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ellen Tomkies Assistant Head Teacher Email: [email protected] |
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We have two Deputy Safeguarding Leads:
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Nigel Burr, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Student Support Team Lead, Student Support Year 11 Email: [email protected] |
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Joseph Bressington, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Acting SST Leader, Student Support Years 9, 10, 11 Email: [email protected] |
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Our SENDCo, Mrs Mel Thomas has completed the higher level Child Protection Training:
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Melanie Thomas, SENDCo Assistant Head Teacher Email: [email protected] |
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Members of our Student Support Team have also completed higher level Child Protection Training and can be contacted if you have concerns about a child.
The school follows the advice issued from the South Gloucestershire Children's Partnership and their site has a range of useful information for parents and carers as well as numbers to contact if you have concerns about the safety and wellbeing of a child. Please use the numbers below if you have concerns about a child and would like to speak to someone from the Access and Response Team directly.
The Student Support Team can be reached using the main school number 01454 862020 or email [email protected] or use Firefly Contact the Student Support Team (SST) — Patchway Community School (fireflycloud.net).
http://sites.southglos.gov.uk/safeguarding/children
The following documents are all related directly to safeguarding, primarily of children and young people, but also of employees. It is expected that all members of staff are familiar with these documents and that they have read the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and completed their Part 1 Keeping Children Safe in Education E-learning module. All staff have yearly training updates.
Helpful Websites - General Wellness/Advice
Well Aware
0808 808 5252 www.wellaware.org.uk
Well Aware is available to everyone in South Gloucestershire and the surrounding area. It lists over 5000 services that could help to improve your health and wellbeing. Wellaware can also be contacted free by phone on the above number and trained staff will help you find the support you need.
If after contacting Wellaware you still feel you need further help, advice or an assessment, please contact our customer services:
Phone: 01454 868007
Email: [email protected]
SMS text service: 07950 080111
Textphone: 01454 868010
If the request is straightforward someone will try and help you over the phone or with a return email. They may send you some information and a form in the post, or they will suggest that someone with experience and understanding comes to visit you to talk things over.
More information about adult social care is available here.
NHS UK
On eating disorders: www.nhs.uk/conditions/eating-disorders/advice-for-parents/
How to talk to your teenager (and common problems such as stress, anxiety, worry, depression): www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/talking-to-your-teenager/
Sleep tips for teenagers: www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/sleep-tips-for-teenagers/
Coping with your teenager (challenging behaviour advice for parents): www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-your-teenager/
Healthy eating for teens: www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/healthy-eating-for-teens/
One You South Glos
One You South Gloucestershire is a healthy lifestyles and wellbeing service for adults to help make important, lasting improvements to their health. The service is for all adults over the age of 18 who are a South Gloucestershire resident or registered with a GP practice in South Gloucestershire.
The Mix
0800 808 4994 www.themix.org.uk
Text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258
The Mix’s Crisis Messenger text service is available 24/7 and open to anyone aged 25 or under living in the UK. If you’re in crisis and need to talk, text THEMIX to 85258.
Webchat and Helpline service for free and confidential information and help on a wide range of issues for 13 to 25 year olds including, sex and relationships, your body, mental health, drink and drugs, housing, money, work and study and crime and safety.
Childline
08001111 www.childline.org.uk
Free, confidential advice to help young people under 19 with any issue they are going through.
Helpful Websites - Drugs and Alcohol
Frank
0800 77 66 00 www.talktofrank.com
Free helpline / website for anyone concerned about drugs.
DHI South Gloucestershire
01454 868750
Harm reduction and structured treatment services for adults using drugs and alcohol, and for those affected by a family member or friend’s use.
SPACED
Offers free and confidential information, advice, and support to users of Stimulant, Psychoactive, Alternative, Club and Experimental Drugs in the South Gloucestershire area.
Young People’s Drugs & Alcohol Service
01454 866000
Provide confidential and holistic advice, information and support to young people and their families around substance use (alcohol, illegal and legal substances). Can see young people at school or in other community settings and offer on-going 1:1 counselling & harm reduction advice.
Helpful Websites - Physical and Mental Health Concerns, Sleep, Eating Disorders
NHS 111
111 www.111.nhs.uk
Get medical help near you.
Mental Health Helplines
Bristol MindLine is a free confidential freephone helpline. Call 0808 808 0330 (freephone, Wed to Sun 8pm – midnight). At other times call the national line on 0300 123 3393 (local rate from landlines, variable from mobiles, Mon to Fri, 9.00am-6.00pm).
Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. Call 0117 983 1000 (local rate) or 116 123 (freephone).
Off The Record provide free and confidential mental health support for young people aged 11-25 in Bristol. Call 0808 808 9120 (freephone) or text 07896 880 011.
The CALM helpline operates from 5pm-midnight every day. Calls are confidential and are taken by trained and skilled helpline workers who provide support, information and signposting. Call 0800 58 58 58 (freephone).
PAPYRUS is the national charity for the prevention of young suicide. Their HOPELineUK telephone service is confidential and operates Monday-Friday 10am-10pm, Weekends 2pm-10pm & Bank Holidays 2pm-5pm. Call 0800 068 41 41 (freephone) or text 07786 209697.
SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. Call 01708 765200 (local rate, variable hours).
Bristol Mental Health
0300 555 0334 www.bristolmentalhealth.org
Bristol Mental Health is an NHS-funded partnership of 18 public and voluntary sector organisations. The website has a list of services available to people with mental health difficulties in Bristol. For the full list, click here.
Young Minds Parents Information Service
0808 8025544 www.youngminds.org.uk
Free helpline for parents concerned about mental health issues and their children (anxiety, depression, self harming, behaviour problems etc). Young minds also has more information for parents on their website, including an A-z support guide for help with specific conditions and situations, here.
NHS UK
On eating disorders: www.nhs.uk/conditions/eating-disorders/advice-for-parents/
How to talk to your teenager (and common problems such as stress, anxiety, worry, depression): www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/talking-to-your-teenager/
Sleep tips for teenagers: www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/sleep-tips-for-teenagers/
Coping with your teenager (challenging behaviour advice for parents): www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-your-teenager/
Healthy eating for teens: www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/healthy-eating-for-teens/
Beat Eating Disorders
Helpline: 0808 801 0677 Youthline: 0808 801 0711
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Support for young people, friends, families and carers who think they might have an eating disorder or are worried about someone who does.
Helpful Websites - Money, Benefits, Foodbanks
Money Advice Service
0800 138 7777 www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en
Service is available 24 hours a day via the website and five days a week by telephone (calls are free). Anyone can use the service and it provides guidance across a wide range of money matters, including a number of useful tools and calculators to help people manage their money.
Citizens Advice Service
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money
Dealing with money issues can sometimes be off-putting, but if you don't understand how things like credit or mortgages work, you could end up losing out financially or getting yourself deep in debt. This site will give you the information you need to make the right choices, including help to deal with your debt problems, how to avoid losing your home and how to get your finances back into shape.
North Bristol Foodbank
0117 9791399 www.northbristol.foodbank.org.uk
Can provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. Part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Helpful Websites - Parenting, Social Media, Friends, Relationships, Gender, Sex, Bullying
Bullying.co.uk
0808 800 2222 www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents
Has lots of advice for parents/carers and young people on all types of bullying. Some information specific to cyber bullying is here, including how to report bullying or abuse, how to block people, how to remove friends and how to close accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat and Whatsapp. There is also general information about keeping safe online.
Family Lives (was Parentline)
0808 800 222
Offers information, advice, guidance and support on any aspect of parenting and family life, including bullying.
Brook
Offers advice on sexual health and wellbeing for under 25s, including information on contraception, consent, pregnancy, STIs, relationships, gender and abuse.
Stone Wall
Online information service providing details on lesbian, gay, bi and trans rights and issues affecting LGBT people.
Helpful Websites - Crime, the Law, Justice, Victim Support, Abuse, Bereavement
Julian House
01225 354650 www.julianhouse.org.uk
Julian House provides high quality refuge accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse, runs programmes for adults and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, work with schools and offer support in safety planning for people who are not ready to leave abusive relationships.
Cruse Bereavement Care/Hope Again
08088 081677
www.cruse.org.uk | www.hopeagain.org.uk
Provides support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Hope Again was set up by young people for young people to share their experiences of dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Youth Justice Legal Centre
Information and support for children and young people who may find themselves involved in the criminal justice system.
Victim Support
0845 30 30 900 www.victimsupport.org.uk
Free and confidential support and information to help people cope with the effects of crime.
24-hour National Domestic Violence
0808 2000 247 www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk
A national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf.
Rights of Women
Information and support on a wide range of legal issues including violence against women, family and criminal law and asylum and immigration.
Refuge - Help for Teenage Girls
0808 2000 247 www.refuge.org.uk/get-help-now/help-for-teenage-girls
Information and advice on violence against teenage girls and young women.
Men’s advice line
0808 801 0327 www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Free advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
Helpful Websites - Disability
Scope
0808 800 3333 www.scope.org.uk
Support for disabled people, their families/carers and professionals.
Disability Rights UK
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help
Information and advice on a wide range of issues for disabled people.
Helpful Websites - Looked After Children and Young People, Issues at home
Coram Voice
08088005792 www.coramvoice.org.uk/young-peoples-zone
Advocacy, information and support for looked after children and young people.
The Care Advice Line
020 7017 8901 thewhocarestrust.org.uk/pages/care-advice-line-.html
Help and advice for children and young people in care or leaving care.
National Youth Advocacy Service
0808 808 1001 www.nyas.net
Provides information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people.
Runaway Helpline
116000 (call or text)
Provides information, help, support and options for young people thinking of running away or already away.
Beyond the Gates
it is is important for our parents and carers to be aware that we work closely with our school community - the Police and Willowbrook Centre and are alert for concerns involving contextual safeguarding.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
PCS is an ACE aware school and is part of the Local Authority ACE strategic group.
All policy information can all be found here.
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Addendum, Acceptable User ICT Policy, Attendance Policy, Confidentiality Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Code of Conduct, OAT Allegations of Abuse Policy, OAT Drugs Policy, OAT Educational Visits, OAT Lone Working, OAT Recruitment, OAT Whistle Blowing, Use of Reasonable Force and Physical Intervention, Statement of Intent- Health and Safety, Student Well-Being Policy, Supporting Students with Medical Conditions Policy and Single Equality.
