Supporting children affected by domestic abuse

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School participates in Operation Encompass, a safeguarding initiative that brings together schools and the police to support children who may be affected by domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass recognises that children can be significantly affected by domestic abuse, even when they are not directly involved in an incident. A child may see or hear an incident, witness a parent or carer's distress or injuries, or be physically hurt while trying to intervene.

How does Operation Encompass work?

When the police attend a domestic abuse incident where a child is present or involved, relevant information may be shared with the child's school through Operation Encompass.

The aim is for the school to be made aware as soon as possible, so that appropriate support can be offered to the child when they arrive at school.

Information shared through Operation Encompass is treated sensitively and confidentially and is only shared with appropriate members of staff who need to know in order to safeguard and support the child.

Our Key Adult

Each participating school has a trained Key Adult who acts as the point of contact for Operation Encompass.

At St Mary's, our Key Adult is:

Mrs Sharkey – Headteacher

Mrs Sharkey works with the school's Designated Safeguarding Team to ensure that any information received through Operation Encompass is considered alongside the child's individual circumstances and that appropriate support is provided.

Operation Encompass is one part of our wider safeguarding arrangements. Where information indicates that a child may be at risk of harm, the school will follow its safeguarding procedures and make referrals to other agencies where appropriate.

Our commitment

At St Mary's, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and supported.

We recognise the impact that domestic abuse can have on children and are committed to working in partnership with the police and other agencies to safeguard children and promote their wellbeing.

If you have concerns about the safety or welfare of a child, please speak to a member of our Designated Safeguarding Team.

For further information about Operation Encompass, please visit the Operation Encompass website.