Safeguarding

For emergency safeguarding concerns please email: rhickey@st-barnabas.leicester.sch.uk

This part of our website explains what we do to keep children safe. We know that keeping children safe is everyone’s business, and that by working together we can keep our children as safe as possible. If you have any questions about anything here, please come and talk to one of our safeguarding team.

Our safeguarding team:

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)  is:

• Miss Rachel Hickey (deputy headteacher) 

Our Deputy DSLs are: 

• Mr Steve Nash (headteacher)
• Miss Karen Eagling (assistant headteacher)
• Mrs Jenni Cousins (SENCo)
• Mrs Louise Flint (business manager) 

If at any point you have any concerns with regard to a child’s safety or wellbeing, please ask to speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead or one of the deputies immediately.

We ensure that children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, to develop positive and healthy relationships, and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk, including by being exploited.

The school has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate concerns, but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances, the school will be able to inform the parent/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by Children’s Social Care or police that the parent/ carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the interests of the child.

Early Help information

There are times when children, young people and families may need extra support. Someone might offer this to you, but other times you might want to ask for it.

What is Early Help?

Early Help is a way of getting extra support when your family needs it, but getting it as soon as difficulties start, rather than waiting until things get worse. It’s for children and young people of any age.

Why would I seek Early Help support?

It could be that you’re worried about your child’s health, development or behaviour. Maybe your child is affected by domestic abuse, drugs or alcohol. Perhaps your child is a carer for other people.

Who do I ask at school?

Please have a chat with any of our safeguarding team (see the names above) or ask at the office and they will get one of the team to get in touch with you. They can help you look at what types of support are available and who might be able to help.

For further information, please click on the links below:

Early Help website from Leicester City Council

Early Help information booklet (for parents and carers)

Early Help assessment model (for families)

Operation Encompass information

We are part of a project called 'Operation Encompass'. It’s run by Leicestershire Police and is a safeguarding partnership that protects and supports children.

If the police are called to an incident where they feel there has been an impact upon a child’s physical, emotional or mental wellbeing, they will let the child’s school know so the school can be ready to support the child where needed.

This has been happening for many years with domestic violence incidents, but has now widened to any incident where a child could be or has been affected.

We’re pleased to be involved and working with Leicestershire Police, and are looking forward to safeguarding children in an even more effective way.

For further information, please click on the link below:

Operation Encompass parent poster