Wave recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils and expects all staff, Trustees and volunteers to share this commitment.  We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us, children are aware of the adults they can talk to if they have a concern.  When there are concerns for a child’s welfare we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies.  We will ensure concerns are discussed with parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that by doing so would be contrary to the child’s welfare.  Child protection forms part of the school’s safeguarding responsibilities and we take a zero tolerance approach to abuse. 

The Child Protection and Safeguarding policy underpins and guides Wave’s procedures and protocols to ensure its pupils and staff are safe.

Guidance for parents and carers on online sexual harassment and keeping children safe: Talking to your child about online sexual harassment: A guide for parents | Children's Commissioner for England (childrenscommissioner.gov.uk)

Raising a concern

Concerns should be raised immediately before something more serious happens. If you are aware that a child or vulnerable adult has been abused or is at risk of abuse you must report it. Failure to report abuse could ultimately leave the Trust open to non-compliance of our legal duty to refer appropriate matters to the Local Authority and/or the Independent Safeguarding Authority. Wave will ensure that any matter raised will be dealt with promptly, confidentially, and will be thoroughly investigated by an appropriate senior person. Staff are potentially acting as a witness, not as a complainant.

If an investigation is appropriate, it will be completed by an independent experienced Senior Manager and/or a member of the Board of Trustees.  Due care and consideration will be given, depending on all the circumstances, to appoint the most appropriate investigator for the case. If you would feel more comfortable speaking to a particular person, please mention this when you make contact with us.

You may raise your concern either verbally or in writing. The earlier you express the concern, the easier it is to take action. You should provide:

• details of your concerns, including the nature, dates and location of any relevant incidents; and
• reasons why you feel concerned about the situation.

Allegations of abuse against a member of staff (including supply staff)/volunteer/governor

In all situations regarding an allegation of abuse against a member of staff/volunteer/governor (including supply staff) the academy must not act alone and must seek advice and make a referral where necessary.

In such circumstances our Principal, Executive Principal, CEO, or Chair of the Trust (if the allegation is against the CEO) will:

• Contact the LADO for advice
• Consider the safeguarding arrangements of the child or young person to ensure they are not in contact with the alleged abuser
• Contact the parents or carers of the child/young person if advised to do so by the LADO
• Consider the rights of the staff member for a fair and equal process of investigation
• Ensure that the appropriate disciplinary procedure is followed, including whether suspending a member of staff from work until the outcome of any investigation is deemed necessary
• Act on any decision made in any strategy meeting and
• Advise the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any other appropriate regulatory or professional body where a member of staff has been disciplined or dismissed as a result of the allegations founded, or would have been if they have resigned

Operation Encompass

Our academies are part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about domestic abuse incidents with our school PRIOR to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident. 

Once a key adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead - DSL) has attended at an Operation Encompass briefing they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all Deputy DSLs.

Our Key Adults are: 

• The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)
• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL)
• Children In care (CIC)
• Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
• Sexual Exploitation Leads (CSE)

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass academy. 

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. 

The key adult has also led training for all school staff and Trustees about Operation Encompass, the prevalence of domestic abuse and the impact of this abuse on children. We have also discussed how we can support our children following the Operation Encompass notification. 

We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

The Safeguarding Trustee will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Trustees. All information is anonymised for these reports. 

The key adult has used the Operation Encompass Toolkit to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the academy.

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