Safeguarding
Introduction to our Safeguarding Lead
My name is Lindsay Robertson and I am the Designated Safeguarding Lead here at Willow Wood Community Primary School. At Willow Wood, the safeguarding and promoting of the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility however this is an area of school for which I take the lead and have ultimate responsibility for. I provide support to staff to carry out their safeguarding duties and I liaise closely with other services such as children’s social care to get the best outcomes for the child.
Everyone in school who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners in school make sure that their approach is child-centred and we also take into account any Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) the child may have been faced with. All staff are trained to take a trauma-based approach to any issues that arise in order to support the whole family. This means that they consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.
No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances however the designated safeguarding leads do have the most comprehensive picture. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action and they will share information with me as Designated Safeguarding Lead. It is my role to ensure that this information is collated and passed onto the correct services. We follow the guidance contained within Keeping Children Safe in Education and receive our training via Safeguarding First.
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;
- acting to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Our whole staff are important as they are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare and prevent concerns from escalating. All staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn and should be prepared to identify children who may benefit from early help (early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges at any point in a child’s life, from the foundation years through to the teenage years.) Any staff member who has any concerns about a child’s welfare follows the processes set out in Keeping Children Safe In Education and we work together as a multi-agency approach to support social workers and other agencies following any referral.
The designated safeguarding lead takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety). The designated safeguarding lead and any deputies should liaise with the safeguarding partners, and work with other agencies in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. During term time, I make sure that as the designated safeguarding lead I am always available (during school hours) for staff in school to discuss any safeguarding concerns. Myself or the Deputy Designated Person are always available during holiday periods and out of hours also.
As safeguarding lead, I undergo training to provide me with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. My full training is updated every two years but I also undertake termly Designated Person Training to keep me updated. I have also completed training related to Prevent and Safer recruitment and I ensure that staff and governors receive annual training and have termly updates shared with them.
Below is a flowchart that we refer to when there are concerns about a child.
Introduction to our Deputy Safeguarding Lead
My name is Elizabeth Henderson part of my role is Deputy Safeguarding Lead here at Willow Wood Community Primary School. We pride ourselves on our robost safeguarding policies and procedures meaning, the childrens safety is always our main priority. We work alongside the statutory responsibilities under the Children Act 2004 section 11 and Education Act 2002 section 175 which underlines safeguarding in an educational establishment. We attend regular safeguarding training to make sure we are up to speed with all updates that are made to national legislation. We are proud members of Safeguarding First Ltd who provide high quality training and advice for schools.
As well as being a trained Deputy Safeguarding Lead I also hold qualifications in Social Work, HLTA, Sand Story Skills, ICAMHS, Mental Health First Aid, Communication Counts, Relax Kids, Counselling, I am a mental health champion, and am currently studying the Mental Health Leadership Programme which is due to be complete in July 2022.
I am highly qualified to supprt children who are suffering with emotional difficulties I carry out regular 1:1 sessions for children, run a nurture group, and complete group work with those children who need this.
