Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Doubletrees - Who's Who?
Heidi Hoskin:
Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent Lead
Joanne Hobbs:
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead & Children in Care Lead
Lou Doyle:
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Lou Doyle
Interim On-Line Safety Co-ordinator
Helen Campbell:
Safeguarding & Whistleblowing Governor
As a school, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. We recognise that everyone who comes into contact with children has a duty to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who works in the school who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult, including governors and volunteers. All members of staff therefore, whether paid or voluntary, are required to have an enhanced DBS check.
The school shares a purpose with parents to educate, keep children safe from harm and have their welfare promoted. We are committed to working with parents positively, openly and honestly. We always encourage parents to discuss any concerns they may have with the school as soon as possible.
The school employs a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet (e-safety). The Trust has developed an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP); the aim of this policy is to ensure that pupils/students benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s Internet and Computing resources in a safe and effective manner. We ask parents/carers of the school to sign this policy which outlines ways they can encourage their child to use the Internet in a safe way when they are at home.
The school has identified the Head Teacher as the Designated Safeguarding Lead with responsibility for child protection. The school has additionally identified other members of the Senior Leadership Team as Deputy Safeguarding Leads; this is to ensure the safety and welfare of our learners remains paramount over the school's split site. All members of the Senior Leadership Team have undertaken specific child protection training which includes how to fulfil their role. Refresher training by the Senior Leadership Team is undertaken at two yearly intervals.
All other school staff, including non-teaching staff, volunteers and governors undertake appropriate in house training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities for child protection effectively. This is kept up to date by annual refresher training. There are robust arrangements which ensure all staff know how to raise any concern in relation to the welfare of our pupils.
Doubletrees School has a designated Safeguarding and Whistleblowing governor; additionally two of our governors have undertaken ‘safer recruitment training’ alongside the head teacher, both assistant head teachers and our office manager. This training is updated every two years to keep the school in line with all statutory guidance. Safeguarding is an established agenda item at each full governor meeting and each staff meeting.
The school has established a health, safety and well-being group which meets on a termly basis and reports back to the Local Governing Body & Trustees.
During our Ofsted inspection held in July 2023, the inspectors recognised that ‘The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are aware of the importance of safeguarding pupils. Leaders ensure that this is a priority and that staff have the necessary knowledge to fulfil this. Training ensures staff keep up to date with current challenges. Staff remain vigilant to concerns about pupils. They identify and report concerns at the earliest opportunity. Leaders are persistent in their work with external agencies to secure the help that pupils and their families need. Pupils feel safe. They can identify trusted adults who they are confident will help. Pupils recall their learning about risks and how to keep themselves safe’.
Please refer to our Child Protection / Safeguarding Policy in the policy section of this site.
Child Protection/Safeguarding Information
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child at Doubletrees School please contact Heidi Hoskin (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Lou Doyle or Jo Hobbs (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads) on 01726 812757.
For information from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Safeguarding Children Partnership, please click on the following link:
https://ciossafeguarding.org.uk/scp
If you are worried about any child you can also contact the following:
- Multi-agency Referral Unit: 0300 123 1116
- Out of Hours Service: 01208 251300
- Police 101
If you have concerns about a professional or volunteer working with a child you need to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on 01872 326536
Domestic Abuse Help
National Domestic Abuse Helpline Refuge runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which can be called free of charge and in confidence, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. Its website provides guidance and support for potential victims, as well as those who are worried about friends and loved ones. It also has a form through which a safe time from the team for a call can be booked.
Operation Encompass
We are a trained Operation Encompass school.
Operation Encompass ensures there is a simple phone call or notification, to a trained member of school staff, before a child arrives in school. The call or notification is triggered by police recently attending the child’s home or being involved in a domestic abuse incident, that the child has experienced.
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school's trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.
Useful Links
