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Safeguarding

Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility.

Our school has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are our pupils. This means that we have Safeguarding and Child Protection policies and procedures in place. All staff, including our volunteers and supply staff, must ensure that they are aware of our procedures.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will always ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with their parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that this is not in the child’s best interests or a child is at significant risk or in immediate danger.




Domestic Abuse

Our school is a safe place for anybody who needs us. Please call or email if you, or someone you know, needs support. We can signpost someone to support services such as TDAS, or provide a safe place for someone to make a phone call to the police or other services themselves, if it is not safe to do so at home.

Please click on the link below for information on other safe spaces in Torbay. 

Always contact the police on 999 if you or your children are in immediate danger.

Find a Safe Space – Are you OK? https://www.areyouok.co.uk/i-need-help/safe-space/   

Operation Encompass

Sherwell Valley Primary School is part of Operation Encompass, which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces. It is an early intervention system which supports children and young people who are exposed to domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass reports to schools before the start of the next school day when a child or young person has been involved or exposed to a domestic abuse incident the previous evening.

The information is given in strict confidence to the school’s safeguarding team to enable support to be given, depending on the needs and wishes of the child.

For information, please refer to the Operation Encompass document below.

Operation Encompass

Who can I talk to?

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is open 24/7 365 days per year, Tel: 0808 2000 247 W: www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk 

Torbay Domestic Abuse Service (TDAS) Supports victims of abuse Tel: 01803 698869 W: www.sanctuary-supported-living.co.uk/tdas  

Honour Network Helpline, a free and confidential helpline that supports victims and survivors of forced marriage and honour-based abuse Tel: 0800 5999 247 W: www.karmanirvana.org.uk  

Men’s Advice Line National free confidential helpline for men who experience violence from partners/ex-partners Tel: 0808 801 0327 W: www.mensadviceline.org.uk 

Galop (LGBT National DASV Helpline) Tel: 0800 999 5428 or 0300 999 5428

Child Line Free 24 hour helpline Tel: 0800 1111 W: www.childline.org.uk 

Respect Phone line Information and advice for people concerned about their abusive and/or violent behaviour towards their partners Tel: 0845 122 8609 W: www.respectphoneline.org.uk 

Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Service Tel: 01392 204174 

Other useful links:

www.areyouok.co.uk 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/domestic-abuse/ 

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

https://www.relate.org.uk/ 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help#coronavirus-covid-19-and-domestic-abuse 

 

                                                                                   

 

Worried about a child?

If you are concerned about a child at Sherwell Valley Primary school, please contact a member of our Safeguarding Team on the school telephone number 01803 613296. Alternatively, please email the team at safeguarding@svps1.com

 

Test
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Cristy Nelson

 

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
 

 Matthew Briant
Debbie Gaywood
 
 
 
Hannah Sennett
Andrew Robinson

 

Fran
Steer

You can also contact Torbay’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub directly on 01803 208100/out of hours: 0300 456 4876 or email. mash@torbay.gov.uk                                              Please visit http://torbaysafeguarding.org.uk/ for more information/support.




      Online Safety

It is so important to keep your child safe online. Be aware of key issues by accessing the following websites:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/#guides 

https://swgfl.org.uk/audience/parents/ 

https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers 

https://www.childnet.com/ 

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

https://www.choose.co.uk/guide/parental-control-software-for-internet-safety.html 

https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/new-snapchat-privacy-and-security-checklist-updated-for-2023




Food banks and other support

Torquay Salvation Army Community Centre https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/torquay 

Torquay Community Larder (Foodbank)

E: info@torquaycommunitylarder.org.uk

Tel: 01803 203091

 

Torbay Food Alliance (Collection of local food banks)

Torbay Food Alliance | Food Banks in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham 

Tel: 01803 446022 

 

Shekinah (Support with mental health, housing, debt management, food bank referrals)

Shekinah - Endeavour House, Torquay

Tel:01803 203895 

 

0-19 Team (Support from NHS Health Visiting/School Nurse Teams)

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/0-to-19-torbay/ 

 

Young Minds (Mental Health support)

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/get-urgent-help/ 

 

Mermaids (supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families)

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

 

Winston’s Wish (Bereavement support)

https://www.winstonswish.org/helpline/