Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a partnership between police and schools.

St Matthew's is an Operation Encompass school.

The project, Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which might have an impact on a child attending school the following day. This information will be shared on school days during the school term. When incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday or a Sunday, the police will contact the relevant school the following Monday.

Nominated members of school staff, known as a Key Adults, will be trained to liaise with the police. At St Matthew's our Key Adults are Mr Murphy who is our Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead and Miss Campbell, who is our Deputy Headteacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

They will be able to use information that has been shared with them, in confidence, to ensure that the school is able to support children and their families. Information will be shared where it is identified that a child or young person was present, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident.

We always endeavour to offer the best support possible to our pupils and believe that Operation Encompass is going to be beneficial and supportive for all concerned, children and families.

Operation Encompass Commitment

As part of our commitment to keeping children safe we have signed up to implement the principles and aims of the Encompass Model.

In signing up to Encompass the Governing Body and Senior Leadership Team:-

• Endorse the Encompass Model and support the Key Adults in our school to fulfil the requirements of the Encompass Protocol

• Promote and implement Encompass processes and use these in accordance with internal safeguarding children processes

• Recognise the sensitive nature of the information provided and ensure that this is retained in accordance with the principles of data protection

If you would like more information about this new initiative, details can be viewed online at www.operationencompass.org or you can contact our Key Adults at school.