Catch22’s approach to safeguarding all of our learners is founded in the nature of our relationships. We prioritise assessing and managing the needs of our learners and have a dynamic approach to identification, assessment and response to risk.

In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. 

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, and 

• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. 

The Fen Rivers Academy fully recognises the responsibility we have to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people.

Safeguarding Policies

Key Safeguarding Contacts at Fen Rivers Academy

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for The Fen Rivers Academy is Rachel Good, who can be contacted at r.good@thefenriversacademy.org.uk 

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are:

Amanda Fewkes

E: a.fewkes@thefenriversacademy.org.uk 

James Thompson

E: j.thompson@thefenriversacademy.org.uk

Jodie Reedman

E: j.reedman@thefenriversacademy.org.uk

Clarissa Green

E: c.green@thefenriversacademy.org.uk

Judith Henson

E: j.henson@thefenriversacademy.org.uk

Our Safeguarding Approach at The Fen Rivers Academy 

Safeguarding during COVID-19

We are delighted to have been recognised by The Safeguarding Alliance for the work carried out to continue to safeguard all of our learners and staff during the Covid19 pandemic. 

Read our Safeguarding during COVID-19 guidance below:

Information for Students

If you think you or someone you know is being abused, or neglected, or have any safeguarding issues that you would like to report, or simply get some advice on, you can do this by using this link below:

Report a Safeguarding Concern Link

Any reports made on here will be shared with Gemma Roberson, the Head of Safeguarding for Catch22. 

Student Safeguarding Useful Links

• Young Person's Guide to Keeping Children Safe

• Young Persons Guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children 

• External Agency Student Support

• YPI Counselling General Leaflet 

• What Makes a Good Relationship Leaflet 

Information for Parents

The Fen Rivers Academy works with many other organisations and agencies to support and safeguard the young people with whom we work.

If you are worried about yourself or someone else, the following links may be useful in directing you to an organisation that can help: 

• Barnardos 
• Catch22 
• Childline 
• Cruse Bereavement Care (Hampshire) 
• Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board
• NSPCC 
• YPI Counselling (counselling for young people) 

Other useful documents

Children who are Looked After or Previously Looked After

The Designated Teacher for Children who are Looked After or are Previously Looked After is:

Jodie Reedman

E: j.reedman@thefenriversacademy.org.uk

The designated teacher promotes the educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children, and supports other staff members to do this too. 

Looked-after children are registered pupils that are:

• In the care of a local authority, or

• Provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of its social services functions, for a continuous period of more than 24 hours

Previously looked-after children are registered pupils that fall into either of these categories:

• They were looked after by a local authority but ceased to be as a result of any of the following:

  • A child arrangements order, which includes arrangements relating to who the child lives with and when they are to live with them

  • A special guardianship order

  • An adoption order

  • Been in state care in a place outside of England and Wales because they would not have otherwise been cared for adequately, and

  • Ceased to be in that state care as a result of being adopted

A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is part of a looked-after child’s care plan that is developed with the school. It forms a record of what needs to happen and who will make it happen to ensure the child reaches their full potential.

Virtual school head (VSH) is a local authority officer responsible for promoting the educational achievement of their authority’s looked-after children, working across schools to monitor and support these pupils as if they were in a single school. The VSH is also responsible for providing information and advice to schools, parents and guardians in respect of previously looked-after children.

Norfolk Safeguarding Information

Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board

If you have specific concerns about the safety of a child or young person, please follow the link on the Home Page of the NSCB website or call Norfolk County Council Children’s Services on 0344 800 8020.

If you need to report an allegation of abuse against a person who works with children, you need to contact the Local Area Designated Officer (LADO). Norfolk County Council Children’s Services LADO team can be contacted on 01603 223473.

Just One Norfolk

Just One Norfolk - Contact Details

What to do if you are concerned about the welfare of a child in Norfolk

NSCB Poster

Operation Encompass 

Operation Encompass is a unique police and education, early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who may have been exposed to domestic abuse. Developed in Devonport Plymouth in February 2011 by a Police Sergeant and his wife, a Head-teacher It was launched in Norfolk in 2016 following a recommendation from a Serious Case Review (Case Q 2016;  NSCB Serious Case Reviews). It is a system which provides an early notification to key adults within a school when a pupil may have been affected by domestic abuse. In response to this notification, schools are able to ensure the appropriate support is available for that child. There are currently 96% of Schools signed up to take part in Operation Encompass in Norfolk and Encompass has now been established and currently operates in some form in 33 forces in England and Wales.

Domestic Abuse Champions

Domestic Abuse Champions are a network of specially trained colleagues and peers throughout Norfolk who provide help and support to anybody experiencing domestic abuse (DA). Victims of DA go to as many as 10 different agencies before they get the help, advice and support they need and many front-line staff struggle to know how to respond. Our network of Champions will bring lasting and positive change making Norfolk a place where people affected by domestic abuse can be supported from first contact to reduce risk and prevent harm. 

At The Fen Rivers Academy our Domestic Abuse Champions are Mikaela Larman and Jude Henson. They can be contacted on the school telephone number 01553 887330 or via email on M.Larman@thefenriversacademy.org.uk or J.Henson@thefenriversacademy.org.uk 

Whilst we do not currently have students in Key Stage 4

We:

• Consider the need for those supervising children under 16 on work experience placements to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks with barred list information

• Ensure that placement providers have policies and procedures in place to keep pupils safe on work experience placements

• Where our school arranges a host family placement, for example as part of a foreign exchange visit, request an enhanced DBS check with barred list information for the adult(s) who will be looking after the child, and where necessary check that equivalent checks for the country in question have been undertaken. 

Supporting sensitive conversations with children

Please see guidance on facilitating sensitive conversation at home and giving children a platform to talk.