Every family goes through challenging times at some point. Early help means working with you and your family so that small problems don’t become big problems. Early help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age. And it’s your choice whether to have it or not.

Why would I want early help?

There are lots of reasons why people look for early help. It could be that you’re worried about your child’s health, development or behaviour, or how they’re doing at school, or perhaps because you are caring for a disabled child. It may be that you’re worried about money or housing and how that is affecting your family. Maybe your child or your family is affected by domestic abuse, drugs or alcohol or crime. Perhaps your child is a carer for other people, or maybe you’ve had a bereavement in the family that’s made life a real challenge.

Find out more by clicking on this link where you will find a guide for parents – Early Help - Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board (northamptonshirescb.org.uk)

Speak to Mrs Bowyer (Head Teacher/DSL) or Mrs Yeo (Inclusion Lead/DSL) if you would like to know more.

Safeguarding themes and information for parents

How to make safe and healthy journeys when travelling with children:  Advice for parents and families | Brake

Better health – healthier families:  Healthier Families – Home – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

County lines:  https://safeguarding.network/content/safeguarding-resources/child-criminal-exploitation/county-lines/

Support groups and organisations for victims of domestic violence

Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS)  Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (ndas.co)

Local charity that has been operating since 1974. NDAS provide safe refuge for men, women and children fleeing domestic abuse. NDAS also provide a specialist refuge for female victims of abuse that also have drug and alcohol addictions.

NDAS also offer:

• Group work
• 12 week intensive support programme for adult victims
• Drop in services
• Specialist training for professionals

NDAS can be contacted in a variety of ways:

• 24 hour helpline: 0300 0120154
• Email: advice@ndas-org.co.uk
• Online chat www.ndas.co
• Facebook messenger: facebook.com/NorthamptonshireDAS

EVE (formerly NVCFR): Eve - Domestic Violence & Abuse Help Northamptonshire (eveda.org.uk)

A registered charity working with survivors of domestic violence and abuse since 1984. We are based in Northampton but take referrals for refuge accommodation from all over the Country. We have been running a Family Refuge in Northamptonshire for over 35 years.

Our Restored Programme helps women who are victims of domestic abuse to rebuild their lives and prepares them for a future. We offer therapeutic group work sessions for women, children and families that help them to identify domestic abuse and to develop the resilience and confidence to change their lives. We also train professionals in a range of topics to help them help victims become survivors.

Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Services Our Refuges | Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service | Northampton (ndas.co)        

At NDAS, they want to ensure that everyone feels like they have somewhere to turn to. They support women and men as well as children to help them to recover from the trauma of domestic abuse. ‘We are proud to be a dynamic and forward thinking charity that always has the victim/survivor at the heart of everything they do. ‘We have lots of ways in which we can offer support, so take a look at the "Our Services" section to see what might suit you, or call us any time on 0300 0120 154.’ 

www.thehideout.org.uk www.womensaid.org.uk

Women’s Aid have created this space to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if it’s happening to you.

The website has pages aimed directly at children, young people and adults.

REFUGE - National Domestic Violence Helpline: www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline 0808 2000 247

Immediate information and support for women experiencing domestic violence.

If lines are busy on the Helpline, keep trying. Quieter periods are after 4pm, evenings, nights and weekends. In an emergency, always call the police by dialling 999.

In addition to the Helpline, the Women’s Aid and Refuge website links can provide immediate online support and information for women experiencing domestic violence.

Domestic Abuse Against Men – NHS Choices Getting help for domestic violence and abuse - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Information and help on the NHS Choices website for men who may be experiencing Domestic Abuse.

Other Contacts

Childline – www.childline.org.uk 0800 1111

Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)- www.ceop.police.uk 0870 000 3344

24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline  – 0808 2000 247

Designated Officer (formerly LADO)

The Designated Officer (formerly known as the Local Authority Designated Officer or LADO) should be informed of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child;
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child; or
• Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.

Allegations made against workers who are paid, unpaid, volunteer, agency, casual and self-employed as well as foster carers, and adoptive parents of children on Placement Orders should all be reported to the Designated Officer. This should be done within 24 hours of the incident.

Consultations

In the first instance you should complete a referral form Report a concern about an adult working with children - Introduction - Online form (achieveservice.com) Should you need to discuss a case with a Designated Officer, please contact them on  LADOConsultations@NCTrust.co.uk  and they will get back to you.

Please note the following - If a child is in immediate danger, always phone 999. If you have concerns about a child that is not in immediate danger, please report it to MASH on: How to make an online referral - Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board (northamptonshirescb.org.uk)  or by calling: 0300 126 7000 (Mon-Fri office hours) or 01604 837999 Out of Hours

For more information please visit: http://www.northamptonshirescb.org.uk/schools/referrals-eha/designated-officer/

Remember safeguarding is everyone’s business

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) deals with referrals from professionals and members of the public who may have concerns about a child’s welfare following contact with the helpline that is now also based in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. It makes the process of dealing with referrals quicker and more effective by improving the way county council: Children’s social care, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS), Youth Offending Service (YOS) and education, work alongside other partner agency colleagues including Northamptonshire police, Northamptonshire health partners, National Probation Service, and the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to share information.

Contact M.A.S.H

• By telephone contact to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub: 0300 126 7000

• By e-mail to: MASH@northamptonshire.gov.uk

 

The school is part of a jointly run operation between Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Police and our school. The national name for this process is Operation Encompass. Encompass has been set-up to help schools to provide support to children who may have been affected by incidents of domestic violence. We know that children can be significantly harmed, both physically and emotionally when they are involved in, present, or witness to domestic abuse.

Under this scheme the school receives notification from the County Council following any domestic incident that a child may have been affected by this.

The information is shared with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (Lynda Bowyer) and Deputy Safeguarding Lead (Barbara Yeo) in confidence, to make sure that the right support is available for children and their families. We are keen to offer the best support possible to our pupils and we believe this is  extremely beneficial for all those involved.

Further information about the project can be found on the link below: