Operation Encompass
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Cherry Orchard Primary School is taking part in a national project, which is being run locally in partnership with Worcestershire County Council and West Mercia Police. Operation Encompass is a process whereby the police and county council will inform a member of staff if a child or young person has experienced and domestic incident. This will be done prior to the start of the next school day. Information sharing between professional agencies allows school staff to provide emotional and practical support to their pupils experiencing domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse can broadly be defined as 'any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who have been intimate partners or family members. This can include, but is not limited to the following types of abuse- psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional.
Operation Encompass ensures that a member of the school staff, usually the Designated Safeguarding Lead, is given special training, to enable them to liaise with the police and county council in receiving and using the information that has been shared, in confidence.
The sharing of details under Operation Encompass is permitted under Statutory Safeguarding Legislation and in respect of local authority schools under the Crime and Disorder Act for the prevention of crime) and doing so without the child's or parent's consent is permissible under both pieces of legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
At Cherry Orchard Primary School we want to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe, that where necessary, this will be beneficial in helping us to achieve that goal.
Below is a list of local and national advice and support agencies who can help those who may be affected by domestic abuse.
The free phone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247