At Bristol Cathedral Choir School, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is the ‘golden thread’ that runs through all that we do. We are committed to promoting a safe and supportive environment for all members of our school community. Our intention is to provide an inclusive setting in which children, staff and visitors understand safety and risk, and feel confident to share any concerns about their own wellbeing or the wellbeing of others.

The Cathedral Schools Trust Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here. This policy is informed by statutory government guidance, including the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and our legal duty to protect children is fulfilled through effective partnership working with other agencies. Where necessary, we may share information, seek advice, or work alongside professionals from external agencies; health services, the police, or Children’s Social Care. Any such actions are taken with the child’s best interests at the centre of all decision-making.

The Safeguarding Team

Our dedicated Safeguarding Team is available to support students, parents, carers, staff and visitors who have any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing. This may include worries about a child’s physical or emotional wellbeing, safeguarding concerns at school or at home, or situations where a child may be at risk of extrafamilial harm in the community or online.

You may contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) directly, or email safe@bristolcathedral.org.uk, which will be received by all members of the Safeguarding Team to ensure concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.

Linked Governor

The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our School is Paul Merchant

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is part of Operation Encompass

Through Operation Encompass the police will share information about all police-attended domestic abuse incidents which involve any children in our school community. Including those who are related to either of the adults involved in the incident.

There is a legislative requirement for police forces to share information with educational settings through Operation Encompass. This sharing of information will typically occur prior to the start of the next school day. The notification will inform us about the context of the incident, who was involved and where possible, will include the ‘voice of the child’. The Operation Encompass notification is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information and is directed only to The Safeguarding Team who have undertaken specific training. 

We have a warm and experienced Pastoral Team at BCCS, who support young people on day-to-day. Notice of a ‘domestic incident’ may be cascaded to the Pastoral Team on a ‘need-to-know-basis' following an Operation Encompass notification. We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

Reporting Harmful Online Content Tool

The ‘Report Harmful Content’ button allows children and families to report ‘lawful but awful’ and illegal content online. Reports are directed to a team of dedicated practitioners who review content, communicate with victims, offering guidance and mediatory support where needed. They are fully versed in legislation and online safety, ensuring that decisions towards harmful content are precise and fully justified. If a piece of content has remained online after a report to the platform, ‘Report Harmful Content’ can review the outcomes against community standards, help escalate it towards removal or justify further why it is allowed to remain online and offer further advice and support.

 

Further Contacts for Support

• If you or someone else is in danger or a crime is being committed, call 999. 

• If you need to contact the police but it is not urgent, please call 101.

• For 24/7 Mental Health support in a crisis, call 111 (select option 2)

• See also the Bristol Mental Health and Wellbeing Directory for Young People (with links to North Somerset and South Gloucestershire also)

• If you have concerns that a young person is at risk or suffering harm, please call First Response (the front door to social services) on 0117 903 6444. You can also submit safeguarding referrals by calling the Emergency Duty Team on 01454 615 165.