MORE than 260 education professionals have signed up to an event aimed at supporting children affected by domestic violence.
A total of 261 school safeguarding leads, their deputies and headteachers from across Cleveland have signed up for a briefing today – Wednesday 23 September – on the award-winning Operation Encompass.
Encompass is a programme, which ensures police give school safeguarding leads information about domestic abuse incidents as soon as possible after the event.
Police make a telephone call or send electronic notification to a dedicated safeguarding lead.
Information-sharing allows staff to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse – if they want or need it.
Working together
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland has organised the event in conjunction with Cleveland Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) Unit.
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey will welcome attendees to the virtual event.
He said: “Op Encompass is a great example of partners working together locally to share information and help protect children and families in Cleveland.
“This briefing supports those local partnerships. It will improve performance and have an impact on early interventions.
“Encompass has operated for a number of years now but it’s important that everyone involved has a good understanding of the system and is aware of any updates.”
New rules
Under the Victims and Prisoners’ Act 2024, all police forces in England and Wales must notify a child’s school or college before the next school day if officers attend a domestic abuse incident at the child’s home. The new rules came into force last November.
Operation Encompass recognises that children are negatively impacted by experiencing domestic abuse. Without early support, that impact can last a lifetime.
The impact can be on a child’s social, psychological, physical, emotional and behavioural development. It often negatively impacts a child’s academic success.
Operation Encompass aims to secure better outcomes for children. It also aims to help schools to understand the impact, which living with domestic abuse has on children.
It also helps schools to better understand children in their care so they can support and nurture them.