Philips High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, both physical and emotional, of every pupil both inside and outside school. We implement a whole school preventative approach to managing safeguarding concerns, ensuring that the wellbeing of pupils is at the forefront of all action taken.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and adults in our school take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that worries them. We will always act in the best interest of the child.
Staff are provided with regular safeguarding training, briefings and updates to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge needed to identity safeguarding concerns. Students are also provided with regular information and education about keeping safe and the importance of their health & wellbeing.
Further support, advice and guidance
Our Safeguarding Team are always available to discuss any issues or concerns that parents or students have regarding safeguarding, however in order to ensure that our school community has access to the information they need, the sections below also provide useful information and guidance for both pupils and parents on a range of safeguarding issues and a link to our safeguarding policy.
Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse.
Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about Domestic Abuse incidents with our school PRIOR to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident.
All schools in the Bury local authority are supporting Operation Encompass which is now being adopted by many police forces and schools around the UK.
Private Fostering Arrangement Information
A private fostering arrangement is one where children under the age of 16 or 18 in the case of disabled children, are cared for and provided with accommodation in the carer’s own home, by a carer who is not their parent or a close relative*, does not have parental responsibility for a period of 28 days or more. In these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the parent, carer, and anyone else involved in making the private fostering arrangement, to notify their local authority (LA) of the private fostering arrangement.
*A relative as defined by The Children Act 1989 ‘means a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle (whether of full blood, half blood or by marriage) or step parent.’
This definition thus excludes cousins, great grandparents and co-habitees. Privately fostered children include:
• Children sent from abroad to stay with another family for 28 days or more.
• Asylum seeking and refugee children staying with non-relatives or friends for 28 days or more.
• Teenagers who are staying with friends or ‘non’ relatives for 28 days or more.
• Children on ‘exchange’ visits living with host families for 28 days or more.
Where the arrangements come to the attention of the school (and the school is not involved in the arrangements), they should then notify the local authority to allow the local authority to check the arrangement is suitable and safe for the child. Schools who are involved (whether or not directly) in arranging for a child to be fostered privately must notify local authorities of the arrangement as soon as possible after the arrangement has been made.
Therefore, in either case, we will notify the local authority of the arrangements.
For further information on Private Fostering Care please click on the link - https://www.bury.gov.uk/asset-library/imported/private-fostering-flowchart.pdf
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging service, with around two billion users exchanging texts, photos, videos and documents, as well as making voice and video calls. Its end-to-end encryption means messages can only be viewed by the sender and any recipients: not even WhatsApp can read them. Find an online safety guide for parents/carers here.
Snapchat
Snapchat is a photo- and video-sharing app through which users can chat with friends via text or audio. Images and videos can be shared with specific friends, or as a ‘story’ (documenting the previous 24 hours) which is visible to a person’s entire friend list. Snapchat usage rose significantly during the lockdown periods, with many young people utilising it to stay connected with their peers. The app continues to develop features to engage an even larger audience and emulate current trends, rivalling platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Find an online safety guide for parents/carers here.
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1 billion users worldwide. The platform allows users to upload images and videos to their feed, create interactive ‘stories’, share live videos, exchange private messages or search, explore and follow other accounts they like – whilst at the same time continuously updating and adding new features to meet the needs of its users. Find an online safety guide for parents/carers here.
Internet Matters
Internet Matters supports parents and professionals with comprehensive resources and expert guidance to help them navigate the ever-changing world of child internet safety. Find out more here: https://www.internetmatters.org/
Internet Watch Foundation
The Internet Watch Foundation searches for, stops, removes and prevents child sexual abuse imagery online. If you are worried about or need to report such images, please visit https://www.iwf.org.uk/report/.
UK Safer Internet Centre
The UK Safer Internet Centre is formed of three charities, Childnet, Internet Watch Foundation and SWGfL, who work together to identify threats and harms online and then create and deliver critical advice, resources, education and interventions that help keep children and young people, and adults, safe. https://saferinternet.org.uk/
NSPCC You can find further information on keeping children safe online from the NSPCC here.
Bury CAMHS
Bury CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service), formerly Healthy Young Minds offer specialist services to children and young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. You can find their website here.
Bury 24/7 Mental Health Helpline
The 24/7 Mental Health helpline for individuals who currently use mental health services and their carers. The phone line is operated by Mental Health Professionals and Support workers to provide advice, support and signposting for people who require mental health help.
Call 0800 014 9995.
Childline
Childline is available to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, trained counsellors are there to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. You can talk to someone by:
· calling 0800 1111
· by email
· through 1-2-1 counsellor chat
Samaritans
Samaritans is a charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide. Call for free 08457 90 90 90 or visit www.samaritans.org for further information.
Papyrus
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice:
· Call: 0800 068 4141
· Text: 07860039967
· Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Kooth
Kooth is a free, safe, anonymous online emotional wellbeing community that is accessible 24/7, 365 days of the year and provides access to chat sessions with BACP-accredited counsellors and qualified emotional wellbeing practitioners. For more information visit https://www.kooth.com/.
Shout
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Give them a shout by texting 85258 for free.
Relate
Relate is the largest provider of relationship support in England and Wales and aim to help young people to strengthen the relationships that mean the most to them. They have local counsellors offering in counselling in person, over the phone and online. For more information visit https://www.relate.org.uk/get-help.
42nd Street
42nd Street is aGreater Manchester young people’s mental health charity providing free and confidential services to young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. For more information visit: https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/
Thriving in Bury
Padlets created by Bury Council as online directories for resources and support for both parents/carers and children and young people living in Bury who need help with their emotional health and well being:
· For Parents/Carers - https://padlet.com/ThriveinBury/thriving-in-bury-for-parents-carers-mjo8ec23zmy8knyh
· For Children/Young People - https://padlet.com/ThriveinBury/thriving-in-bury-for-children-and-young-people-7d27kblqxj8s1u8r
Bury Money Advice Referral Toolkit (MART)
The Bury Money Advice Referral Toolkit provides information and details of agencies who can offer advice and support to individuals and families. You can find it here
Bury VCFA Cost of Living Resources
Bury Voluntary, Community and Faith Alliance (VCFA) have a directory dedicated to Cost of Living Resources to help those in need. You can find it here.
The Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust support a nationwide network of food banks and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty. To find a food bank, you can visit their website here.
Bury Family Bank
Bury Family Bank is an organisation set up to help people in bury who need help and support. They help with clothing, shoes, toiletries, baby items and general essentials. You can find more information here.
Porch Boxes
Porch Boxes is a registered charity based in Bury, Greater Manchester, providing crisis packs of food and toiletries to local agencies to distribute to local people in urgent need. You can find more information here
