Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information-sharing partnership that supports children and young people who have been exposed to domestic abuse. It involves police forces notifying designated safeguarding leads in schools about domestic abuse incidents before the start of the next school day, enabling schools to provide immediate support to affected children. The aim is to reduce the long-term impacts of domestic abuse by ensuring timely access to support services.
Early Intervention:
Operation Encompass focuses on early intervention by providing schools with timely information about domestic abuse incidents involving their students.
Police Notification:
When the police attend a domestic abuse incident, they notify the designated safeguarding lead at the child’s school.
School Support:
Designated safeguarding leads are trained to identify and support children who may be affected by domestic abuse, ensuring they receive immediate help and support.
Statutory Obligation:
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 has placed Operation Encompass into law, establishing a statutory obligation for police forces to share these notifications with schools
Focus on Child Wellbeing:
The program is designed to mitigate the negative impacts of domestic abuse on children, recognizing that exposure to such abuse can have long-lasting consequences.
Collaboration:
It is a collaborative effort between police forces and educational settings, working together to safeguard vulnerable children.
If our school receives a notification, we can then sensitively and discretely support your child once they arrive to school. Nobody will ever speak to your child about the incident nor would they ever be questioned or probed about what happened. We would simply ensure that the school day is made as comfortable and positive as possible.
We will not call home unless it is to discuss any significant concerns we have in relation to your child during that day. However, the safeguarding team will always be available should you require any advice or support. We can signpost you to agencies who are specialists in this area and they will offer specific help and guidance.
If you are worried for yourself or anyone else, please contact any of the following:
Harbour
T: 03000 20 25 25 (24 hours)
My Sisters Place
Domestic Abuse Support Service offering both practical, holistic and therapeutic support
T: 01642 241864
E: reception@mysistersplace.co.uk
Woman’s Aid
www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-abuse-directory
The Halo Project
T: 01642 683045
E: info@haloproject.org.uk
National Centre for Domestic Violence
A free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic abuse and violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation.
T: 08009702070
