Our school recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. We will be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and we will follow our procedures and policies to ensure that children receive effective support and protection.
We keep children safe by:
- Having an up to date safeguarding policy.
- Check the suitability of all our staff that work with children through stringent checking procedures.
- Have an open door policy where concerns can be shared in confidence.
- Ensure all our staff have up to date child protection and safeguarding training.
- Share information with appropriate agencies if we have concerns.
- Have three identified members of staff who have responsibility for safeguarding.
- Have strong links with e-safety advisors who regularly come in to school and work with our children.
Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Team
What do I do if I have a concern about the safety, care or welfare of a child or young person?
If you have a concern about a child or young person, you can contact:
- Academy Senior Wellbeing & Safeguarding Lead (Designated Safeguarding Lead) - Josie Howarth
- Principal (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) - Chris Story
- Senior Leadership Team (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads) - Jack Adams, Marliese Carr, Caroline Featherstone
- Education Welfare Officer - Ally Montgomery
Or you can:
- Contact The Children's Hub 01429 284284
- Contact the police on 101 or 999 if in an emergency.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OR WELL BEING OF ANY CHILD YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD ACT WITHOUT DELAY.
Many people worry that their concerns or suspicions may be wrong or that they are interfering unnecessarily or that someone else might report it. Our advice would be to report in any case to the school or to the First Contact team where they can give advice and the professionals can process the information you have. Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility and it is always better to be safe, by reporting anything, than sorry!
What are the signs of child abuse?
No parent ever wants to think about the possibility of their child (or any child) becoming a victim of abuse, and most children never have to experience this. Even so, it is important for parents to be aware of the possibility and to to know that help is available if the unthinkable happens.
If you notice anything that concerns you, talk to your child.
Operation Encompass 
Hardwick Green participates in the Operation Encompass partnership scheme. This is an arrangement between educational settings and Cleveland Police.
Operation Encompass was created to provide early reporting to school about any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school hours to which any pupils attending may have been exposed and which might then have an impact on them.
This information will be shared on academic days during term time.
Where incidents occur on a weekend or during a school holiday, the Police will contact the relevant school the following Monday / next working day.
The Children Act 2004 places a duty on agencies to share information for the purpose of child safeguarding and welfare. Information will only be shared with the school by the Police where it is identified that a young person was present at the time and is focused solely on identifying and addressing child welfare concerns.
A nominated member of staff, known as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), has been trained to liaise with Police. They will be able to use information that has been shared with them in confidence to ensure that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children or their families. The DSL will keep this information confidential, and will only share it on a need to know basis, for instance to teaching staff for the child or young person to ensure their welfare needs are met. It will not be shared it with other students.
Operation Encompass was first introduced in Plymouth in February 2011, and has proved very effective in providing appropriate and timely support to young people affected by domestic abuse. This initiative has been implemented across the whole of the Cleveland Police area since 2016. If you would like some more information about it, you can view it online at www.operationencompass.org.
We are keen to offer the best support possible for our pupils and a recent review of Operation Encompass showed that it is beneficial and supportive for all those involved.