Operation Encompass is a police and school early intervention safeguarding information sharing partnership, which supports children experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
Our preschool nursery is signed up to the Operation Encompass scheme, and we have two staff members trained as Key adults to deliver this program Karen Edwards (setting DSL and Jayne Rayner Deputy DSL).
The purpose of the Key Adult is to be available each day to receive Operation Encompass calls, take details of police attended domestic abuse incidents, and then assess the types of support needed for the child.
The aim of operation encompass is to ensure that all education settings, including preschools across the country, receive timely information about all police attended incidents of domestic abuse. Further information about Operation Encompass can be found at https://www.operationencompass.org
Children who have seen, heard, or experienced the effects of domestic abuse, and are related to either the victim of the abusive behaviour, or the perpetrator, are victims of domestic abuse.
Section 49a of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a legal requirement on police forces to share Operation Encompass Notifications with schools and other educational establishments. Further information about this act can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/640a0a14d3bf7f02fbd318e1/Domestic_Abuse_Act_2021_Statutory_Guidance_-_Accessible.pdf
Exposure to domestic abuse can have a serious, long-lasting emotional and psychological impact on children and young people.
A child who is anxious and dysregulated, in a persistent state of alarm, is a child who cannot learn.
If you would like to find out more information or speak to someone in confidence about domestic abuse, or you have any other safeguarding concern.
You can either contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at the preschool.
Further help can be sought from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help or by contacting the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247.
• Women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support
• Talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife
• Men can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), or visit the webchat at Men's Advice Line (Wednesday 10am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm) for non-judgemental information and support
• Men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
• If you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support
• Anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit
• Don’t forget in an emergency, call 999
If you wish to report a safeguarding concern about a child or young person, you can do this by contacting CADS (Children’s Advice & Duty Service) on 0344 800 8020
