Dear Parent/Carer,

All States of Jersey schools are now part of a safeguarding protocol, which aims to improve outcomes for children and families affected by domestic violence and abuse.

This scheme has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that might have an impact on a child that attends their school. This scheme is run in partnership between the States of Jersey Police, the Education Department and all schools.

All public agencies currently share information where there are safeguarding concerns or risk of harm to children and the Police currently share information on all incidents of domestic abuse in Jersey with the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub.

To support the welfare of our children this information sharing is being extended.   During the school term our school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead will now be informed when any domestic abuse incident has been reported to the police and one of our pupils was in the household.

This has been introduced because domestic abuse in a household can have a significant impact on children, even if they do not see what is happening.

This information will be used to ensure the school is able to provide appropriate support to pupils who may be upset or worried about what has happened. The information will remain confidential and shared only on a strictly need-to-know basis, for example with the class teacher or form tutor.  It will not be shared with any pupils.

We look to offer the best support possible for our pupils and believe that this scheme is going to be beneficial and supportive for all those involved.  In other countries where it is in place, it has been found to be a very effective way of supporting children at a most difficult time.

 

Yours faithfully,

Mr Turner