Safeguarding

Consett Academy recognises its responsibilities for Safeguarding and ensuring that our students are kept safe from harm. Our safeguarding statement outlines the school’s position and should be read in conjunction with the school’s Child Protection Policy. Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school. There are five main elements: 

• Ensuring we practice safer recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children; 
• Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe; 
• Ensuring that staff are aware of the procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse. These procedures are contained in Essential Guidance for all staff working within the Local Education Authority; including Keeping Children Safe in Education; 
• Supporting students who have been abused in accordance with their agreed child protection plan; and 
• Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop. 

Our staff are regularly trained, vigilant for signs of harm, and are confident about applying our policies to any potential safeguarding issues.  

Our safeguarding and child protection work is led by our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL’s), Mr I Middleton & Mr A Stevenson, and Safeguarding Officer Mrs L Lisle.

Cause for Concern 

Our first priority is of course your child’s welfare and school is required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its students. However there may be occasions when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse. We will ensure that our concerns about a child are discussed with  their parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. In this case school is obliged to follow the Child Protection procedures and inform the Social Services of the concern. 

Safeguarding children and young people is everyone’s responsibility 

If you have a concern about a child or young person who lives in County Durham, First Contact is the service to call: 03000 267 979 

Our Safeguarding Policy and Anti Bullying Policy can be found here. 

If you are concerned about a student or any other child and school is closed for half term / summer holidays, please see the link below to First Contact at Durham 

Report a concern about a child - Durham County Council 

First Contact - 03000 267 979. First Contact brings together children's services staff with partners such as Durham Constabulary and health services to support children across Durham. First Contact have a duty officer working outside of opening hours who will take your call to take your concerns. 

If you are worried about an adult please call Social Care Direct 24 hours a day on 03000 267 979 - a trained officer will listen carefully to your concerns, give advice, and accept a safeguarding adults report if necessary, even if you want to remain anonymous.