Safeguarding

Accessing help and support within the academy

West Lakes Academy recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. Our full child protection policy is available here.

Child Protection Policy and Procedures Covid 19 Addendum (April 2020)

If you have any concerns or are worried about your child’s or anybody else’s safety or wellbeing you can contact any of the members of staff listed below:

Miss Relph (Designated Safeguarding Lead) RELPHM@westlakesmat.org.uk
Miss Dunne (Deputy Safeguarding Lead) DUNNEK@westlakesmat.org.uk
Ms Tuck
Miss Kelly
Mrs D Brown
Ms Clements
Ms Wightman
Mrs Williamson
Ms Robson

Accessing help and support from home

Students can contact the following organisations if they have any concerns or are worried about their own or anybody else’s safety or well-being:

Are you concerned about a child?

If you are concerned that a child or young person is in an emergency situation you should contact the police urgently on 999.

Cumbria Safeguarding Hub

If you have significant concerns about a child please contact the Cumbria Safeguarding Hub, phone 0333 240 1727.

NB – In the unlikely event that this number is unavailable due to a fault please call 01768 895019. This should only be used in exceptional circumstances and should not be used during office hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm Friday).

Outside office hours – The Emergency Duty Team (EDT) operates an out of hours service. The Emergency Duty Team is one social worker covering the whole county. The EDT service is an emergency only response with the social worker available to provide a response where the needs of the child indicate this.

Visitors to West Lakes Academy

All external visitors who wish to meet with students must have a current, Enhanced DBS certificate.

External agencies must provide the academy with the name of the person(s), together with their DBS certificate number and issue date before meeting with students.

No student will be seen alone unless we have verification of documentation.

External Organisations

The academy works alongside the below organisations to ensure the safety and well-being of all its students:

Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Board

Cumbria Police

Cumbria County Council Children’s Services

Cadas – A registered charity providing drug and alcohol services to individuals, family members and communities to support recovery

Mind.org

Barnardos

Young Minds – help for parents

Home Office County Lines guidance

HM Government Working Together to Safeguard Children

Keeping Children Safe in Education

With regards to the specific safeguarding issues highlighted in Keeping Children Safe in Education, September 2020 , the academy’s Designated Safeguarding Lead will ensure that all staff and governors have appropriate training and access to up to date relevant information in relation to the following:

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Bullying, including Cyber-bullying

Domestic Violence (DV)

Drugs and substance misuse

Fabricated or Induced Illness

Faith Abuse

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Forced Marriage (FM)

Gangs and Youth Violence

Gender Based Violence/Violence against Women and Girls

Mental Health

Private Fostering