Endeavour are a registered charity offering a wide range of services including front line community based support, group work and counselling for those affected by domestic abuse.
Safeguarding
Bolton Muslim Girls School upholds the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance for schools 2022.
We have a child centered approach to safeguarding and we work within the Bolton Framework for Action document to ensure all learners are safe. It is crucial for us to work with families to ensure the best outcomes for your child.
A child centred and coordinated approach to safeguarding as described in KCSIE 2022;
1. Schools and colleges and their staff are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.
2. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.
3. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action.
4. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as:
• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. 5. Children includes everyone under the age of 18.
Safeguarding leads
Should the school be concerned about the safety of a learner and suspect abuse or neglect, we will phone the Integrated Front Door. Where possible we will inform parents that this is our course of action and will obtain consent.
After a referral, the school will work with the family and the learner in creating an 'Early Help' plan. The purpose of this is to bring together extra support for the family. This may be for any reason including health, education, parenting, emotional well-being or various other reasons.
An Early Help plan can also be used outside of the referral to social services process. It can be really helpful should any member of the family feel that they need support with an issue, and would like the school to help gather outside agencies to work alongside them. If you would like to initiate an Early Help Plan please contact your daughter's Head of Year.
How to report a concern
Please contact the school and ask for a DSL.
Alternatively please email safeguarding@bmgs.bolton.sch.uk
In an emergency call 999 or if a child is at significant risk of immediate harm.
The Integrated Front Door operates from 8:45 – 17:00, Monday to Friday. Out of hours or bank holidays.
Phone number 01204 337 777
Useful links
Anonymous online mental health support for children and young people in Bolton aged 11-25. It can be accessed for free on any device via www.kooth.com – simple anonymous registration. Includes 1:1 text-based counselling, 24.7 messaging function, moderated forums, self-help materials and articles.
24.7 Mental Health Crisis Line
Greater Manchester Mental Health have a free 24.7 Crisis Line on 0800 953 0285 where you can speak to a mental health professional. This number is for anyone of any age living in Bolton, Manchester, Salford or Trafford.
A confidential texting service for anyone aged between 11 and 19 (25 if a Care Leaver or have SEND) who lives or goes to school in Bolton. Young people can text a Bolton Public Health Nurse anonymously for support on a range of topics including mental health , bullying, smoking, drugs, sexual health, bereavement, relationships and much more. To use Chat Health young people simply text their message to 07507 331753 and will get a reply within 24 hours. Parents/Carers can text 07507 331751 with questions ranging from infant feeding and child development, to behavioural issues and general advice.
24/7 free crisis text line available to anyone across Greater Manchester. By texting ‘SHOUT’ to ‘85258’ a young person will be put in touch with a trained Crisis Volunteer who will chat to them using trained techniques via text. The service is designed to help individuals to think more clearly and to take their next steps to feeling better.
Beat provide a 1:1 webchat for anyone affected by an eating disorder: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services/helplines/one-to-one
The organisation also provides a range of helplines and email addresses for under18s, students and adults who need additional support.
Domestic abuse-operation encompass
The school is committed to working with families to support victims of domestic violence.
Operation encompass protocols defines domestic abuse as;
Domestic Abuse Definition
The definition of domestic violence and abuse - Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling[1], coercive[2] or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse:
- Psychological
- Physical
- Sexual
- Financial
- Emotional
This definition includes so-called `honour` based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group.
Domestic abuse is a safeguarding children issue and statistics show that in 90% of cases children are present in a household during a domestic abuse incident. Often the following day children are ill-prepared to deal with the school day.
Encompass is a partnership between Greater Manchester Police, Bolton Safeguarding Children Board and designated school staff, known as Key Adults. Working together to safeguard children, Greater Manchester Police will inform the Key Adults within schools about any domestic abuse incident where the child or young person has been present. This will enable the school to take appropriate steps to support their pupil during what could be an emotionally difficult day. Key adults within the school are then able to accommodate the school day to lessen the impact and to support the child if they need it. In its simplest form, they are given some leeway, comfort and support. This can make a huge difference to children and allows them to have a safe space.
[1] Controlling behaviour: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour
[2] Coercive behaviour: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim
Operation Encompass School Offer
Operation Encompass parent awareness letter
Operation Encompass Handbook for Schools
Operation Encompass A Guide to Implementation
Services for support
If you need additional support, these services are available in Bolton for families.
Fortalice are a Bolton based charity providing frontline services for people who are, or have been, affected by domestic abuse and violence.