Safeguarding

At Dixons Fazakerley, we are committed to safeguarding and it is at the forefront of our approach. You can read our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy on our Policies page.

The wellbeing of all of our students at Dixons Fazakerley Academy is of paramount importance. We have an extensive pastoral team dedicated team to supporting all aspects of your child’s wellbeing.

Dixons Fazakerley Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all children regardless of age, gender, religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. The school provides a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We nurture positive learning environments, where everyone works together enthusiastically to create a caring culture.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We recognise that all adults in school have a full and active part to play in protecting our children from harm, and that the child or young person’s welfare is our paramount concern. We ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate training to recognise, identify and respond to safeguarding concerns relating to young people. All necessary steps are taken to ensure that adults in school are working in a safe way.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child or young person’s welfare. We will ensure that concerns about our children are discussed with their parents/carers, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.

Our safeguarding curriculum delivered through Personal Development Studies, Morning Meeting and RE, PE, computing and science lessons, helps children stay safe, recognise when they don’t feel safe and identify who they might/can talk to. Suitable support and guidance is provided so that students know they have a range of appropriate adults to approach if they feel in need of assistance.

We ensure safeguarding practice at Dixons Fazakerley Academy reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice. For more details please refer to our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy.

We have a dedicated team of specially trained adults in school who support safeguarding. If you have concerns about a child’s welfare, you should contact one of our Safeguarding Team - see poster in the uploads section at the bottom of the page.

Prevent

Prevent is part of the UK counter-terrorism strategy named CONTEST. The aim of which is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent addresses all forms of terrorism, but continues to prioritise according to the threat they pose to our national security.

At present, the majority of our resources and efforts will continue to be devoted to stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. There is a commitment to protecting freedom of speech in this country, but preventing terrorism will mean challenging extremist (and non-violent) ideas that are also part of a terrorist ideology.

Prevent also means intervening to stop people moving from extremist groups or from extremism into terrorist-related activity. The Prevent strategy specifically:

• responds to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it;
• prevents people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support;
• and works with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation which need to be addressed.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

www.gov.uk/government/publications/channel-and-prevent-multi-agency-panel-pmap-guidance

Operation Encompass

Our school is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act. Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information. As staff, we have discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification. We have used the Operation Encompass Handbooks to inform our thinking. We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

https://www.operationencompass.org/

Mental Health Support

There are times when our children may need support with their mental health, just as they may do with their physical health. We work with all mental health agencies following our Mental Health Graduated Approach. At school students can access support at Place2Talk without an appointment during break and lunch or can self-refer via the ‘DFA Listens’ boxes around the academy. Students needing more support can be referred for counselling with Place2Be counsellors based in school 5 days per week, or YPAS counsellor based in school on Fridays. Please see below some agancies who can support your child out of school:

Kooth

Kooth is a free, anonymous, confidential, safe online wellbieng service offering professional support, information and forums for young people in Liverpool aged 10-25. It provides 24-hour access to self-help materials as well as goal-setting and mood-tracking tools. The online service hosts interactive messaging with counsellors. Users are also able to drop in or book anonymous online counselling sessions with qualified therapists who are available in the evenings and at weekends; sessions are available on weekdays from 12 pm and 10 pm, and from 6 pm to 10 pm on weekends.

SHOUT

Shout is a free, 24/7 text messaging mental health support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

YPAS

Young Person’s Advisory Service (YPAS) – part of CAMHS, provides a wide range of support and therapeutic interventions to address the mental health and emotional well-being difficulties of children, young people, parents/carers and families.

YPAS has hubs across the city where your child can access support including drop-in sessions.

YPAS Central Hub 36 Bolton Street, L3 5LX

YPAS North Hub Croxdale Road West, L14 8YA

https://www.liverpoolcamhs.com/support/young-persons-advisory-service/

CAMHS

Liverpool FRESH CAMHS is part of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Liverpool FRESH CAMHS is a service for children/young people (aged 0-18) and their families/carers who are struggling with how they are feeling, thinking or the way they are doing things. We especially help those whose difficulties are getting in the way of being able to manage everyday life and relationships. Once assessed, referrals are directed to the most suitable part of the service, where there will be access to a highly-skilled multi-disciplinary team trained in various therapies and approaches.

In an emergency contact CAMHS by calling their Crisis Line 24/7 on 0151 293 3577 or freephone 0808 196 3550.

https://www.liverpoolcamhs.com/support/fresh-camhs/

NSPCC Childline

The NSPCC Childline service gives children and young people a voice when they feel unable to speak to someone. Whatever problems or dangers they face, Childline gives them somewhere to turn to for support when they need it.

Childline is free to contact on 0800 1111. Childline counsellors are there to take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from children and young people under 19. Childline counsellors are also available to speak to online through 1-2-1 chat and via email.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/our-services/childline/

Trussell Trust

The Trussell Trust provide support with food shortage. If you are struggling to afford the essentials or need advice and support you can visit their website below. At Dixons Fazakerley we can refer you for support so please let school know if your family is struggling.

https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/

CELLS

CELLS offer support and education to children and families regarding the consequences of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. They have a variety of programmes available to support young people. Their mission is to empower families affected by crime.

Contact CELLS on 07841870927, email familysupport@cellsproject.com or visit their website:

https://www.cellsproject.com/

Merseyside Domestic Violence Service

Do you need support regarding child to parent violence? This is CAPVA – child, adolescent on parent violence and abuse. A form of domestic violence where children, typically adolescents, exhibit patterns of coercive control and who are physically, psychologically, or financially violent towards their parents or caregivers. This abuse challenges and overturns the normal parent- child power dynamic, causing fear, intimidation, and a feeling of helplessness in the parent or caregiver. CAPVA can manifest in various ways, including physical assaults, verbal abuse, emotional blackmail, and economic theft or damage.

Merseyside Domestic Violence Service are now delivering the Respect Young Peoples Program (RYPP) to offer families support with this difficult experience.

MDVS also offer services for women, men, families, children and young people, including help with domestic abuse and stalking. Call them on 0780 272 2703, email info@mdvs.org or visit their website:

https://www.mdvs.org/

LDAS

Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services (LDAS) provide domestic abuse support for women and girls. They have drop in, referral and outreach services. You can contact them by freephone - 0800 084 2744, office - 0151 263 7474, mobile/text for hard of hearing -0756 201 3316 or visit their website to make a referral for yourself or someone else at:

https://liverpooldomesticabuseservice.org.uk/referrals/

We are With You

We Are with You provide confidential support to young people and adults regarding alcohol or drug use. They have an online chat available at the link below.

https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/liverpool-for-young-people/