Safeguarding and Supporting Parents

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. All adults in the USH community work together to protect our children. It is our highest priority. 

Safeguarding means:

  • protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
  • preventing harm to children’s health or development
  • ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
  • taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection (click here then scroll down to see our dedicated Child Protection Policy on our Policies Page) which details how we respond to concerns about a child.

Parents and carers work in partnership with the school and we recognise that from time to time you may need support.

**If as a  parent you are concerned about your own child or another young person you should inform any member of the pastoral team or Designated Safeguarding Lead, Miss Clements via Email** Anneli.Clements@ushschool.org

**If you are a student who needs to report a concern, please tell any member of staff.**

USH is aware of the media attention around the Everyone’s Invited movement. The Government have announced a review into sexual abuse in schools. Ofsted are now undertaking an immediate review of all schools' safeguarding policies which will conclude by end of May 2021. USH would like to assure parents that the senior leadership team review our policies and practices regularly and in conjunction with Hamwic Education Trust.

A new helpline to support potential victims of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings has opened today.  0800 136 663 The dedicated number, run by the NSPCC, provides both children and adults who are victims of sexual abuse with the appropriate support and advice. This includes how to contact the police and report crimes if they wish. The helpline will also provide support to parents. 

Additional Support for parents in Southampton: 

The Lighthouse is an informal, non-judgemental, out-of-hours mental health service for anyone over the age of 18 who requires short-term support in times of great difficulty or is struggling with poor mental health.   

Our team is made up of people who have lived experience of mental health challenges and using services, people who hold a professional registration, and people who fall across both categories.

Visiting the Lighthouse may be useful if you are:

·       Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless.

·       In need of urgent mental health support

·       Having thoughts to end your life

·       Feeling isolated or alone

·       Confused about where to find support

Those in mental health crisis or emotional distress can text ‘lighthouse’ and their postcode (for example LIGHTHOUSE SO14 0YG) to the Mind text line number (07451 276010) between 4.30pm and 12am. Our staff will then contact them via telephone, email, webchat or text.  To find out more please visit https://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/locations/the-lighthouse/



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