Fellgate Primary School are part of an innovative project within South Tyneside schools. The project, called Operation Encompass, is being run in partnership with South Tyneside Council and Northumbria Police.

What is Operation Encompass?

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in a domestic abuse incident. Following an incident at home, children will often arrive at school distressed, upset and unprepared for the day.

South Tyneside Council, the police and nominated key adults in school will be working together to ensure school staff are made aware of an incident early enough to support pupils in school.

How will it work?

Schools across South Tyneside will nominate two members of staff who will be known as ‘key adults’. All key adults have accessed specific training for the role.

Each morning a police officer will review all domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which might have had an impact on a child attending school the following day. Where children were present, witnessed or involved in a domestic abuse incident and aged between 4 and 16 years old, the officer will send this information to Children’s Social Care Service. Staff from the Children’s Social Care Service will send this information in a secure format to the identified key adults. The key adults will check their emails every day and the staff in contact with those pupils will then be in an informed position to support them in a way that is right for the child.

This information will be shared on school days during school term and, when incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or over a holiday period, the police will contact the Front Door the following Monday.

Who are the ‘Key Adults’ at Fellgate Primary School?

Mrs J Tones and Mr S McMullen are the key adults who have been fully trained to liaise with the police and social services, when required, and will ensure that necessary support is made available to the child following the disclosure of a domestic abuse incident.

We believe that this project demonstrates our school’s commitment to working in partnership, to safeguard and protect children, and to provide the best possible care and support for our pupils.

If you would like to speak to someone further about the project or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at school. You can also find out more information through accessing the following website: http://www.operationencompass.org/