Operation Encompass
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. Kent County Council (KCC), Kent Police and nominated Key Adults at The Malling School (TMS) will work together to make sure that a child at TMS is supported appropriately and sensitively.
Why is Operation Encompass being implemented in Kent?
Operation Encompass was initially launched in Plymouth in February 2011 to address a shortcoming in the early sharing of information with schools. Since then several pilots have been set up across the UK, including the North East, and has proved to be very successful in providing appropriate support in a timely manner. Pilots across the UK have reported positive outcomes for many children and young people. KCC and Kent Police and many schools in the county are taking part in the scheme, to help provide additional support which will benefit children and young people in Kent and improve multi-agency sharing of information.
How does it work?
At The Malling School, Mr J Osmond is our Operation Encompass Key Adult. They will be notified PRIOR to the start of the next school day that a child has experienced an incident of Domestic Abuse that the police have attended. 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 the Council’s Initial Contact and Referral Team who will then send this information in a secure format to Mr J Osmond.
The information is given in strict confidence to enable support to be given dependent on the needs and wishes of the child. This information is 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 council the following Monday. It is the responsibility of the Key Adult to cascade the necessary awareness training to Governors and all staff so that there is knowledge of the scheme as well as the knowledge about Domestic Abuse and its impact upon children.
For more information about Operation Encompass, please contact Mr J Osmond.
