Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement

Our setting is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children who experience Domestic Abuse.

Operation Encompass is in place in every police force in England and Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.

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 setting about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day. The notification informs us about the context of the incident and includes the Voice of the Child.

Once a Key Adult (DSL) and their deputy/ies (DDSLs) have attended either an Operation Encompass briefing or have completed the free National Online Operation Encompass Key Adult training they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other staff. All staff are encouraged undertake the online training.

Our DSL, Sharon Zimmerman, undertook training on 18th February 2024

One of our DDSLs, Sharon Munday undertook training on 7th March 2025. Our two other DDSL will be undertaking the training in the coming weeks. Once they have completed it, we will roll this out across our staff team.

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass setting, and we ensure that when a new child joins our setting the parents/carers are informed about Operation Encompass within our parents handbook and information on our website.

The Operation Encompass notification is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.

As a setting we have also discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification.

We have used the free 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.

We have used the Operation Encompass Key Adult Responsibilities checklist to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the setting.

When the DSL or DDSLs leave the setting and other staff are appointed, they will ensure that all Operation Encompass log in details are shared with the new Key Adults and that the new member of staff will undertake the Operation Encompass online training.