Safeguarding
Harris Academy Rainham is committed to providing a safe, secure and respectful environment for all children, staff and visitors. We promote a child-centred approach to wellbeing and safeguarding, ensuring that the individual rights and needs of the child are central to our decision-making and actions.
The Academy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Divakaran, Vice Principal. In Mrs Divakaran's absence another designated safeguarding officer will act as DSL, supporting the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs). The Academy Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) are: Kelly French and Christina Holland.
Our approach to safeguarding
We foster an atmosphere of trust, respect and security by providing a caring, safe, inclusive and stimulating environment which promotes the social, moral, spiritual, cultural and physical development of all students.
We actively promote a climate in which children and adults are confident about sharing concerns about the wellbeing or safety of themselves or others. At Harris Academy Rainham, we treat all matters of safeguarding and wellbeing in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner.
Staff at Harris Academy Rainham are trained in response and reporting procedures frequently and are aware of the processes for making referrals to the HAR Safeguarding Team, Children’s Social Care and the Police.
On this page you'll find information about Child Protection and Safeguarding including topics such as e-safety, preventing harmful sexualised behaviour, PREVENT, female genital mutilation, and Child Sexual Exploitation.
Safeguarding aims
The aims of our Safeguarding policy are Prevention, Protection and Support in line with Child Protection guidelines. The Academy safeguarding procedures ensures that we:
- Support our students' development in ways that foster security, confidence and independence
- Raise the awareness and importance of recognising and reporting safeguarding, and of moral and professional responsibilities amongst all stakeholders including support and teaching staff, governors, students, visitors and parents
- Provide high-quality training and awareness campaigns for staff, and ensure that the SLT/DSL/DDSLs undertake appropriate training (including biannual Level 3 training and safer recruitment training)
- Provide a systematic means of monitoring all students, particularly those who are vulnerable or known to be ‘at risk’ of harm
- Emphasise the need for excellent communication between staff, students, parents and external agencies (including the Police, PREVENT duty teams, social services, youth offending teams and other key agencies and workers involved in supporting our students and families)
- Develop, implement and review structured procedures within the Academy so that they are effective and can be understood and consistently followed by all members of the Academy community
- Maintain vigilance and an ‘it could happen here’ attitude, and build a holistic picture of each child’s needs by paying attention to each factor or piece of information.
Social Care contact details
Members of the public are also able to make direct referrals to Social Care. Please find below details of Children’s Services in our local area.
Havering MASH Team: 01708 433222 / 01708 433999 (out of hours) or tmash@havering.gov.uk (secure email)
HES Safeguarding Team:
- Carol Rockey 01708 431651 carol.rockey@harvering.gov.uk
- Michelle Wain 01708 431650 michelle.wain@harvering.gov.uk
Barking and Dagenham MASH Team: 0208 2273811 / 0208 5948356 (out of hours) or childrenservices2@lbbd.gov.uk
Thurrock MASH Team: 01375 652802 / 01375 372468 (out of hours) or thurrockmash@thurrock.gov.uk
The Havering LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) dealing with allegations against members of staff are Lisa Kennedy / Donna Wright. Telephone: 01708 431653. Email: LADO@havering.gov.uk
