Domestic Violence: Operation Encompass

King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS) is working in partnership with Essex Police to identify and provide appropriate support to students who have experienced domestic violence in their household. This scheme is called Operation Encompass. The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or witness to a domestic abuse incident.

Domestic abuse can impact upon social, psychological, physical, emotional and behavioural outcomes with an often negative impact upon a child’s academic success. Experiencing domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience.

Operation Encompass has been created to highlight this situation. It is the implementation of a key partnership between the Police and Schools. The aim of sharing information with local schools is to allow a Key Adult (the Designated Safeguarding Lead – Helen Wiltshire), the opportunity of engaging with the child and, where appropriate, providing access to support that allows the child to remain in a safe but secure familiar environment.

In order to achieve this, information is shared with the Designated Safeguarding Lead prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate pastoral support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). We will record this information and store this in accordance with the record keeping procedures used at KEGS. The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with all parents and governors. Further information can be found by clicking on the following link www.operationencompass.org.uk