Operation Encompass: Domestic Violence and Abuse
All Leicester Schools are a part of Operation Encompass which was established to improve outcomes for children and families affected by domestic violence and abuse.
Operation Encompass was designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that might have an impact on a child that attends their school. It is used in a number of other places across the UK and is run in partnership with Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Police.
All public agencies currently share information where there are safeguarding concerns or risk of harm to children and the Police currently share information on all incidents of domestic abuse in Leicester with Leicester City Council.
As part of their new Information Sharing Platform, Leicester's Police Force will also share with the Designated Safeguarding Lead information about police-attended incidents where they feel that there has been a tangible impact upon a child's physical, emotional or mental well-being.
During the school term, our Designated Safeguarding Lead will be informed when any domestic abuse incident has been reported to the police and one of our pupils was in the household or if they have attended an incident where they feel there has been an impact upon a child’s physical, emotional or mental well-being. It will not give any details about the incident.
This has been introduced because domestic abuse in a household and traumatic events can have a big impact on children, even if they do not see what is happening.
This information will be used to ensure the school is able to provide appropriate support to our pupils. The information will remain confidential and only shared on a strictly need-to-know basis, for example with the class teacher. It will not be shared with any pupils.
If you would like to speak to someone in confidence about domestic abuse, call the Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Domestic Abuse Helpline on: 0800 802 0028
or visit: https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-community/emergencies-safety-and-crime/domestic-and-sexual-abuse/
We look to offer the best support possible for our pupils and believe that Operation Encompass is beneficial and supportive for all those involved.