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Operation Encompass

To comply with data protection legislation you must complete the Operation Encompass Key Adult Training

Contents: 

Introduction

Since November 2024 Bristol has adopted the national standard Operation Encompass where incidents of domestic abuse are shared with education settings in line with  The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and statutory guidance - Domestic Abuse Act 2021 - GOV.UK. 

This function is currently carried out by Bristol City Council First Assessment Service. There is a longer term plan for the local police constabulary to take sending these to education settings in  the future. A date has not been confirmed. 

In its current format - these are shared as a police Niche report. These should be stored securely in line with your Data Protection and Safeguarding Polices. 

Settings in receipt of a notification should exercise a trauma informed approach to the child and consider making reasonable adjustments to promote their safety and welfare. 

 

Think Family Education App. 

This supports 'alerts' to be received by the schools as soon as the system has been updated from the police. This is an automated process which allows for schools who support children of statutory school age and who share attendance data with the Local Authority. This is to ensure compliance with strict data protection requirements. 

Alerts only indicate whether a child has been mentioned in relation to a safeguarding incident. The information is limited and prompt a welfare conversation. 

For more information about the app please visit the webpage here.

Please note, settings that cannot receive these are:

  • Early years (including childminders)
  • Post 16
  • Alternative Learning Providers
  • Settings outside of the Bristol Local Authority Area. 
  • Independent settings. 

Legal and statutory framework.

 

24 May 2024 Royal Assent was granted to The Victims and Prisoners Act. The new Act placed Operation Encompass into Law and puts a statutory obligation on police forces to share Operation Encompass notifications with schools. Domestic Abuse Act 2021 - GOV.UK

The information is provided to settings in compliance with The Children Act 2004 (which informs statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education), Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.  

Unlawful use of the information to discriminate and or breach the rights of children and families (in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998) will be dealt with under the Local Authority's duty under s.175 of the Education Act 2002. 


Actions for settings. 

In order to access Operation Encompass notifications: 

  • You need to complete the Operation Encompass Key Adult Training. 
  • Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputies should complete this. If you need additional capacity (including cover for holidays) please ensure that you get staff to complete Key Adult Training. Staff must be trained to the same level as the Designated Safeguarding Lead. 
  • Consider safe storage of the information in line with your Data Protection and Safeguarding Policies. 
  • Senior leadership should ensure that notifications are accessed immediately and that timely appropriate trauma informed interventions are considered on receipt of a notification/alert. 

 

Local Safeguarding Partnership Requirements 

  • We require at least 2 people in each setting to be trained to receive notifications. Settings need to ensure that only the Key Adults (Safeguarding Leads) access the Operation Encompass notifications.
  • If your setting requires notifications to be sent to a generic safeguarding account for your setting you must ensure that ALL staff who can access these have completed the conditions above. 
  • There is secure record keeping trail in line with your setting's Safeguarding and Data Protection Policies. 
  • The whole school community is aware that the school is part of Operation Encompass and are aware that we will support them when they are experiencing domestic abuse (display of posters, on website, communication to parents etc) The schools’ safeguarding policy has a clear description and expectations of Operation Encompass, draft available Resources for educational settings : Operation Encompass.
  • Governance need to ensure the above steps are completed. 

 

Bristol Police Safeguarding Notifications - ceased. 

Bristol’s police safeguarding notification process was the local equivalent of Operation Encompass. The Safeguarding in Education Team processed notifications of incidents of all incidents sent to us by the police’s Lighthouse Safeguarding Unit (LSU) and ensures that the information contained is shared with the setting of any children mentioned in a timely manner.

The information shared belongs to the police and is subject to strict Data Protection requirements. To be able to receive and access police safeguarding notifications settings had to complete a briefing.

Resources:

To access the key adult briefing modules, please follow the below steps.

Please click this link to register for the online training

Self-register by entering the following details:

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email address
  • Job Title
  • School/Organisation Name. Please include school/organisation postcode.

Finally, please ensure that you select the Group titled Key Adult Briefing.

Once you’ve completed the registration form it will say ‘registration successful’ and your request will be sent to an administrator to approve.

A welcome email will be sent from donotreply@vc-enable.co.uk with a temporary password to login in with. Please note, the welcome email will direct you to update your password to something new.

Once logged in you will be able to access the content via the learning tile under ‘Active Learning’.

If you are having trouble logging in please contact Virtual College on 01943 605976 or via email customersupport@virtual-college.co.uk.

 

This online Key Adult training is free and  available to all school staff and Governors.This training:

  • creates an awareness of Operation Encompass throughout a school 
  • informs the participant about key facts concerning Domestic Abuse 
  • explains how Operation Encompass mitigates the effects of domestic abuse on children and explains its broader consequent benefits.
  • explains to school staff how to communicate the school's Operation Encompass participation to the broader school community and stakeholders, for example by placing information on the school's website, in its prospectus, and by sending the joint police/school letter to parents.

Resources for educational settings : Operation Encompass