Student Wellbeing
Safeguarding
The Academy is committed to the vital contribution all Governors, teaching and non-teaching staff make to safeguarding and the protection and welfare of our students.
Our students are provided with a strong pastoral system giving them the support and care they need to realise their potential, make rapid progress and achieve.
We aim to ensure that all child protection and welfare concerns or referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in ways that support the specific needs of the individual student. Through providing a caring, safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of all our students, we aim to foster an atmosphere of trust, respect and security.
If you have any safeguarding concerns regarding one of our students please send an email to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
A copy of our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found below, along with some links to relevant safeguarding and online safety videos from the NSPCC and Childline. The latest Government Keeping Children Safe in Education documents can be found by selecting this link.
Designated Safeguarding & Prevent Lead: Ms Alicia Thompson
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads: Mr Darren Pearce, Ms Altina Smith, Ms Amy Whittingham, Ms Alex Fisher, Ms Ellyse Quarrie-Hewson, Miss Georgina Moore, Ms Nicola Adams, Miss Linsey Waller, Mr Ade Yusuff
Designated Safeguarding Governor: Mr Selva Ganesan
Person responsible for Medical Needs: Miss Toni Edwards
Health & Safety Officer: Mr Nick McNeil
Attendance Officer: Mrs Jo Cawley
Email: info@harrisfalconwood.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8304 4916
Urgent Out-of-Hours Safeguarding Concerns
If you have any urgent safeguarding concerns outside of Academy hours, please contact:
- Bexley Local Authority Designated Officer (L.A.D.O): 0203 045 3436, or secure email LADO@bexley.gov.uk
- Contact the Police on 999 in an emergency.
Click here to read our latest Safeguarding Newsletter
HAF 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 to 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 that we build a holistic picture of each child’s needs by paying attention to each factor or piece of information.
Reporting Concerns
Parents and members of the local community can contact the Safeguarding Team via the Academy telephone number 0208 304 4916
If you have a concern or need support for yourself or someone you know, and you wish to share it with our team, you can do so in confidence using our SHARP system.
Members of the public are also able to make direct referrals to Social Care. Please click here or find a document below with details of Children’s Services in our local area.
For safeguarding concerns about an adult, contact the person mentioned in the diagram below, depending on who the concern is about.
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If the allegation or concern is about: |
Go to: |
|---|---|
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Principal: Mr Darren Pearce |
Rebecca Hickey (Harris Federation) |
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A member of staff |
Head Teacher (Mr Darren Pearce) |
|
A student at HAF |
Designated Safeguarding Lead (Ms Alicia Thompson) |
Counselling referrals
Here at HAF, we are lucky to have access to a fully trained BACP counsellor. Our counsellor offers sessions to students that are feeling troubled and/or stressed and give them an opportunity to talk about their difficulties within a relationship of agreed professional confidentiality. Students and/or parents can now make a referral by sending an email to counselling@harrisfalconwood.org.uk stating the reason for the referral. Please be mindful that there is a waiting list for counselling, and the counsellor may need to have a conversation with the referrer and/or your child before agreeing to sessions.
The Academy has a range of policies and procedures in place that ensure the welfare of all of our students. Several of these policies set out expectations about good behaviour. This means everyone feels safe and can learn, this includes good learning behaviour around the Academy and in lessons and also rules about how you communicate and behave appropriately towards other students and staff.
Our Pastoral Team provide the central provision for student welfare within the Academy and should be your first contact regarding student welfare issues. We also have a dedicated attendance office and medical hub. If you have any questions or specific concerns regarding the welfare of your own son/daughter, then please contact the academy at info@harrisfalconwood.org.uk.
In order to serve our students and their families, we think it is important that you can access websites that can support you when you need it. On this page, you will find a variety of links to websites where you will be able to seek support; just click on the logos below.
Student Support Information
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Bexley Safeguarding ResourcesThere are some resources and support for young people on the following topics:
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HeadScapeHeadscape has been designed for young people to give them a trusted website to use for information, to check how they feel and even take a quiz to find out if they need help with their emotions. |
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You can phone 0800 11 11 at anytime, the call is free. If you sign up for a Childline account on the website, you’ll be able to message a counsellor at any time, you don’t have to use your email address. 1:1 chat with online advisors also available. |
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Free 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis - just text YM to 85258. All texts are answered by trained volunteers who are supported by experienced clinical supervisors. Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus. |
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An online mental wellbeing community that's free to join.
Helpful articles, personal experiences and tips from young people and the Kooth team. The Kooth community can support you through anything - big or small. |
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Accessible high-quality child bereavement support and information if someone close to you has died, or you are worried that people you care about may die. Live chat via the website, call 0800 02 888 40 or email support@childbereavementuk.org |
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Support for children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling. Expert teams providing bereavement support for parents, carers and professionals who are looking for childhood bereavement advice and support. Free National Helpline 08088 020 021, on online chat. |
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The national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. Confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through our helpline, HOPELINEUK. Open 9am–12am (midnight) every day of the year; call 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. |
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The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. Help with any challenge - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk via the online community, on social, through our free confidential helpline 0808 808 4994, by texting THEMIX to 85258 or the online counselling service. |
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Switchboard is a charity set up to support LGBT+ people. Switchboard provides a free and confidential one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging. There is also a range of advice and resources available on their website. Open 10am-10pm every day; call 0800 0119 100 or email hello@switchboard.lgbt. Alternatively, visit the website to access the live chat feature. |
| Parent & Carer Support Information | |
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Worried about a child or young person's behaviour or mental health? You're not alone. Get support for your child's mental health. Call the Parent Helpline 0808 802 5544, chat online or email. Check out their Parents' Survival Guide for more tips and advice. |
Please also have a look at our resources at our Safeguarding and Student welfare pages.
Students with Medical Needs
We have a dedicated Medical Officer on site everyday to support students with both ongoing medical needs and for students who begin to feel unwell during the school day. Should your son/daughter attend the medical office and we have any concerns, you will be contacted by a member of staff.
Medical Office: 020 8304 4916, option 2
Person Responsible for Medical Needs: Ms Toni Edwards
Email: info@harrisfalconwood.org.uk
Student Activities
Policies & Documents
Student Welfare