New scheme in Thurrock trialled for children who witness domestic abuse

Principal Mark Jones, Chief Inspector David Miles and Angela Rawlings are involved in trialling the scheme

A new scheme is being trialled in Thurrock to safeguard children who witness domestic abuse at home.

The initiative, named Operation Encompass, sees schools working alongside the police until the end of this academic year to make sure pupils get the support they need.

Specialist officers are required to ask whether children are present at domestic abuse incidents before asking for details such as their names, ages and the schools they attend.

A designated contact within the school is then made aware, in confidence, that the student has recently experienced domestic abuse. 

School and academy contacts have received training to assess whether the children involved need further support.

The idea is to help children to remain in school and to continue learning in a safe and secure environment.

It commenced on Thursday, 2 January ahead of the pupil’s return after Christmas.

Specialist officers are also working alongside Thurrock Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Council to run the scheme.

Chief Inspector David Miles, who is leading the operation, said: “It offers a discreet recognition by the school of the child’s situation and ensures they can provide a secure and sympathetic environment to the child.

“It gives teachers a chance to recognise why the child might be presenting in a particular way. It may be truancy, it may be disruptive behaviour, they may be withdrawn and it will enable the school to wrap that pastoral care around the child.

“Forces across the country are now using it. Recently Operation Encompass was the overall winner at the inaugural ‘World Class Policing Award’ which demonstrates how successful it’s been.”

Safeguarding Officer at Belmont Castle Academy in Grays, Angela Rawlings, said: “The safety of our children is paramount and we are delighted to be part of the pilot scheme for Operation Encompass in Thurrock.

“We understand that all types of domestic violence can have a detrimental effect on children, particularly their well-being, health and schooling.

“Children may arrive at school distressed, upset and unprepared for the day, this initiative helps us to provide support to children and parents who are experiencing domestic abuse at the earliest opportunity.”