Safeguarding

LVS Hassocks is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students. We want to make sure all our students are safe in school, at home, online and in the community. We strive to ensure that consistent and effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, students and staff at our school.

Our staff have an important role, working together with parents, carers, the Local Authority and other professionals, to ensure that our students are safe and secure and to promote their personal safety and well-being.

LVS Hassocks has policies and procedures in place to deal effectively with child protection and safeguarding issues, which include tackling radicalisation and extremism, together with recording and monitoring processes.

All our staff have received Prevent and safeguarding training as part of their induction. We provide weekly updates via an e-bulletin, CPD input from outside agencies and updates as appropriate. The training is monitored and comprehensive records kept by the Designated Safeguard Lead.

The Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding is the responsibility of EVERYBODY.

If you feel worried or upset, these are people you can talk to:

Rachel Borland, Principal – Designated Safeguarding Lead

Alice Brennan, Assistant Head – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Sarah Prater

Lauren Bannister

Our Policy

All concerns are passed through members of staff who are trained as ‘Designated Child Protection Officers’ in school in compliance with the HM ‘sharing of information’ guidance March 2015. Staff are required to report any causes of concern to the school safeguarding team. Referrals are logged and monitored to make sure that they are followed up appropriately.

To promote a safe environment for student, LVS Hassocks employs a strict selection and recruitment policy which includes all statutory checks on staff and regular volunteers including Enhanced DBS (disclosure and barring service) checks.

If you have any concerns about your child, another student or a member of staff at LVS Hassocks, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead who will be able to provide you with the best advice and help using the appropriate degree of confidentiality.

Download our policy for the 2023/2024 academic year – Child Protection Safeguarding Policy from 1st Sept 2023.

Early Help (West Sussex)

The Early Help Plan (EHP) is the common process in West Sussex for supporting children, young people and families with additional needs through early identification, swift intervention and a planned, coordinated response. The aim is to consider the needs of the child or young person in four key areas:

  • Health and well-being
  • Development needs, educational attainment and achievement
  • Parenting/caring
  • Family and community

The intention is for all children and young people, irrespective of their circumstances, to have the best start in life, to grow up safe, stable and healthy, to fulfil their potential and make a contribution to their community.

Single Assessment

The Early Help Plan is the first part of the process that aims to empower children, young people and their families and provide a timely, seamless service. The Single Assessment supports families through from early help to escalating complex and urgent needs that require a statutory response from children’s social care (See West Sussex LSCB Multi – Agency Threshold Guidance).

How does the process work?

The practitioner who identifies the needs gains consent from the young person, parent or carer to undertake an assessment, following which he or she coordinates an Early Help Plan and initiates, if appropriate, a Team Around the Child and Family (TAC/F) meeting.

The purpose of the TAC/F meeting is to bring together practitioners with the appropriate skills to meet the identified needs of the child and develop a support plan. The parents and practitioners concerned will agree the most appropriate person to undertake the Lead Professional role. Goals will be identified and regular reviews undertaken, with the focus on a child-centred approach, positive engagement with the family, increased community involvement and collaboration between agencies.

Early Help Record and Plan Documents

The Early Help Record and Plan have been updated from feedback received from practitioners to make it more user friendly.
The information the family provide will be passed on to the relevant professionals that can help. They will work together to provide the support the child/family needs. Only professionals who need to know about the family will share the child’s information and only when we have consent to do so. However, should a child or other person be considered to be at risk of significant harm then professionals have a duty of care to share the relevant information to the required services.