Designated Safeguarding Leads

Lisa Walters

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Early Help, Family Support & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

Early intervention involves identifying children and families that may be at risk of running into difficulties and may need help from different external agencies in order to provide timely and effective support.

Adverse childhood experiences are stressful or traumatic events, including abuse and neglect. They may also include household dysfunction such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who have substance use disorders.

My role is to identify pupils and families who may have experienced some of these events and provide them with the support that they need.

Lisa Edwards

Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Parental Engagement & E-Safety Lead

‘Parental Engagement’ is included in our list of DSL roles because research shows that parents being engaged with their children’s learning in the form of ‘at home good parenting’ has a significant positive effect on children’s achievement and adjustment. Children are more likely to be vulnerable or ‘at risk’ of harm in cases where parents find it more difficult to engage with their child’s school. 

Therefore we are committed to:

• Regular, meaningful and two-way communication between school and home.

• Support for parents to assist their child’s learning.

• The promotion of ‘good parenting’ and supporting our families by directing them to appropriate organisations.

• Engaging parents in decisions that affect their children, for example through online surveys.

• Strengthening community collaboration in order to enhance student’s learning, strengthen families and improve our school.  

Within the E-Safety role I am responsible for ensuring that the children’s e-safety is all of our priority within our school. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, we make sure our approach is child-centred.

As we are all aware, the use of the internet has become fully integrated into the lives, and often the education, of young people. In response to this, schools are now expected to produce official guidelines promoting the safe and responsible use of the internet and digital devices amongst its pupils and staff.

I am responsible for ensuring that we are all aware of our school’s e-safety policy and procedures. We also have a child friendly e-safety policy which is shared with the children and signed by them.

Laura Gaskell

Child Sexual Exploitation Lead

My role as a Designated Safeguarding Lead involves Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). CSE is often a hidden crime, as the victims don’t usually realise that they are being used/abused; quite often they believe that they are in a loving relationship with their abuser, which makes it difficult for them to receive help. Schools are in an ideal position to notice any signs of potential abuse of young people. We are constantly on the look-out for changes in behaviour, such as: absences, anxiety, changes in eating habits as well as pupils’ overall demeanour. These changes can be indicators of many things, including CSE.

Audrey O’Neill

Designated Safeguarding Person -Prevent Lead

As DSL responsible for Prevent, I make sure that the school has a system in place which ensures that all staff in the school are trained to recognise these issues (via the Channel programme) and that they know how to report any concerns. I would then liaise with the West Lancashire Prevent team who will pursue the matter if needed.

Ellen Freel

Designated Safeguarding Person  -Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead

Ellen is currently on Leave

I am the school’s Senior Mental Health Lead and my role is focused on pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. I lead on the whole school approach to mental health using a coordinated and evidence-informed approach. My aim is to support improved emotional health and wellbeing in children and young people, leading to a greater readiness to learn.

Claire Latham

Safeguarding Link Governor