Operation Encompass

Blackfell Primary School is an Operation Encompass school.

What is Operation Encompass?

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in a domestic abuse incident. Following an incident at home, children will often arrive at school distressed, upset and unprepared for the day.

Sunderland City Council, Northumbria Police and nominated Key Adults in school will be working together to make sure that school staff are made aware of an incident early enough to support pupils in school.

Why is Operation Encompass being introduced in Sunderland?

Operation Encompass was initially launched in Plymouth in February 2011 to address a shortcoming in the early sharing of information with schools. Since then, several pilots have been set up across the UK, including the North East, and have proved to be very successful in providing appropriate support in a timely manner. Pilots across the UK have reported positive outcomes for many children and young people.

Sunderland City Council, Northumbria Police and all schools in the city are taking part in the scheme to help provide additional support which will benefit children and young people in Sunderland and improve multi-agency sharing of information. 

How will it work?

Schools across Sunderland nominate two members of staff who are known as Key Adults. All Key Adults attend specific training in preparation for their role in Operation Encompass.

Each morning, a police officer reviews all domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school but which may have had an impact on a child attending school the following day. Where children were present, witnessed or involved in a domestic abuse incident and are aged between 4 and 16 years old, the officer sends this information to the Council's Initial Contact and Referral Team, who then send the information in a secure format to the named Key Adult in the child's school.

The Key Adult checks their emails every day and the staff in contact with those pupils are then in an informed position to support them in a way that is right for the child. 

Key Adults at Blackfell Primary School are:

Danny Patterson, Headteacher

Joanne Dodds, Deputy Headteacher

This information is shared on school days during term time and, when incidents occur on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or over a holiday period, the police contact the Council the following Monday. 

All parents and carers have been sent a letter from our school informing them about Operation Encompass. 

Operation Encompass was launched in Sunderland in Spring 2017. For more information about Operation Encompass, please contact school or visit Operation Encompass.