safeguarding
At Avanti House, we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all students. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure students receive effective support, protection, and justice.
Our Safeguarding Team
If you have concerns over a child’s safety, it is your responsibility to inform the designated teacher immediately.
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All concerns are taken seriously and confidentially on a need-to-know basis.
Mr Remi Moynihan
DSL for Avanti House Secondary
Ms Paula Soiza
Deputy DSL for Avanti House Secondary
Ms Sajana Kabaria
SSC Member for Safeguarding
Out of Hours
If your concern is urgent and requires immediate attention, especially outside of school hours, contact the appropriate authorities.
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Social Care & Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub: ‘Golden Number’: 0208 901 2690 Emergency Duty Team: 020 8424 0999 weekends, bank holidays and between 5pm-9am during the week: 020 8901 2690
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Police: 101 or for immediate emergency: 999
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A mandatory reporting duty for FGM requires regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report known cases of FGM in under 18-year-olds to the police. FGM: Police on 101
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Local Authority Designated Officer for Allegations against staff (LADO): Initial referrals via MASH/Golden Number above. For ongoing cases:
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Harrow: Ms Rosalind South, Rosalind.south@harrow.gov.uk, 07871 987 254
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Brent: Ms Mona Cook, Mona.Cook@brent.gov.uk, 0208 937 2057, Ms Cecilia Gabriel, cecilia.gabriel@brent.gov.uk, 0208 937 4593, 07826 549 777
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Hillingdon: Ms Hannah Ives, hives@hillingdon.gov.uk, 01895 250975
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Whistleblowing
The Avanti Schools Trust Policy can be found here.
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The NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line can be reached at 0808 800 5000 and is available 8.00am – 10.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am – 6.00pm at the weekend. You can also email help@NSPCC.org.uk at any time. It’s free and reporting can be anonymous.
Safeguarding Curriculum
Safeguarding is of high importance, and we want to teach each and every one of our pupils how to stay safe in and outside of school.
We ensure that opportunities are identified in the taught curriculum and wider curriculum for pupils to learn about safeguarding.
We are sensitive in our teaching and recognise that some more sensitive subjects need to be taught at an age appropriate level, or by specialist services or one-to-one level where a more urgent need arises.
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a scheme by which police inform the child’s school soon after a domestic abuse incident occurring within the family. Children can be significantly physically or emotionally harmed when this is the case and the information received will be used to make sure the right support is available for children and their families. This will usually happen by the start of the next school day.
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Operation Encompass will ensure that a specially trained member of the school staff, known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), is informed. The DSL can then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to ensure the wellbeing of the child.
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The school will be able to make provisions or adjustments to assist for any difficulties experienced by the child or the families involved.
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We are committed to offering the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this scheme is extremely beneficial for all involved.
Support for Parents and Pupils
The following sections provide useful links to further information.
Addiction
SupportLine - SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. The Helpline is primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. SupportLine is open to any individual of any age. Calls are received from children, young adults and adults.
Drinkaware – Drinkaware provides independent alcohol advice, information and tools to help people make better choices about their drinking.
Frank - Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol.
Bereavement
Childhood Bereavement Network - A hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK.
Grief Encounter - We work closely with individuals, families, schools and professionals to offer a way through the anxiety, fear and isolation so often caused by grief.
Hope Again – Supporting young people coping with bereavement and living after loss.
Winston's Wish – Supporting children and their families after the death of a parent or sibling.
Bullying
Anti-Bullying Alliance - The Anti-Bullying Alliance is a coalition of organisations and individuals that are united against bullying.
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Bullying UK - Bullying UK, part of Family Lives, is a leading charity providing advice and support to anyone affected by bullying.
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Ditch the Label - Advice, information and tips for young people who are being bullied or are affected by bullying.
Children Missing
Runaway Helpline - Runaway Helpline is here if you are thinking about running away, if you have already run away, or if you have been away and come back.
Crime
Fearless - Fearless is a service that allows you to pass on information about crime 100% anonymously.
Domestic Abuse
Wellbeing Connect Services (WCS) – offers a one-stop-shop care approach to families experiencing mental health and domestic abuse through variety of services.
Refuge - Refuge supports women, children & men experiencing domestic violence with a range of services.
Honour-Based Abuse
AFRUCA - AFRUCA works in UK BAME communities to protect and safeguard children from abuse and harm.
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Karma Nirvana - Karma Nirvana is an award-winning British human rights charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage.
Housing
Shelter - Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services.
LGBTQ+
Stonewall - Information and support for LGBTQ+ communities and their allies.
Mental Health
Anxiety UK - Anxiety UK is a national registered charity for those affected by anxiety, stress and anxiety based depression.
Beat - Beat is the UK's eating disorder charity. We exist to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders.
CALM - The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide.
Harmless - Harmless is a passionate organisation who works to address and overcome issues related to self-harm and suicide.
Heads Together - Heads Together work to ensure that people feel comfortable with their own and their friends and family everyday mental health and well being.
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Kooth – Kooth offers emotional and mental health support for children and young people aged between 11 – 24 years and is available up to 10pm every day.
MindEd - MindEd for Families has advice and information from trusted experts and will help you to understand what problems occur, what you can do to best support your family, and how to take care of yourself.
Samaritans – Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide
Self Harm UK – Access to Alumina. Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.
Young Minds - The UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health.
Online Safety
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) is a command of the National Crime Agency. CEOP work to protect children from harm online and offline, directly through National Crime Agency led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies. They offer advice to parents and carers.
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If you are concerned about your child’s activities online, you can contact CEOP here.
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CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind. This can be something that has taken place either online or in ‘the real world’, or both. The CEOP Safety Centre has clear information and advice on what can be reported to CEOP, the reporting process and what will happen if you do decide to make a report. You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre and make a report directly to CEOP by clicking the link above.
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For immediate concerns please call 0191 421 2244 or 0191 607 8063
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Thinkuknow - Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline.
UK Safer Internet Centre - Advice about smartphones, gaming devices, tablets and other internet-connected devices.
Net Aware - Your guide to apps, games and social media sites.
Parent Support
Click – Click is a unique service providing early intervention relationship support from a mobile-friendly platform. Individuals, couples, families and professionals can use Click to access helpful, evidence-based support from a secure, mobile-friendly space.
DAD.Info – Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers. It celebrates the changing role of Dads with engaging, helpful, practical, entertaining resources and content for every stage of their journey. It is home to the largest connected community of active, involved Dads through its interactive forum, providing great peer to peer support and advice for what can be one of the most challenging and rewarding life experiences.
Netmums – The UK’s most relevant, inclusive and supportive parenting community, welcoming millions of parents every month to explore forums, parenting content, recipes, local listings, product reviews and courses.
Relate – The UK's largest provider of relationship support. Here to help you make the most of your couple and family relationships, past, present or future. Services include Relationship Counselling for individuals and couples, Family Counselling, Mediation, Children and Young People's Counselling.
Sexual Abuse
The Havens - support anyone in London who has been raped or sexually assaulted in the past 12 months including men, women, young people and children of all ages. The service offers treatment, advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mosac - Mosac helps all non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused.
Stop It Now - Stop It Now! offers anonymous and confidential support to help you prevent child sexual abuse.
The Lucy Faithful Foundation - The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is the only UK-wide child protection charity dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse.