Officers partner with schools using automatic referrals to protect children at risk of domestic abuse

We are working with participating schools across the county as part of a national scheme focusing on identifying and protecting children at risk of domestic abuse, with officers using an automatic alert system to make safeguarding referrals.

The national scheme, called Operation Encompass, is aimed at ensuring key school staff are kept informed of any domestic abuse incidents, in the 24 hours prior to the school day, so they can put measures in place to support the child.

As part of our joined-up working, any officer attending incidents where children have been exposed to domestic abuse are required to submit details of what happened in real-time via their specialised electronic devices.

This then sends an alert to a key staff member at the child’s school, who begins appropriate safeguarding and puts support measures in place for the child during the school day.

Officers send these alerts to all relevant schools, even if the child concerned was not present at the time of the domestic abuse, as we recognise any instance of domestic abuse in a location where a child attends poses a risk to their future safety and wellbeing.  

The logging of the affected household means that officers are able to record every person and child who may be impacted by domestic abuse and work with partners to safeguard them.

The approach helps to provide schools with vital information about a child, and the home environment that been exposed to domestic abuse, enabling staff to put measures in place to support them when they attend school.

These instant, automatic electronic referrals also mean that any child believed to be at risk is identified as vulnerable, enabling other agencies to become aware and involved in protecting the child going forward.

Not only this, but officers also record the details of children who may be exposed to domestic abuse who are not yet of school age, in order to ensure they experience is documented and voice is heard.

Detective Chief Inspector John Bissell, of our Public Protection Unit, said: “These referrals are a vital in providing critical information to enable schools and other partners to support the affected household and child.

“The concept is simple, but the impact is vast.

“That is why the operation is so important; it recognises how significant it is to share this type of information with a child’s school, acknowledging the harm such exposure to domestic abuse has on schooling as well as many other aspects of a child’s life.”

All key staff members at schools involved in the operation have also undergone training in safeguarding and management of personal data, to ensure that the child’s right to privacy is also respected.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said: “Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, and the impact on children living in households where there is domestic abuse can be significant. 

“It is vital that victims and their families are able to access the effective, targeted support they need when they need it, to help them recover from the impact of these crimes.

“That’s why my office commissions the New Era service, alongside the county and city councils, to provide consistent support to adults, children and young people aged four to 17 impacted by domestic abuse across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”

To find out more about the operation, how to get involved and access resources visit: Home : Operation Encompass.