Operation Encompass

What is Operation Encompass?

Past serious case reviews, including the tragic case involving Daniel Pelka, have identified a failure in agencies sharing information with schools relating to domestic abuse. Operation Encompass has been used in a number of areas with success, including Plymouth and Knowsley and an initial pilot in specific areas of Cheshire including Widnes.  Further information can be found at: www.operationencompass.org

In the Pan-Cheshire sub-region, Operation Encompass is an initiative between the Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB’s), schools located across the local authority areas of Halton, Warrington, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire Police, with support from the Complex Dependency Programme.

Its purpose is to safeguard and support children and young people where a domestic incident has been reported from their home. Following such an incident, children will often arrive at school distressed, upset and unprepared. Operation Encompass will ensure that appropriate school staffs are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe supported and listened to.

How will it work?

Schools within Halton have all identified a “Key Adult” and in most schools this is the existing Senior Designated Person for Safeguarding.  All Key Adults have attended training specific to the role in preparation for Operation Encompass.

Each morning a locally-based Police Officer from the Integrated Referral Unit (IRU) will review all violent or abusive incidents that would indicate domestic abuse. In incidents where children are living at the home and aged between 4 and 18 years old, the school that the child or young person attends will be contacted by telephone and information will be passed to a designated “Key Adult” in the school.  The staff in contact with those pupils will then be in an informed position to support them in a way that is right for that particular child or young person, either with silent or overt support.

All parents should have received a letter from their child’s school informing them about Operation Encompass.

Documentation

UPDATED September 2016 – Operation Encompass Reporting and Evaluation

In order to have a continued and meaningful evaluation of Operation Encompass within Cheshire, schools are requested to complete an online report after EACH Operation Encompass notification and one for EACH Child.  The survey includes dropdown boxes and will take 5 minutes maximum to complete, but enables the team to able to provide tailored reports at the end of term. It is essential that these are completed to ensure we are able to evidence the difference the system makes and ensure continued service.  The link to this report can be found here: https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=147134032707  This replaces the previous form of reporting at the end of each school term.

For further information regarding Operation Encompass, please contact the Safeguarding Children in Education Officer on [email protected] or PC Amy Fletcher on [email protected]