About Operation Encompass Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school's trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child. Children experiencing domestic abuse are negatively impacted by this exposure; domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience and can lead to emotional, physical and psychological harm. Operation Encompass aims to mitigate this harm by enabling immediate support, making a child's day better and giving them a better tomorrow. Operation Encompass believes that children are victims of domestic abuse in their own right and should be acknowledged as such.

Resource package for schools Blackburn Darwen & District Without Abuse incorporating The WISH Centre BDDWA exists to support people who have suffered or who are at risk of suffering domestic abuse, through the provision of support, advice and accommodation. In the last 12 years BDDWA has engaged with over 40,000 children in schools and supported over 2,000 children in our refuges. In addition, we have supported 150-300 children and young people annually on our therapeutic programmes and through our qualified Young People IDVAs We use a well-practised support package of age-appropriate programmes to support children and young people. These include safety planning, safe coping strategies, managing difficult emotions and feelings, developing resilience and understanding healthy relationships. Using our experience, the activities that we have developed and consultation with children and young people that have experienced Domestic Abuse, we have created a resource pack to support schools with the implementation of operation Encompass.

How to find the resources The resources can be found on the following website- https://nestlancashire.org You will need to register to view and download the resources- When you receive the email and you’re already super-busy- everything you need all in one place. All online NEST- pre register and log in. I would print off a file- log in details, info, and a selection of convo starters…..

Click here to register / log in

Please use your work email address to register so it is easy to identify which organisation or school you work for. This means your registration can be approved more quickly.

Click on the 3 lines in the top right corner to display the menu Then click on the ‘Tackling Exploitation Toolkit’ option. This will take you to another list.

Select Operation Encompass- this will take you to the resource pack. (Note: there are lots of other resources about topics such as Grooming, Sexting and Peer Pressure here too that you can use)

Documents 1 to 6 are information sheets for professionals Documents 1 to 6 are information sheets for professionals. These are not to replace thorough training about Domestic Abuse but give overviews of Domestic Abuse, the effects on children, risk and safety planning, which are useful for all staff to read. Document 6 includes links to further online reading and resources. These resources are useful if you have the opportunity to undertake more 1:1 work with a student or wish to deliver lessons to educate any children and young people about domestic abuse. You will also find here the contact details of your local Domestic Abuse service. Services vary, however many offer specialist support for children and young people.

The checklist (document 4) The checklist is a simple document to help staff to quickly think about how to respond when an Operation Encompass notification from the Police is received. The checklist sheet can be printed off for staff to complete with the student. The guidance notes are designed as an aide memoir for the staff member. Remember: your role in terms of safeguarding has not changed and this resource pack is not designed to replace any school safeguarding procedures. It can be daunting to find out that a child has been involved in a Domestic Abuse incident. The checklist is to give guidance regarding what steps should be taken to support the student and to help staff to have confidence in responding when an incident has occurred.

‘create opportunity for the student to talk’ Point number 3 on the checklist is ‘create opportunity for the student to talk’ It can be tricky to know where to start- the checklist guidance document includes notes and tips regarding this. Some children may be forthcoming, however using an activity or point for discussion can help with starting conversations. The resource pack contains several downloadable ‘conversation starter’ resources. The resources are categorised by themes ‘Feelings, Resilience, Relationships and Safety’.

The purpose of conversation starters is to- Create opportunity to talk Reassure that it is ok to talk about the abuse Help to recognise and understand feelings and emotions Identify positive ways of coping Understand healthy relationships Identify ways to stay safe NOT To force the student to talk (reliving the event may be very traumatic) For you to find out more about what has happened

The resources are split into Primary and Secondary school ages, however you are free to use whichever resources you feel will be most beneficial for the individual that you are supporting. The main aim of the resources is to open dialogue – you do not need to focus on actually completing the activity/worksheet. The resources need little/no preparation and should be self explanatory. There are some resources which can be cut up into ‘cards’. If you feel that these are resources that you will use frequently then it may be wise to prepare and laminate them- however this is not necessary.

Remember that each child is an individual and may want or need to be supported in different ways. Click the audio symbols to hear messages from children

questions Please take time to look through the information and resources provided in the pack. We are happy to answer any questions about the resources and will add a FAQ document/webinar to the resource pack when school staff had time to view and use the resources. Please email- info@bddwa.org.uk