Safeguarding is defined by the government as 'The process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe ad effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.
Holy Cross is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students and all staff are trained in the Safeguarding of students.
Holy Cross recognises its responsibilities with regard to the protection of young persons from abuse and from inappropriate and inadequate care and is fully committed to acting in accordance with Bury Safeguarding Board Procedures.
The Safeguarding Policy aims to:
Embed a positive safeguarding culture which allows the growth and learning of all in a safe and secure environment.
Promote the training and development of staff, within the workplace and learning environment, to be alert to the possibility of safeguarding incidents and how to deal with these.
At all times act with justice, compassion and respect for the dignity and worth of all members of the college community, whilst at the same time acting in accordance with the college’s legal safeguarding responsibilities.
The Governing Body is actively involved in safeguarding training and receives regular updates on safeguarding practices across the college.
Our staff will maintain regular communication with your parents, acknowledging that while you are our students, you are their son or daughter first. This way, we can work together in partnership to support your success.
Useful Links:
ACT Early | Prevent radicalisation
Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support - Internet Matters
Childnet — Online safety for young people
Guidance for Parents and Carers
It is vitally important that we all work together to ensure that children and young people in our care are aware of the potential dangers when going online or using social media and that they are protected from harm.
There is plenty of help and advice available for parents to keep their child safe when they are online using the internet, both at home and when they are using portable devices such as tablets and iPhones.
Useful Links:
Advice for parents/carers regarding online safety, and guidance on how to deal with concerns about teenager's use of the internet.
Homepage - UK Safer Internet Centre
Reporting Concerns:
Think U Know: Reporting to CEOP
CEOP – Child Exploitation and Online Protection command: CEOP Safety Centre
Childline – Remove a nude image shared online: Report Remove | Childline
Sharing Photos and Videos:
Internet Matters: Online consent & images sharing | Internet Matters
Social Media Checklist:
Social Media Checklists - UK Safer Internet Centre
Snapchat Checklist - Download or Buy Snapchats Checklist | SWGfL
X (Formally Twitter) Checklist - Download or Buy X Checklist | SWGfL
Useful Links:
Early Help for Parents and Young People: Listings | Help & Support Manchester
For Help with Benefits, Debt, Law and Immigration: Citizens Advice
Foodbanks: Find a food bank | Trussell
Manchester Central Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
Financial Advice: Debt advice | Free debt advice | National Debtline
Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government | MoneyHelper
Health and Wellbeing: Gaddum
Useful Links:
Key Contacts
Combined Minds - download the free Combined Minds app Self Help - Improving mental health
Anxiety
Anxiety UK - Helping you to help yourself
No Panic - Don't suffer alone, pick up the phone 0300 772 9844 Clear Fear - Download free app Supporting A Child With Anxiety
Eating Problems
Mind
Low Mood and Depression
Young Minds - Fighting for young people's mental health A Parent's Guide to Depression
Self Harm
Harmless - The national service for self harm
Alumina (formerly Self Harm UK) - free online self-harm support for 14-19 year olds
Suicidal Thinking
Papyrus - Prevention of young suicide
Grassroots - Preventing suicide together Shining a Light on Suicide CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably Supporting Your Child - A
At Holy Cross, we recognise the vital role that families play in the wellbeing and success of our students. We are dedicated to working closely with families to ensure that students have the support they need both academically and personally. Whether it's providing information about college policies, assisting with student wellbeing, or offering resources for academic success, we are here to help. If you are a family member looking for guidance or support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can help students thrive during their time at college.
Bereavement
We understand that the loss of a loved one can have a profound impact on a student's emotional wellbeing and academic performance. At Holy Cross, we are committed to providing a supportive environment for those who are grieving. Our staff are here to offer guidance, flexibility, and compassion during this difficult time. If you are coping with bereavement, please reach out to our support team so we can ensure you receive the appropriate assistance, whether it's academic adjustments or emotional support. Your wellbeing is our priority, and we are here to help you navigate through this challenging period.
Useful links:
The parent/child relationship is the foundation to keeping children safe and supporting their social development and educational attainment. Parenting can be a challenging task. Maintaining a positive relationship can sometimes be difficult as children grow and develop and seek an identity that may be different from their own family.
TALKING TO YOUR TEENAGER: Getting teenagers to talk openly about what’s bothering them can be hard. You can find some useful to help get them talking to you about their worries on the NHS website here.
SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES: You will find information about the support your child can get and how you get it here.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD THROUGH EXAMS: You will find some excellent advice on the BBC website here.
Relate: Speak with counsellors online and find practical guides for relevant issues here.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD AT UNIVERSITY: Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. They recognise that the transition from school to university can be quite a significant challenge for not only a young person, but for their parents too.They offer parental support here.
GENDER IDENTITY: The NSPCC offers advice to help you understand what gender identity is and how to support a child here.
ADOLESCENT TO PARENT VIOLENCE: Child to Parent Violence (CPV) is a pattern of physical, psychological and emotional behaviour seen in children and adolescents who cannot regulate their feelings in other ways and/or have a great need to gain control over their parent/s or carers. In families who experience CPV, violence as well as destructive behaviour by the child are more often than not the most pressing concern; it has the potential to destroy families.
PAC-UK offers advice here.
Family Lives offers advice here.
Talk Listen Change offer a diverse range of services to help.
Holy Cross is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between Education settings and police forces.
Operation Encompass involves reporting to the College before the start of the next academic day when a child or young person has been experienced domestic abuse or other issues that could impact their wellbeing.
Operation Encompass involves reporting to the College before the start of the next academic day when a child or young person has been experienced domestic abuse or other issues that could impact their wellbeing.
Our police force will now share details about children who are missing from home with us so that we can appropriately understand and support their needs when they return.
Useful Link: Operation Encompass
If you wish to discuss this further then please speak to a member of the team via email safeguarding@holycross.ac.uk.
Information to follow: