Safeguarding Information for Parents
During School Hours:
If you have a concern about a child you can contact the school office during the school day and ask to speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads or your child’s pastoral manager. The team are:
Mrs R Lewis – Vice Principal & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs L Harper - Safeguarding Officer & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Ms A Frain - LAC Safeguarding Officer
Mrs K Gould - SENCO
Miss A Walsh - Assistant SENCO
Mr L McDonald - Head of KS4
Miss K Spink - Head of Year 7
Mrs A Albin - Head of Year 8
Mrs G Elsworth - Head of Year 9
Mrs W Storrie - Head of Year 10
Miss K Haworth - Head of Year 11
Mrs K Taylor - Head of Year 12 & 13
If you prefer you can send an email to: rachel.lewis@daca.uk.com
Please refer any concerns you have, no matter how small you think they are.
Out of School Hours:
Alternatively, if you have a concern about a child out of school hours you can call Blackburn with Darwen Children Social Care on 01254 666 400 and report it there. Alternatively, you can call 101. If you believe that it is an emergency then you call 999.
The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whatever you are going through a Samaritan will face it with you. Call 116 123 for free.
If you are a child or young person and are worried or feel unsafe then you can get help from Childline by calling 0800 1111 for free, or via 1-2-1 chat, between 7.30am and 3.30am every day.
NEW Dedicated NSPCC helpline 0800 136 663
The new helpline will provide both children and adults who are potential victims of sexual abuse in schools with the appropriate support and advice. This includes how to contact the police and report crimes if they wish. The helpline will also provide support to parents and professionals too.
Young Carers
At Darwen Aldridge Community Academy we are committed to supporting our Young Carers.
A Young Carer is anyone under the age of 18 who provides care for another family member, parent or sibling, be this practical or emotional that would normally be expected of an adult. Care can include anything from helping with household chores, cooking, medical assistance, organising and supporting siblings and emotional support. Most Young Carers do not identify as carers at first as they are caring for someone they love.
If you wish to talk about your child in this role please do contact the SLT lead for Young Carers – Mrs R Lewis (rachel.lewis@daca.uk.com)
Additional information is also available via: www.canw.org.uk
Telephone : 01254 692709 or Email: youngcarers@canw.org.uk
Additional Support
Please see below a range of links and resources which will provide you with information about key and current safeguarding risks to young people including how you can support them at home.
Online Safety
Online Safety – Lancashire Safeguarding
Online Safety – Fact sheet and guidance
Gaming – what parents and carers need to know
Parent Safe – Keeping your child safe online and beyond
Harmful Online Challenges and Online Hoaxes
Protecting young people from online sexual abuse
Staying Safe on DACA platforms
Conversation Starters - Online Content
DACA student tips for staying safe online
What parents/carers need to know about YUBO
What parents/carers need to know about instagram
What parents/carers need to know about omegle
What parents/carers need to know about youtube
What parents/carers need to know about tiktok
What parents/carers need to know about whatsapp
What parents/carers need to know about snapchat
What parents/carers need to know about facebook
Staying safe on DACA platforms
Bullying and cyberbullying | Childline
Digital Parenting Pro | Parental Controls Guide | Vodafone UK
Social media: How parents can limit its negative impact on mental health | Blogs | Anna Freud Centre
How to Minimise the Impact of Social Media on Your Mental Health | Anna Freud Centre
Mental Health
Mental Health advice for parents
Online mental health advice and support 24/7 with Kooth
Looking after your mental health
Anna Freud support for children and families
How to Tell if Social Media Is Harming Your Mental HealthChild Bereavement UKBe Well BwDHealthy Young MindsORCHA Papyrus HOPELINEUKSexual Harassment, Abuse and Harmful Sexual Behaviours
Harmful sexual behaviour in children and young people – What parents need to know
Protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation
Talking to your child about online pornography
Supporting positive sexual behaviour
Protecting young people from online sexual abuse
Brook Blackburn - Free Sexual Health and Contraception Services - Brook Blackburn
Key Safeguarding information
What we can learn from Netflix’s Adolescence
Parental update on Adolescence
Where’s the Harm? – A guide for parents to keep children safe
The Lancashire and Cumbria autism support hub
How to talk to your teenager about the invasion of Ukraine
War and Conflict- talk to your child
Parent Safeguarding Bulletins 2023-24
Spring Term 2 BulletinSummer Term 1 Bulletin