Wellbeing and Safeguarding

Safeguarding:

The full Alpha Trust Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available in the policies section of the website.

All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to protect them and to provide a safe environment in which they can learn and achieve their full potential. However, there are key people within schools and the Local Authority who have specific responsibilities under child protection procedures. The names of those in our schools with these specific responsibilities i.e. the Designated Safeguarding Leads and Deputy Safeguarding Leads are outlined below:

The Designated Safeguarding Lead in school takes lead responsibility for managing child protection referrals, safeguarding training and raising awareness of all child protection policies and procedures. They ensure that everyone in school (including temporary staff, volunteers and contractors) is aware of these procedures and that they are followed at all times. They act as a source of advice and support for other staff (on child protection matters) and ensure that timely referrals to Essex Children’s Social Care (Family Operations Hub) are made in accordance with current SET Procedures. They work with the local authority and other agencies as required.

Wellbeing

The Student Wellbeing Ambassador Programme was launched at CCHSG in September 2018. We now have a team of 16 ambassadors representing all Year Groups across the school. The Student Wellbeing Ambassadors promote and support the safety and wellbeing of all students throughout the school. They serve as positive role models for other students and support Student Voice to influence daily life within school.

Our ambassadors have completed training developed in partnership with the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and the School Wellbeing Service teams in a range of local authorities. It is delivered by Worth-it Positive Education www.worthit.org.uk The workshops train students in approaches and strategies that will help them to develop and lead peer support projects that reduce stigma, improve access, develop positive coping and reduce stress, with the aim of improving wellbeing through peer support.

Wellbeing Ambassadors undertake activities such as leading assemblies on the theme of exam stress with ideas for coping strategies. They also worked with Student Voice to produce a wellbeing leaflet for students.
Another wellbeing activity was the introduction of “Mile Monday” across the school during the summer term. Students are invited to enjoy the benefits of walking a mile at lunchtime and the numbers participating average 260 each week. The ambassadors have also been instrumental in introducing a range of clubs with a wellbeing focus such as yoga, board games, benchball, dodgeball and progressive muscle relaxation.