Safeguarding
Who takes responsibility for safeguarding in our school?
Safeguarding is the responsibility of everybody.
We urge anyone with a concern about a child, no matter how minor it seems, to report your worries to a member of our team, or straight to MASH, who is the direct contact for safeguarding concerns in our county.
0345 050 7666
In an emergency, please also email head@boddingtonschool.org with the subject heading: Safeguarding and contact details. A Designated Safeguarding Lead will then contact you as soon as they are able.
This email is checked regularly at all times
Meet our safeguarding team
Zoe O'Malley
Acting Head of School
Safeguarding Lead
Sinead Kelly
Acting Assistant Head of School
Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Ricky Emms
CEO
Designated Safeguarding Lead
What is MASH?
About the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
Concerns are dealt with by a dedicated team of child protection professionals known as the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). The MASH brings together staff and information from the following agencies within Northamptonshire:
- Children's Social Care
- The Crime Reduction Initiative
- A Domestic Abuse Advisor
- The Early Help Team
- The East Midlands Ambulance Service
- Education / Schools
- The Fire and Rescue Service
- Health / NHS
- Police
- The Probation Service
- The Youth Offending Team
The MASH team identify risks to (and needs of) children at the earliest possible point and respond with the most effective, joined up actions. The aim of the MASH is to make the right decisions for the right families at the right time.
Children and young people may come to the attention of the MASH team because:
- A parent or carer may have requested support directly
- A professional may feel that a family need help or support
- A child or their family come into contact with the police
- A child tells someone about abuse (either physical, sexual, or emotional)
When a child is referred, the case is assigned to a professional group within the MASH who will gather any information about the child/family as quickly as possible.
A senior and experienced Social Work Practitioner will use the Thresholds Guidance to decide if the child's circumstances mean that the case should be dealt with by the MASH or if the Early Help Team should find a solution instead.