If you have a concern about a student who attends The Ruth Gorse Academy and need to speak to a Child Protection trained colleague, please contact the academy via 0113 2531600 and ask to speak to a member of the team. Alternatively, please email [email protected] FAO the Child Protection team. You can also report directly to the Child Protection Team through the ‘Tell Us’ button which is located at the top right-hand side of our website.
Our Safeguarding Team
Mr A Bell
Assistant Principal, Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding and Online Safety Coordinator
Miss Z Burlison
Vice Principal and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Ms R Gully
Assistant Principal
Mrs C Murray
Assistant Principal
Mr P Pawson
Assistant Principal
Mr J Smith
Vice Principal
Mrs O’Beirne
Director of Health & Wellbeing
Mr D Barber
Senior Careers Lead
Miss Preston
Inclusion and Safeguarding Officer
Miss E Strangeway
Inclusion and Safeguarding Officer
Miss S Horne
Inclusion and Safeguarding Officer
Miss E Jenkins
SENDCo (Currently on maternity leave)
Miss S Thabet
SENDCO
Miss A Kontominas
Strategic Lead of PA and SA
If a parent, carer, visitor or guest has any concerns about the safety, wellbeing or welfare of any student or families at The Ruth Gorse Academy please contact one of the designated staff members above. We value your support in ensuring that our students are safeguarded and that we do everything we can to prevent them from being at risk of harm or significant harm. The designated officers are able to offer support, advice and guidance to you with regards to any safeguarding or child protection concerns you may have and the Academy have specialist support services within and out of the Academy to provide care, support and guidance for students if needed.
If you require a copy of our Child Protection Policy this can be found here or please ask the staff at reception for a paper copy.
Report Remove Tool
The NSPCC have introduced a new Report Remove tool whereby children, young people and adults can report nude images of them that are circulating social media and ensure they are taken down. I know this is a significant issue for some of our young people, and schools so would advise that the information is disseminated across your organisation and added onto your website so that children, parents and staff are all aware of this.
The tool can be accessed here.
Policies and useful resources
Online Safety Saferschools App
We take e-safety really seriously here at The Ruth Gorse Academy and are proud to have partnered with the Safer Schools app to provide teachers, parents/carers and pupils with information that will help to educate, empower and protect our whole school community.
The Safer Schools app is the perfect digital safeguarding communication and training toolkit. Information on the app is constantly updated and always kept up to date with the latest digital crazes and the issues we may come across while using them.
We encourage all our staff and parents/carers to download the app to find out how to keep our children at the academy safe, whilst allowing them the freedom to explore and learn in their own digital world.
Scan the QR code below to download the app straight to your device or alternatively, search for ‘Safer schools’ in the App Store or Google Play and follow the instructions below to gain access. Once the app has been downloaded you will need to enter the code: 7675
Useful agencies for support
| Agency | Contact details | Information provided |
|---|---|---|
Hub of Hope |
Website: https://hubofhope.co.uk/ | The Hub of Hope is the UK’s national mental health support database, bringing together local, national, peer, community, charity, and NHS services in one place. It is free to use and helps children, parents, and carers quickly find the right support nearby or online. The app and website also include a “Need Help Now” button to connect directly with crisis services such as Samaritans or Shout. |
Leeds Food Aid Network |
Website: https://leedsfoodaidnetwork.co.uk/ | The Leeds Food Aid Network (FAN) brings together local food banks, pantries, drop-in kitchens, and community food provision across Leeds. You can use the FAN website to find emergency food support, low-cost meals, and helpful advice based on your location and needs. For immediate help with signposting to the right service, visit their map-based directory. |
Karma Nirvana |
Website: http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/ | Karma Nirvana is a Leeds-based charity that supports individuals affected by Honour-Based Abuse and forced marriage. They provide confidential advice, emotional and practical help, and run a free national helpline. Their work ensures that anyone at risk can access safety, support, and guidance. |
Operation Encompass |
Letter: Operation Encompass | If a child in our school experiences a domestic abuse incident, the police will inform our trained safeguarding lead before the next school day starts, so that we can offer immediate, discreet support tailored to each child’s needs. This enables us to create a nurturing environment that helps the child cope and feel secure. |
| Agency | Contact details | Information provided |
|---|---|---|
| Childline –provided by NSPCC
|
Website: www.childline.org.uk Telephone: 0800 1111 Ask Sam – through a message board facility Text ‘Shout’ for support on 85258. Contact Childline with SignVideo for children with hearing disabilities. Sign Video lets you contact through a BSL interpreter anytime from Mon-Friday, 9am -8pm. Saturdays, 9am-1pm |
To access a counsellor, they are there to listen and support you with anything you’d like to talk about. Or you can have a 1-2- counselling chat online. You can discuss anything you like from a disclosure of pregnancy, being a victim of bullying, feeling low and struggling with sleep patterns; to mental health issues, or general low mood. |
Kooth |
Website: www.kooth.com Visit kooth.com and sign up for the text based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12 noon to 10pm on a weekday and 6pm to 10pm at weekends. |
Kooth is a service which provides support with well-being and resilience. Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to 11-18 year olds who are going through a hard time. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and well-being support. This is designed specifically for young people. |
Samaritans |
Web: www.samaritans.org Email: [email protected] Telephone: 116123 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
Encourages children and adults to talk about their own mental health needs and provides top tips for managing mental health during crisis. |
Young Minds |
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk Text ‘YM’ to: 85258 Parent Helpline:0808-802-5544 |
Text YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. It also provides support and guidance for parents/carers to help support their children with managing their mental health. |
NHS |
Web: www.nhs.uk Go to: 111.nhs.uk Call 111 Accident and emergency at Leeds General Infirmary |
The NHS website offers a range of supportive material and resources from medical professionals. This includes audio narrations, for example, on managing stress, sleep patterns, coping strategies for managing anxiety. Advice can also be sought in terms of any medical issues which arise. If a young person is at crisis point please take straight to Accident and Emergency at Leeds General Infirmary. |
| Cruse
|
Website: www.cruse.org.uk Telephone: 08088081677 |
This is a service which offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. They provide tips to help yourself, or as a parent; how you can support your child. There are video links which explain the grieving process so children/ adults understand each stage of grief. |
Child Bereavement UK |
Website: www.childbereavementuk.org Helpline: 0800 02 888 40 Email: [email protected] Live chat is available via the website |
Child Bereavement UK work to provide support to families of children who have lost a loved one. |
Domestic Violence |
Website: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk 24- hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 08082000247 |
The National Domestic and Abuse Helpline is for women and children who are exposed to domestic violence. This allows you the option to seek help, support and advice. In an emergency, please call 999. |
Leeds Domestic Violence Service |
Website: www.ldvs.uk 24- hour helpline: 0113 2460401 Email: [email protected] |
The Leeds Domestic Violence Service provide women and men with choices from a range of community based services, including temporary supported housing, IDVA(independent domestic violence advocate)support, community outreach support, a telephone helpline, drop-ins and support groups. |
| Duty and Advice | Website: www.leedsscp.org.uk Telephone: 0113 3760336 |
For help and advice regarding the safeguarding of children. |
| Police
|
Website: www.westyorkshire.police In a non-emergency:101 In an emergency:999 |
Use the police to seek for advice regarding an issue which is concerning about the young people. |
Place2Be |
Website: www.place2be.org.uk Email: [email protected] Text ‘Shout’ for support on 85258. |
Well-being activities and ideas for families to complete. Counselling services. Place2Be works in partnership with Shout a 24/7 text messaging service to support anyone in crisis, anytime, anywhere. |
Stop Abuse Together |
Website: stopabusetogether.campaign.gov.uk Email: [email protected] Phone: 0808 800 5000 |
Child sexual abuse is a reality for thousands of children across our country, with at least one in ten estimated to experience sexual abuse before they turn 16. We can all play a part in protecting children and getting them the right help. That’s why it’s important to know how to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support. This website brings together advice and resources to help keep children safe. |
Parent Zone |
Website: https://parentzone.org.uk/ Email: [email protected] Phone: 020 7686 7225 |
At Parent Zone, we believe the online world offers enormous opportunities to children and young people. As the experts in digital family life, we know tech also poses huge challenges.
Our purpose is to help children face the digital future with confidence. To feel secure, to be resilient. |
| Online Safety | Contact details | Information it provides |
|---|---|---|
| NSPCC
|
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact our professional counsellors for help, advice and support. Telephone: 08088005000 Email: [email protected] Under 18 contact number: 08001111 |
This provides a useful resources for parents /carers on social networks, apps. This site also supports with online safety |
Thinkuknow |
Website: www.THINKUKNOW.co.uk | This is an educational programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline for different age groups and supports parents. |
Childnet |
Website: www.childnet.com | Childnet has produced a Parent and Carer Toolkit which is a collection of three resources designed to help you talk to your child about their online life, manage boundaries around family internet use and point you in the direction of where to get further help and support. |
| Prevent team | Website: www.leeds.gov.uk/prevent Email:[email protected] Phone number : 0113 5350810. |
If parents feel that their child has been exposed or have any concerns about radicalisation, parents can also come direct to the Prevent team |
| The UK Safer Internet Centre
|
Website: www.saferinternet.org.uk |
Parents and carers can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online. |
| Teen Connect/Mind mate
|
Phone Number 08088001212 Text service 07715661559 Website https://www.lslcs.org.uk/services/connect-helpline/teen-connect/ |
Immediate support helpline for children aged between 11-18 years old. This service provides children with emotional support offering the opportunity to have a one hour phone call each night with a specially trained member of staff. |
| Shout
|
Text 85258 Website https://www.giveusashout.org/ |
Text service for anyone in crisis. They can speak to someone through a text message and get fast responses. This is a great service to use instead of having to speak top someone over the phone. |
