The Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust and all its Local Governing Bodies are committed to their responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and to work together to ensure arrangements within our schools identify, assess and support those children and young people who are suffering harm. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility across our schools, staff, volunteers and governance. We adhere to statutory guidance including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
All DCAT schools follow the same Trust wide model Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which can be found on the individual school’s website. All DCAT schools report safeguarding concerns through MyConcern. Strategic overview and management of safeguarding is led by the Trust Centre staff with reports shared at Trustee level.
Trust Safeguarding Team
The Trust Safeguarding team provides strategic oversight and support to all DCAT schools.
Contact via email: trustdsl@dcat.academy
- Dominique Ivil – Head of Safeguarding & Trust Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
- Mark Talbot – CEO, Trust Deputy DSL
- Karen Stant – Director of People, Trust Deputy DSL
- Nick Taunt – Interim Chair of DCAT Trust Board
- Nick Wilkinson – Safeguarding Lead Trustee
How to Raise Safeguarding Concerns
If you have a safeguarding concern, please follow these steps:
- Concerns about a child or young person > report to school DSL or Headteacher
- Concerns about a member of staff or volunteer > report to the Headteacher at the school.
- Concerns about a Headteacher or DCAT Centre staff > report to the Trust DSL team via email trustdsl@dcat.academy
- Concerns about the Trust CEO > report to Nick Taunt, Interim Chair of the Trust Board email: ntaunt@dcat.academy or contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
- Emergency, if a child is at immediate risk > call 999.
CEOP is a part of the National Crime Agency and is dedicated to tackling the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and young people. CEOP helps children and young people under the age of 18 who have been forced or manipulated into taking part, or are being pressured to take part, in sexual activity both online and offline. The CEOP Safety Centre offers information and advice for children and young people, parents and carers and professionals. You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre and make a report directly to CEOP by clicking the Click CEOP button.
Childline: Childline is a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, we’re here for you online, on the phone, anytime by calling 0800 1111 or click on the Childline button.
NSPCC: The NSPCC provide therapeutic services to help children move on from abuse, as well as supporting parents and families in caring for their children. We help professionals make the best decisions for children and young people, and support communities to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place. You can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
For Whistleblowing purposes, if you do not feel that the DCAT team has taken your concerns onboard, or you do not feel able to raise them with us, then you can contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the NSPCC directly on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.