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<p>The Department for Education does not collect data on the specialist training of
counsellors working in schools. It is up to schools decide what support to offer to
pupils, depending on their circumstances. To support the provision of counselling
support in schools, the Department published a blueprint for school counselling services. This
provides schools with practical, evidence based advice, informed by schools and counselling
experts, on how to deliver high quality school based counselling and is available
here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counselling-in-schools</a>.</p><p>The
guidance reflects the importance of using qualified and experienced counsellors and
strongly advises that counsellors should have a diploma and be on an Accredited Voluntary
Register. The precise qualifications held will depend on the role being carried out
by the counsellor and how what they do fits with wider school support.</p><p>Headteachers
and governing bodies are responsible for making decisions about how best to educate
staff on their school’s responsibilities for safeguarding and child protection. All
staff should undergo safeguarding and child protection training. This training should
be in line with advice from the local three safeguarding partners, considering the
specific needs of individual schools. In addition, designated safeguarding leads have
a duty to ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the school’s child
protection and procedures.</p><p>Schools should consider reflecting domestic abuse
in this training. The ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ statutory guidance also
makes it clear that if a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm a referral should
be made to children’s social care immediately and, if appropriate, the police. The
guidance includes an annex providing additional information on specific types of harm
and abuse and additional information for staff on identifying and responding to domestic
abuse. The guidance sets out that all schools should have an effective child protection
policy.</p><p>The founders of Operation Encompass, an information sharing, safeguarding
initiative between police and schools, have set up a teachers’ helpline to assist
staff in educational settings to support children who may be experiencing domestic
abuse. Currently funded by the Home Office, with contribution from the Department
for Education, the helpline is available weekdays from 8am to 1pm during term-time.
It is manned by educational psychologists who can offer support and guidance to teachers,
to help them to better understand the effect of domestic abuse on a child and to discuss
strategies to help support the child during the school day. Further information about
the helpline and resources for teachers are available here: <a href="https://www.operationencompass.org/school-participation/resources-for-teachers"
target="_blank">https://www.operationencompass.org/school-participation/resources-for-teachers</a>.</p>
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