Trinity Fields School have been working closely with Gwent Police as part of a new ground breaking initiative – The Trinity Protocol.
The Trinity Protocol Scheme will be used by Gwent Police to aid them in locating missing children and adults with additional needs or dealing with emergencies involving people with additional needs. It is designed to allow loved ones and caregivers the opportunity to register an individual with Gwent Police with the goal of letting officers know before they respond to a call that they might be dealing with someone with additional learning needs.
In the event that a person with additional needs requires the police in an emergency and dials 999, officer will be able to access information about the individual which may assist in communicating with them and therefore be more efficient in dealing with the emergency.
If a person with additional learning needs is missing and has completed a Trinity Protocol, officers can use the information to locate them and take them to a place of safety. Alternatively, if the person is involved in a crime or is a victim of a crime, officers will have access to their information to ensure that they know as much as possible about them and adapt their communication and approach appropriately. For example, it may be the person might not be able to speak or respond to commands or might react violently to lights or sirens.
Gary Powell, a Teaching Assistant at Trinity Fields School who worked closely on the project said, “PCSO Thomas Bingham-Vick came to me with the idea of creating the Trinity Protocol after his experience of working at our school.
“Class Teacher Sian Harris and I shared our knowledge and experiences of working at Trinity Fields School. We were able to provide some officers from Gwent Police training and were able to share our experiences of young people who have previously gone missing.”
Ian Elliott MBE, Head Teacher of Trinity Fields School commented, “I am delighted that Gary and Sian have been able to work with Gwent police to develop a protocol that helps keep children and adults with additional learning needs safe. I would encourage parents and carers to sign up to this protocol and hope that they would never need to use it, but it would be there ‘just in case!’”
Deputy chief constable Amanda Blakeman, the national lead for disability in policing added, “We’re committed to providing protection and reassurance to all members of our communities.
“This initiative is designed to provide our officers with vital information as quickly as possible, if they encounter any call for service involving person with additional learning needs.
“It is important to add that any member of our communities – parents, carers or individuals with additional learning needs themselves – can sign up for the Trinity Protocol.
“With knowledge of additional needs becoming so important in an inclusive society, it is important that we can support everyone with the respect that they deserve within our community, especially at a time when our services are needed.”
Cllr Ross Whiting, Cabinet Member for Learning and Achievement said, “It’s great that this collaboration between Trinity Fields School and Gwent Police has resulted in a fantastic initiative that could make all the difference to children and adults with additional learning needs, should they ever find themselves in a position where they need to dial 999.
“The Trinity Protocol will help officers identify the individual’s personal circumstances and allow them to adapt accordingly to ensure the safety of the child or adult and others.”
If you know an individual who would benefit from the Trinity Protocol then please fill out the below form and email to neurodiversity@gwent.pnn.police.uk.
Original Article: Caerphilly – Trinity Fields School and Gwent Police collaboration sees new ground breaking initiative launched.
To download a poster to promote this scheme, please click on the link below:
