Alternate Safeguarding Lead

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Flexible working

Job summary

Copleston High School in Ipswich is seeking an Alternate Safeguarding Lead to join our safeguarding team. You will support the Designated Safeguarding Lead, manage safeguarding concerns, and liaise with external agencies to safeguard students.

The role requires experience with children or vulnerable families, strong safeguarding knowledge, and the ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative. You will maintain records and handle sensitive information professionally.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children, young people or vulnerable families is essential.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection principles.
• Ability to build effective relationships with students, families and external professionals.
• Ability to work as part of a team and use initiative.
• Maintain accurate records and handle sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead and safeguarding team.
• Manage safeguarding concerns and liaise with external agencies.
• Represent the school in multi-agency meetings and provide targeted support.
• Build positive relationships with students and families to promote safeguarding.
• Ensure records are maintained accurately and confidentially.

Skills

Child experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Teamwork

Initiative

Record keeping

Tools

CPOMS

Job description

• Copleston High School
• Address: Copleston Road, Ipswich IP4 5HD
• Salary: £25,346 - £27,472 per annum
• Hours: 37 hours per week, 41 weeks per year
• Contract: Permanent
• Reference: 5717

Are you passionate about improving the lives of young people and ensuring they are safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential?

Copleston High School are seeking a committed and proactive Alternate Safeguarding Lead (ASL) to join our experienced and highly regarded safeguarding team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting vulnerable students and their families within a large, successful secondary school.

Working alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you will help promote a strong culture of safeguarding throughout the school, manage safeguarding concerns, work closely with external agencies and provide targeted support and intervention for vulnerable students. The role involves building positive relationships with students and families, representing the school at multi-agency meetings and supporting colleagues to ensure students receive the help they need.

We are looking for an individual who:

• has experience working with children, young people or vulnerable families within education, social care, health, youth work or a related setting
• has a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection principles
• can build effective relationships with students, families and external professionals
• is confident working as part of a team while also using their own initiative
• can maintain accurate and detailed records and manage sensitive information appropriately
• remains calm and professional when dealing with challenging situations.

Experience of liaising with external agencies, making safeguarding referrals and using CPOMS (or a similar safeguarding recording system) would be advantageous.

If you are committed to safeguarding, inclusion and supporting young people to overcome barriers to success, we would like to hear from you.

For more information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact at Mr H Palmer (Designated Safeguarding Lead) on [e-mail]

For additional information about the Trust and this school, please visit our website https://www.copleston.suffolk.sch.uk

If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know so that the appropriate arrangements can be put in place. Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to interview candidates who meet the essential criteria prior to the closing date and / or to close the opportunity to applicants once we receive sufficient applications.

Please note CVs are not accepted.

Closing date: 16 November 2026

Interview date: week commencing 23 November 2026

As an employee of Oxlip Learning Partnership (the Trust), you are automatically enrolled into membership of either the Teachers' Pension Scheme or for support staff, the Local Government Pension Scheme, competitive salary, free parking on school grounds, flexible working opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential wellbeing support and extensive training and development opportunities to help you grow your career. Above all, you'll join a welcoming and supportive team of colleagues who are passionate about delivering the best outcomes for our students.

We value our staff and actively maintain a culture in which respect, empathy and honesty are the cornerstone of positive relationships throughout the Trust.

The Oxlip Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools. Child protection training will also need to be undertaken.

Oxlip Learning Partnership promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from all sections of society. We are always keen to hear from talented professionals, at all stages of their career, who believe they can support us in achieving our vision.

‘The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment’