Care- Experienced Safeguarding Officer

Jobsinkent; Hadlow, Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff parking

Onsite facilities

CPD days

Job summary

North Kent College is seeking a compassionate Care-Experienced Safeguarding Officer to advocate for Looked After Children and Care Leavers across Hadlow and Tonbridge campuses, ensuring their voices are heard and they have the support they need to thrive.

You will manage a caseload, support Personal Education Plan meetings, collaborate with Virtual Schools, social workers and partners to provide safeguarding and welfare support, and champion learners’ wellbeing and progression.

Qualifications

• Level 3 safeguarding qualification or equivalent.
• Enhanced DBS check (including barred list).
• Ability to travel between campuses and have access to a car during working hours.

Responsibilities

• Manage caseload of Looked After Children and Care Leavers.
• Support Personal Education Plan meetings and coordinate with partners.
• Work with Virtual Schools, social workers and other partners to provide safeguarding and welfare support.
• Advocate for education, wellbeing and progression for learners.

Skills

Communication

Organisation

IT skills

Empathy

Education

Level 3 safeguarding qualification

Job description

Do you believe every young person deserves someone in their corner? We’re looking for a compassionate and tenacious Care-Experienced Safeguarding Officer to champion our Looked After Children and Care Leavers, ensuring their voices are heard and they have the support they need to thrive.

Working across our Hadlow and Tonbridge campuses, you’ll manage a caseload, act as a Designated Member of Staff, support Personal Education Plan meetings, help learners access statutory entitlements, and work with Virtual Schools, social workers and other partners to provide effective safeguarding and welfare support.

You’ll build trusted relationships with care‑experienced learners, advocating for their education, wellbeing and future progression into training, apprenticeships or employment.

The successful candidate will hold a Level 3 safeguarding qualification or equivalent, with strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, DfE guidance and the needs of Looked After Children and Care Leavers. You’ll have excellent communication, organisation and IT skills, sound judgement when handling sensitive information, and a calm, empathetic and resilient approach. An enhanced DBS, including barred list check, is required, along with the ability to travel between campuses and access to a car during working hours.

The Role

The role is based at our Hadlow and Tonbridge Campuses.

Your hours

37 hours per week, 40 weeks per annum

Your pay

£23,924.21 pro rata per annum + £4,464.39 holiday pay (£31,187 full-time equivalent)

The College

North Kent College (including Hadlow College) is proudly rated as an Ofsted ‘Good’ provider, with ‘Outstanding’ learner behaviours and attitudes (April 2024). With four campuses across Kent (Dartford, Gravesend, Hadlow and Tonbridge) and over 6,000 students, we strive to equip the young people who study here with an inclusive and innovative education experience to enhance their future career prospects, which, as noted by Ofsted, is supported through our high-quality, industry standard facilities. Each and every staff member plays a key part in delivering the success of our learners’ experience, and we want those who join our curriculum and support teams to share our passion in achieving this.

The Benefits

• Enrolment onto the People’s Partnership pension scheme (as part of the staff of North Kent College Business Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of North Kent College).
• Access to free parking and a number of onsite facilities, including gyms, restaurants and coffee shops.
• CPD days and access to several discount memberships through being an employee at a College.

North Kent College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and all staff have a responsibility to share and maintain this commitment. In line with the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, appropriate safeguarding checks (including an enhanced DBS check) will be undertaken on all individuals selected for appointment. Posts at the College, a specified establishment where the work gives opportunity for contact with children, are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. It is an offence to apply for a post which involves engaging in regulated activity relevant to children if you are barred from doing so. Please be advised that, again in line with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, shortlisted candidates (who wish to accept an invite to interview) will be required to complete and submit prior to their interview a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. Further guidance / information from the Ministry of Justice can be found on GOV.UK.