Career & Work Experience Lead and DSL (KEY099BC)

Keyham Lodge School; England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Cycle-to-work scheme

Gym discounts

Eyecare vouchers

Dental support

Retail discounts

Annual incremental pay increases

Job summary

Keyham Lodge School is seeking an inspiring Careers & Work Experience Lead who will also serve as part of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) team. You will shape our all‑through careers programme, open doors to meaningful experiences with local employers, and lead safeguarding across the school.

You will design and deliver group learning, organise work placements, build partnerships with colleges and employers, and maintain safeguarding records and CPOMS.

Qualifications

• Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance (or degree-level education).
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in careers/employability organisations, including delivering guidance and presentations, interviewing and stakeholder engagement—ideally with school-based experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide impartial careers information, advice and guidance to students.
• Design and deliver group learning through seminars, workshops and tutorials bringing the world of work into the classroom.
• Act as the key contact for college/university applications, ensuring timely, accurate support.
• Organise work placements and maintain partnerships with local businesses; coordinate staffing for Work Experience Week.
• Champion safeguarding—keep SLAs, QA and Risk Assessments up‑to‑date; maintain CPOMS and represent safeguarding at meetings.
• Support behaviour strategies and deliver purposeful 1:1 sessions.
• Lead Project Weeks linking KS4 activity to National Careers Week and KS3 projects.
• Coordinate mock interview training and suitable programmes with partner organisations.
• Maintain relationships with LLEP and monitor progression using Compass Plus; attend meetings.
• Track destinations and monitor leavers’ progression with a RAG‑rated database.

Education

Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance

Job description

Career & Work Experience and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Keyham Lodge School

Salary: Grade 10 Pay Point 23-26 (Approximate starting salary of £26,462.64)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 31.25 hours weeks per year and 39 weeks per year. ( Term Time at 38 weeks, plus INSET days and additional one week)

We’re searching for an inspiring Careers & Work Experience Lead who will also serve as part of our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) team. This pivotal role shapes our all‑through careers programme, opens doors to meaningful experiences with local employers, and leads best‑practice safeguarding across the school.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide impartial careers information, advice and guidance—supporting students to explore options, set realistic action plans and develop employability skills.
• Design and deliver group learning through seminars, workshops and tutorials that bring the world of work into the classroom.
• Act as the key contact for college/university applications, ensuring timely, accurate support.
• Organise work placements and maintain strong partnerships with local businesses; ensure documentation and resourcing are in place, and coordinate staffing for Work Experience Week.
• Champion safeguarding—keep SLAs, QA and Risk Assessments up‑to‑date; ensure visibility of safeguarding information off‑site; lead audits and maintain robust records on CPOMS; and represent safeguarding at relevant meetings.
• Support behaviour strategies and deliver purposeful 1:1 sessions.
• Lead Project Weeks: link KS4 activity to National Careers Week and embed careers themes across KS3 projects.
• Coordinate mock interview training and suitable programmes (e.g., through Leicestershire Cares).
• Maintain productive relationships with the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and undertake quarterly monitoring using Compass Plus; attend relevant meetings and conferences.
• Track destinations—oversee checks on leavers and monitor progression using a RAG‑rated database, raising concerns in line with procedure.
• Keep our careers website up‑to‑date as a central hub for guidance, resources and monitoring.
• Engage with the Employment HUB/DWP to unlock apprenticeships, training and progression opportunities, coordinating staff involvement to build employability skills.
• Lead transition to college or APS: develop robust plans, use tools such as PS‑16, track and support student progress, and maintain safeguarding documentation.
• Liaise with external partners and schools to identify companies offering placements and deepen employer links.
• Coordinate family support—manage referrals to multi‑agency services and maintain CPOMS updates, monitoring and analysis for SLT.

Why Choose Keyham Lodge School?

Keyham Lodge is a vibrant and diverse special school for KS3 and KS4 students, welcoming both girls and boys. Every student has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and many have experienced disrupted education before joining us. We are relentless in removing barriers to learning, closing attainment gaps, and providing an inclusive, child‑centred, learning‑focused environment. Our aim is to ensure the academic, personal and social development of all students so they can fulfil their potential in school and in the wider community.

We celebrate individual talents and believe education extends beyond the core curriculum and the classroom. Our curriculum is adapted to prepare students for their next stage, whether in further education or the workplace. Our diverse intake—from a wide range of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds—enriches our unique values and ethos and strengthens our commitment to belonging and ambition for every child.

“The school continues to train teachers to use the most effective teaching methods. This means staff are extremely knowledgeable about the special educational needs of pupils and how to adapt their teaching to meet these needs.”- OFSTED

What you will bring

A relationship‑builder and an excellent communicator who collaborates confidently across teaching and non‑teaching teams. You’re calm under pressure, resilient and bring energy, empathy and a sense of humour. You plan, deliver and evaluate programmes, maintain confidentiality, and keep meticulous records

Qualifications

• Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance (or degree‑level education).

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in careers/employability organisations, including delivering guidance and presentations, interviewing and stakeholder engagement—ideally with school‑based experience.

Why Join Us?

Professional Growth & Support

• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Access to learning networks and visits to other organisations.
• Supportive leadership and a highly committed team.
• Highly committed and motivated Team.
• A role which has the opportunity to make a real difference whilst having fun.
• A established Central Services Team who support schools and wider colleagues.

Work-Life & Wellbeing Benefits

• Flexible working options.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Defined benefit pension scheme.
• Be an integral member of the team in a vibrant school.
• Create an outstanding learning environment for the success of all of our children.
• Play a significant part in continuing to develop our school.
• Be part of a wider community of Discovery Schools Trust.
• Free childcare.

Additional Perks

• Free parking.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Gym discounts.
• Eyecare vouchers.
• Dental support.
• Retail discounts.
• Annual incremental pay increases within