Children's Welfare Officer

Hollingworth Learning Trust; Rochdale; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing benefits

Discretionary leave

Family friendly policies

Job summary

Hollingworth Learning Trust is seeking a dedicated Children’s Welfare Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead to join the School Leadership Team at Lowerplace Primary Academy. The role focuses on leading safeguarding, implementing intervention programmes, and coordinating with families and services to protect children’s welfare.

You will manage welfare cases, contribute to policy adherence, and represent the school at Child Protection Conferences in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading safeguarding and child protection work.
• Ability to plan and implement targeted interventions for children and families.
• Strong understanding of statutory guidance and legal frameworks related to safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Lead in protecting children from abuse and manage welfare caseloads.
• Represent the school at Child Protection Conferences.
• Work with families and multidisciplinary teams to address welfare issues.
• Promote positive relationships with families to support children's welfare.

Skills

Child protection

Multi-disciplinary work

Welfare safeguarding

Job description

Salary: NJC Grade 7 Scale Point 25 – 29. Actual salary between £33,634 - £36,870.

Closing date for applications: 18 November 2026, 8.00am

We are seeking to appoint a dedicated professional to join our School Leadership Team in the role of Children's Welfare Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead / DDSL. If you can act as the lead professional in all matters relating to children’s welfare and child protection, have a strong understanding of statutory guidance, and possess the expertise to plan and implement targeted intervention programmes for children and their families, you may be the person we are looking for and we would love to have a chat with you about the role and your potential application.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in child protection and multi-disciplinary work with children and families, with a good understanding of legal frameworks relating to safeguarding, attendance, and SEND. You will take a lead in the protection of children from abuse, taking responsibility on a daily basis for welfare matters, managing caseloads, and representing the school at Child Protection Conferences. You will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and have the ability to form and sustain positive relationships with families to address problems that impede children's welfare.

About us… Lowerplace Primary Academy is a three-form entry school, transitioning to become a two-form entry school by 2030, and we are proud to have recently joined the Hollingworth Learning Trust. Our vision at Lowerplace is 'Inspire and Achieve Together'. We believe that learning should be engaging, developing a sense of curiosity and wonder that inspires our children to both develop a lifelong love of learning and the determination and resilience to achieve their full potential.

The Role…

Contract Information: Permanent, 37 hours per week. Working hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 – 16:00 (with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break and 30-minute early finish once a week). Term time plus two weeks. Start and finish times to be negotiated and agreed at interview.

Start date: To be negotiated and agreed at interview.

Salary: NJC Grade 7 Scale Point 25 – 29. Actual salary between £33,634 - £36,870.

Other Benefits: Varioushealth & wellbeing benefits, discretionary leave and family friendly working practices and more! The Pension provider is the Local Government Pension Scheme, GMPF. The employer contributions are generous and help to provide you and your family with security for your future.

Hollingworth Learning Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS disclosure and all other pre-employment checks outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups including those based on ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.