Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Nightingale Community Academy; Tooting; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialized educational institution in Tooting is seeking a passionate Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead to establish a safeguarding culture at their new satellite site. The ideal candidate will have experience managing safeguarding in schools, a strong understanding of relevant legislation, and a positive attitude. This role involves supporting staff training and championing safeguarding procedures to ensure a safe environment for students. Join a rewarding team committed to developing young people with special education needs.

Benefits

Pension Scheme

Employee Wellbeing support

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Qualifications

• Experience of managing safeguarding in a school or relevant organization.
• Expert knowledge of safeguarding legislation and guidance.

Responsibilities

• Champion safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Support the DSL in handling abuse cases.
• Ensure staff have timely safeguarding training.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication

Ability to support victims

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Level 3 Safeguarding training

Job description

DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation

Salary : SC6 / SO1 Inner London - Actual £32,115.49 – £36,189.77 - FTE - £37,505 - £42,263

Location : Nightingale Community Academy, Priory Lane Satellite Site, London, SW15 5RT

Working Pattern : Term Time Only, Monday – Friday, 36 hours per week

Start Date : April 2026

Nightingale Community Academy is a special school in Wandsworth, providing education for boys aged between 5 to 19 with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. Our primary pupils benefit from a purpose-built classroom hub, an outdoor adventure playground, weekly music lessons, and a comprehensive therapy service. Secondary and post-16 students have access to a broad curriculum, including vocational courses such as motor vehicle studies, construction, horticulture, and hospitality. All pupils also enjoy regular animal therapy sessions at Tom’s Farm, located on our expansive school grounds.

Staff at Nightingale Community Academy take pride in the development of young people in a safe and stimulating environment and are offered a rewarding and varied career in return.

We are excited to announce the development of a new satellite site, opening after Easter 2026. This provision will offer up to 72 secondary places for boys and girls, introduced through a phased build-up over three years. Joining the team at this new site provides a unique opportunity to help shape a brand new provision from the ground up, creating a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment for students from day one.

We are now seeking an experienced and passionate Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (Deputy DSL) to play a key role in establishing a safe, supportive, and responsive safeguarding culture at our new satellite provision. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the ethos, systems, and safeguarding practices of a brand new site from the very start, working alongside an already well respected and supportive school community.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a champion of the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures by supporting the DSL to ensure all staff have access to and understand them.
• Recognise how to identify signs of abuse and when to make a referral.
• Under the advice of the DSL, ensure that students who are victims of abuse are supported appropriately and sensitively and that all actions for the school from planning and intervention meetings are carried out and monitored.
• Support the DSL to ensure all staff have safeguarding induction within their first 7 days and receive frequent updates so that they are able to recognise and report any concerns immediately.
• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise within the school.

Key Requirements

• Educated to GCSE standard in English and Maths.
• Level 3 Safeguarding training.
• Experience of managing safeguarding in a school or other relevant organisation.
• Expert knowledge of legislation and guidance on safeguarding and working with young people, including knowledge of the responsibilities of schools and other agencies.
• “Can do” positive attitude; enthusiastic and committed, remains motivated, even when under pressure, to ensure that a high standard service to the customer is maintained.

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees :

Rewards & Benefits

• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work - visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to hear from our Chief Executive Officer, John Prior, and watch inspiring messages from students and parents about the difference our staff make every day.

Our Trust

Nightingale Community Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.

To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.

Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.

Closing Date : 12th December 2025

Interviews will take place on : 17th December 2025

Safeguarding Statement

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.