Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

ARK SCHOOLS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational network is seeking an experienced Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead to join their Ark Pioneer Academy in London. You will support safeguarding and child protection initiatives, ensuring student safety and well-being. Candidates should have prior safeguarding experience and excellent communication skills. The academy prioritizes staff development and offers a collaborative working environment, making this an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals. The role comes with a competitive salary and rewarding benefits.

Benefits

Bespoke training and professional development

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing support

Discounts and perks

Qualifications

• Experience in safeguarding, preferably in an educational setting.
• Strong understanding of child protection and statutory guidance.
• Confidence in managing sensitive information appropriately.

Responsibilities

• Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead with safeguarding matters.
• Act as a point of contact for safeguarding concerns.
• Manage safeguarding casework and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Prior safeguarding experience

Excellent communication skills

High levels of organisation

Ability to manage sensitive information

Proactive problem-solving approach

Job description

About The Role

Reporting to : Designated Safeguarding Lead
Location : Ark Pioneer Academy
Contract : Permanent
Working Pattern : Term Time
Start date : January 2026
Salary : Band 9 of the Ark Support Scale : £38,440 to £46,134

The role

We are seeking to appoint an experienced, committed and highly organised Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) to support the continued development of our strong safeguarding culture at Ark Pioneer Academy. This is an exciting opportunity to join a truly exceptional team and play a key role in ensuring that every child at Ark Pioneer is safe, supported and able to thrive.

In this pivotal role, you will support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with all safeguarding and child protection matters across the school. You will act as a first point of contact for safeguarding concerns, lead on casework, liaise with external agencies, and ensure robust, compliant safeguarding systems and processes are in place. Your work will be central to promoting pupil wellbeing, early help and effective intervention across the school.

What’s special about this role?

This role sits at the heart of the school’s pastoral and safeguarding systems, ensuring that every child receives timely and appropriate support. You will work closely with the DSL, senior leaders, pastoral teams and external agencies to maintain the highest standards of safeguarding practice. Key aspects of the role include, but are not limited to :

• Acting as a key point of contact for safeguarding concerns and referrals
• Managing safeguarding casework and maintaining accurate, secure records
• Supporting the DSL with the implementation of statutory safeguarding duties
• Coordinating early help interventions and liaising with external agencies
• Contributing to multi‑agency meetings, reports and action plans
• Ensuring compliance with “Keeping Children Safe in Education” and all Ark safeguarding policies
• Promoting a culture of vigilance, professional curiosity and early intervention across the school

Your work will play a crucial role in protecting pupils, promoting wellbeing and strengthening our safeguarding provision.

Who are we looking for?

At Ark Pioneer, we believe every child has the right to feel safe, valued and supported at school—and safeguarding is fundamental to achieving this. We are looking for someone who shares this belief and who brings :

• Prior safeguarding experience, ideally in a school or similar setting
• A strong understanding of child protection, early help and statutory guidance
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills
• High levels of organisation, discretion and professional judgement
• Confidence in managing sensitive information appropriately
• The ability to analyse information, identify risks and act swiftly
• A proactive, solutions‑focused and compassionate approach

Experience working in education is desirable, but candidates with relevant safeguarding experience in social care, youth work or related sectors are also encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Why will you love our school?

There are lots of reasons! We’re lucky to be based in a brand‑new building with top‑class facilities and serve a wonderfully diverse community—non‑denominational, mixed gender, with two‑fifths of pupils receiving pupil premium funding. Our values Aim High, Have Integrity, Be Kind and Model Determination shape everything we do, and our team unites behind a shared vision of excellence for all pupils.

We prioritise staff development and wellbeing. You’ll receive coaching and tailored professional development to help you grow in your role, and you’ll join a warm, collaborative team who thrive on supporting each other. With our extended school day (4pm finish four days a week), we deliver a rich and broad curriculum for our pupils—yet we never hold meetings after school.

Our team says : All staff are incredibly supportive and positive, and it is a great environment to work in.

• Read more about our school here
• Click here to see our school in action
• Click here to read our Ofsted report from September 2023

What are the benefits of working with Ark?

As part of the Ark network, you will have access to bespoke training and professional development, as well as opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across our North London region and beyond. Many Ark staff progress to leadership roles across the network.

Ark employees also benefit from a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support, and a range of discounts and perks. Simply put, you won’t find a more supportive or ambitious network of schools. Read more about Ark here