Designated Safeguarding Lead

Witherslack Group; Chorley; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training

Full school holidays

Flexible benefits

Wellbeing tools

Medical cover

Excellent facilities

Refer a friend £1,000

Contributory pension 5%

Job summary

Witherslack Group is seeking a Designated Safeguarding Lead for Westmorland School in the UK. You will lead safeguarding, work with statutory and non-statutory agencies, parents and staff to promote wellbeing and child protection, and provide expert guidance to the school team.

You will report to the Head Teacher, collaborate with colleagues across Witherslack Group to develop safeguarding practice, CPD and policies, and ensure high standards of safety and support for pupils with complex needs.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years’ experience in a Designated Safeguarding Lead role.
• Comprehensive portfolio of CPD related to Safeguarding and Child Protection.
• Outstanding interpersonal and problem resolution skills.
• A genuinely empathetic approach is essential.
• Full UK driving licence is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding within the school and liaise with statutory and non-statutory agencies, parents/carers and staff on matters of wellbeing, child protection and safeguarding.
• Provide support, advice and expertise to the school team.
• Collaborate with other Witherslack Group teams in different locations to progress safeguarding practices.

Skills

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Problem resolution

CPD in safeguarding

Tools

Full UK driving licence

Job description

£36,581 - £46,579 + excellent benefits

Please note that applications for this role will close on 1st November 2026, with interviews scheduled for 11th November 2026.

Important

You must provide your full employment history, both paid and unpaid, from the age of 16 onwards as part of your application, including roles that may not be relevant to the position.

Those Huge Small Victories

For children with complex, challenging needs, the level of care and education must go above and beyond and that’s what drives us here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we’re proud to have won a reputation for excellence. Our aspirational homes, schools and ethos help us achieve the best possible outcomes. In short, we’re enhancing life opportunities. Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are a huge part of making sure our children and young people’s needs are fully recognised and comprehensively met.

Get out what you put in

You will work as part of the leadership team and report directly to the Head Teacher for this crucial role. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other members of the Witherslack Group team in different locations to enable you to progress and develop your skills and knowledge.

As a Designated Safeguarding Lead you will take responsibility for safeguarding within the school, this means that on a daily basis you will be liaising with statutory and non‑statutory agencies, parents/carers and staff on matters of wellbeing , child protection and safeguarding and will be a great source of support, advice and expertise in the team.

One of the best environments in SEND

Westmorland School is highly regarded for the quality of its specialist provision, consistently earning praise from parents, professionals and Ofsted. With dedicated primary and secondary campuses, the school delivers highly personalised educational experiences tailored to the diverse needs of its pupils. Through specialist learning environments and individualised support, Westmorland enables pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Complex Needs, Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs to access a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum.

The school’s sustained growth, strong external recognition and positive outcomes reflect the impact of its inclusive and nurturing approach. Across both campuses, Westmorland is committed to ensuring every child receives an outstanding education that builds on their strengths, supports their individual needs and raises aspirations. Through specialist expertise, innovative practice and a strong commitment to inclusion, the school empowers pupils to thrive academically, socially and emotionally, preparing them successfully for the next stage of their education and beyond.

What we do for you

Benefits

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high‑street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time
• Contributory pension scheme – matched up to 5%

Bring your whole-self to work

Role

Our young people and their families come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. As well as having at least 3 years’ experience in a Designated Safeguarding Lead role, we will also look for:

• Comprehensive portfolio of CPD related to Safeguarding and Child Protection.
• Outstanding interpersonal and problem resolution skills.
• A genuinely empathetic approach is also essential
• Full UK driving licence

Interested in joining us?

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong.

As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference- especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.