Designated Safeguarding Lead

Devon County Council; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Belong School Devon is seeking an experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead to lead safeguarding and child protection across our specialist school. You will work with pupils, families and staff to embed safeguarding into everyday practice and inform decisions with professional judgement.

The role requires trauma-informed, relational approaches, strong collaboration with external agencies and a commitment to safeguarding excellence, ensuring every pupil feels safe and supported.

Qualifications

• Substantial safeguarding and child protection experience.
• Ability to make timely, proportionate safeguarding decisions.
• Understanding SEND safeguarding needs and trauma-informed approaches.
• Ability to lead and influence colleagues at all levels.
• Experience working with families and multi-agency professionals.
• Ability to analyse safeguarding information and identify patterns.
• Calm, resilient, organised, with competing priorities.
• Committed to continuing professional development in safeguarding.
• Engagement with ongoing safeguarding skill enhancement.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding and child protection arrangements in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Act as the school's designated lead for safeguarding concerns and referrals.
• Provide advice, guidance and support on safeguarding thresholds and actions.
• Ensure safeguarding records are accurate, secure and maintained.
• Develop a strong safeguarding culture across staff.
• Lead safeguarding training, supervision, monitoring and QA.
• Collaborate with families, social care, health, local authorities and partners.
• Support safeguarding team and ensure clear responsibilities.
• Contribute to strategic school improvement and safeguarding for vulnerable pupils.
• Report to proprietors with safeguarding information when required.

Skills

Safeguarding leadership

Multi-agency collaboration

Risk assessment

Professional judgement

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

As DSL, you will provide strategic leadership for safeguarding and child protection, ensuring that safeguarding is embedded in the school's culture and informs everyday practice. You will work closely with all members of the leadership team, all school staff, families and external professionals to ensure that concerns are identified promptly, responded to effectively and followed through to the right outcome.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the school's safeguarding and child protection arrangements in line with statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Acting as the school's designated lead for safeguarding concerns, referrals, case management and liaison with relevant external agencies.
• Providing advice, guidance and support to staff on safeguarding concerns, thresholds, professional curiosity and appropriate action.
• Ensuring safeguarding records are accurate, timely, secure and maintained to a high standard.
• Develop and maintain a strong safeguarding culture in which staff feel confident to raise concerns, challenge appropriately and act in the best interests of pupils.
• Leading safeguarding training, supervision, monitoring and quality assurance, identifying themes and areas for improvement.
• Working collaboratively with families, social care, health professionals, local authorities and other partner agencies.
• Leading and supporting the school safeguarding team comprised of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, ensuring clear responsibilities and effective cover.
• Contributing to strategic leadership, school improvement and the wider development of provision for vulnerable pupils.
• Reporting to proprietors and providing safeguarding information when required

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has substantial experience of safeguarding and child protection, including managing complex cases involving vulnerable children and young people.
• Has the knowledge, confidence and professional judgement to make timely, proportionate safeguarding decisions.
• Understands the safeguarding needs of children with SEND and the importance of trauma-informed, relational approaches.
• Can lead and influence colleagues at all levels, building confidence, consistency and accountability across the school.
• Is confident working with families and multi-agency professionals, including in challenging or sensitive circumstances.
• Can analyse safeguarding information, identify patterns and use evidence to improve practice.
• Is calm, resilient, organised and able to manage competing priorities while keeping the needs of children at the centre of every decision.
• Is committed to continuous professional development and maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding practice.
• Is keen to engage fully with continuing professional development and the ongoing enhancement of safeguarding skills, knowledge and best practice.

You will need to meet the current statutory requirements for the DSL role, including the relevant safeguarding training and experience.

Why join Belong School Devon?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people who need adults to be consistent, thoughtful and determined in keeping them safe. You will join a team that recognises the importance of relationships, inclusion and understanding each young person's individual needs. You will have the opportunity to shape safeguarding practice, strengthen professional confidence and help ensure that safeguarding is not simply a responsibility held by a few people, but a shared commitment across the whole school. We are looking for someone who will bring both expertise and humanity to the role: someone who can provide clear direction when situations are difficult, support colleagues to make good decisions and ensure that the voice, safety and wellbeing of every pupil remain central.

We are seeking an experienced, committed and compassionate Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to lead and develop safeguarding and child protection across our specialist school. This is an important leadership role for someone who combines strong professional judgement and safeguarding expertise with the ability to build trusting relationships, influence practice and ensure that every child receives the protection and support they need. Our pupils have special educational needs and may have experienced significant barriers to learning, difficult life experiences or challenges in trusting adults and services. We need a leader who understands the importance of trauma-informed, relational practice and who can work effectively with pupils, families, colleagues and external agencies.

At Belong School Devon, safeguarding is about more than policies and procedures. It is about creating a culture in which every young person feels safe, understood, valued and able to thrive.