Designated Safeguarding Lead

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

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday: full school holidays

£1,000 bonus referral scheme

Contributory pension up to 5%

Excellent benefits

Job summary

The Witherslack Group in Manchester seeks a Designated Safeguarding Lead to lead safeguarding across the school and contribute to the leadership team.

You will liaise with agencies, families, and staff, manage safeguarding processes, and provide expert guidance to ensure the safety and wellbeing of pupils in a dynamic educational setting.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years' experience in a Designated Safeguarding Lead role.
• Comprehensive CPD portfolio related to Safeguarding and Child Protection.
• Outstanding interpersonal and problem-resolution skills.
• Genuinely empathetic approach.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for safeguarding within the school.
• Liaise with statutory and non-statutory agencies, parents/carers and staff on wellbeing, child protection, and safeguarding.
• Provide guidance, support, and expertise to the team.

Skills

DSL experience

CPD portfolio

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

UK driving licence

Job description

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Application Deadline: 2026-09-30

Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester, GB, M2 5

Candidate Type: Any

Closing Date: 2026-10-29T16:00:05.503

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

Please note that applications for this role will close on 5th of November, with interviews scheduled for Monday 16th November.

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.

About Us

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.

Role Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for safeguarding within the school.
• liaising with statutory and non-statutory agencies, parents/carers, and staff on matters of wellbeing, child protection, and safeguarding.
• Serve as a great source of support, advice, and expertise in the team.

About the School

Opening in September 2026, Bowersgate School is a purpose-built, brand new, state-of-the-art school. The school will accommodate up to 72 pupils aged 6 - 16 with a wide range of needs including autism and social, emotional, and mental health needs.

This exciting opportunity serves Wythenshawe and the wider communities, with the aim of providing an outstanding educational experience with individual pupil progress and care at the core.

What We Do for You

• 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: Increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance
• Medical cover: Claim back costs for opticians or dentist appointments, plus high-street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with top facilities
• A recommend a friend scheme offering a £1,000 bonus
• Contributory pension scheme, matched up to 5%

Our Values

Bring your whole-self to work. Our young people and their families come from diverse backgrounds and needs, and our workforce reflects this diversity. We believe in engaging, encouraging, and inspiring our young people to be themselves.

Candidate Requirements

• 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
• Genuinely empathetic approach
• Full UK driving licence

Join Us

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is fundamental. We're committed to creating an environment where everyone is respected, valued, and belongs. We embrace individuality and champion neurodiversity, celebrating diverse perspectives and strengths.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are an inclusive employer and are dedicated to accessible recruitment and workplace practices.

If you need adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, we will support you every step of the way.

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (cost covered) and an online search.

We are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

What We Do for You

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
• 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
• 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

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

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.

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