Designated Safeguarding Lead

Teaching Vacancies; Sutton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking educational organisation in Sutton seeks a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to oversee safeguarding issues affecting children and vulnerable adults. The DSL will work closely with students, parents, and community agencies, ensuring a supportive college culture. The ideal candidate will have safeguarding and child protection training, alongside experience in educational or social care settings. This role involves the development of strong relationships with families and promoting student wellbeing through various services and strategies.

Benefits

Pathways for progression

Pension Scheme

Employee Wellbeing support

Employee Discounts

Season Ticket Loan

Qualifications

• Training in safeguarding and child protection is required.
• Additional qualifications in SEND, mental health, or family intervention preferred.
• Experience working with children and families preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee safeguarding issues for children and vulnerable adults.
• Develop relationships with students, parents, and carers.
• Promote a positive, inclusive college culture.

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for a college region, overseeing safeguarding issues affecting children and vulnerable adults. The DSL provides guidance and support to students and staff, engages with families, liaises with the Local Authority, collaborates with external agencies, and maintains accurate records of safeguarding activities.

Key Responsibilities

• To develop strong, trusting relationships with students, parents, and carers, ensuring they feel supported and empowered.
• To facilitate access to external services, such as health professionals, social workers, and local community support.
• Be responsible for regularly reviewing student attendance and implement measures and strategies to support and improve attendance to include home visits.
• To promote a positive, inclusive college culture that values family engagement and well‑being.
• To act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), who will be responsible for overseeing complex cases, working alongside internal and external teams and agencies.

Key Requirements

• Training in safeguarding and child protection
• Additional qualifications in SEND, mental health, or family intervention
• Experience working with children and families, preferably within an educational or social care setting

What the school offers its staff

Orchard Hill College 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

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• 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)

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.