Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) - Operational

Kingsway Park High School; North West Leicestershire; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingsway Park High School is seeking an accomplished safeguarding professional to take a key role in the operational leadership and day-to-day delivery of safeguarding and child protection across the school.

This senior operational safeguarding role works closely with the Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead and includes line management responsibilities for the Deputy DSL and safeguarding team. A recruitment/retention payment may be available for exceptional candidates, subject to approvals.

Qualifications

• Substantial and recent safeguarding and child protection experience.
• Strong professional judgement, resilience, and confidence managing complex/sensitive situations.
• Sound knowledge of current safeguarding practice and multi-agency working.
• Ability to challenge and elevate concerns appropriately.
• Experience as DSL/Deputy DSL or senior safeguarding role in education or childrens services preferred; not essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex safeguarding cases and referrals.
• Provide authoritative safeguarding advice to colleagues.
• Lead and support the safeguarding team, with line management to Deputy DSL and safeguarding staff.
• Collaborate with external agencies and families to protect children.

Skills

Safeguarding expertise

Child protection

Multi-agency working

Line management

Job description

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) - Operational

Salary: SSP34-37 | £46,579-£49,817 FTE | £43,336-£46,349 actual

Contract: Permanent | 37 hours | TTO + 3 weeks

Start date: November 2026

A recruitment and retention payment may be available for an exceptional candidate, subject to relevant approvals and terms.

Kingsway Park High School is seeking to appoint an accomplished and experienced safeguarding professional to take a key role in the operational leadership and day-to-day delivery of safeguarding and child protection across our school.

This is a senior operational safeguarding role and does not form part of the school's Senior Leadership Team. Working closely with our Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead, who sits on SLT and retains strategic oversight of safeguarding, you will have significant responsibility and professional autonomy for operational safeguarding practice.

You will manage complex safeguarding cases and referrals, assess risk, work confidently with children, families and external agencies, and provide authoritative safeguarding advice to colleagues. You will also lead and support our wider safeguarding team, providing line management and professional supervision to the Deputy DSL, Safeguarding Officer and Family Support Worker.

We are looking for someone with substantial and recent safeguarding and child protection experience who can demonstrate sound professional judgement, resilience and confidence in managing complex and sensitive situations. You will have strong knowledge of current safeguarding practice, significant experience of multi-agency working and the ability to appropriately challenge and elevate concerns.

You may already be working as a DSL or Deputy DSL, or hold a senior safeguarding role within education, children's services or another relevant setting. Previous school-based safeguarding experience would be advantageous but is not essential; what is essential is the depth of safeguarding expertise required to operate confidently at this level.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced safeguarding practitioner ready to take greater operational leadership responsibility within an established safeguarding structure. We recognise the importance of attracting an exceptional professional to this key role and a recruitment and retention payment may be available for an exceptional candidate, subject to relevant approvals and terms.

Kingsway Park High School is a vibrant, inclusive and diverse secondary school of approximately 1,350 students. We are committed to ensuring every child feels safe, supported and able to succeed.

Closing date: Monday 12th October 2026 by no later than 9:00am

Interviews: Thursday 15th October 2026

Altus Education Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education, online searches will be carried out on shortlisted candidates and references will be sought in line with Trust recruitment procedures.