Education Safeguarding Lead

The Methodist Church in Britain; Bradley Stoke; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Annual leave

LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme)

Career development and qualification

Regular supervision

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Cycle to Work

Employee networks

Job summary

Gloucestershire County Council seeks a permanent leader to head the Education Safeguarding Team, overseeing safeguarding across schools, academies, early years and alternative provision. The post holder will guide complex, high-risk safeguarding responses and contribute to multi-agency arrangements, inspections and statutory reviews.

The role requires broad experience in education safeguarding, with a track record of leadership and high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level.
• Relevant qualification in education, safeguarding, social care, youth work or teaching.
• Substantial experience of education safeguarding.
• Experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead in an appropriate setting, or extensive experience of working with schools, vulnerable children and families.

Responsibilities

• Lead the education directorate's response to complex, high-risk safeguarding concerns involving education settings.
• Ensure investigations and improvement activity are robust, timely and effective.
• Provide strategic leadership and professional oversight across schools, academies, early years settings and alternative provision.
• Use audit, performance information and learning from reviews to strengthen practice across the education system.
• Lead education's contribution to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, statutory reviews and inspections.
• Work closely with education leaders, Children's Social Care and safeguarding partners.
• Manage and develop the Education Safeguarding Team.
• Oversee safeguarding arrangements for children in entertainment and employment.
• Provide authoritative advice in complex situations.
• Produce clear reports and deliver training.
• Represent the council at strategic boards, statutory reviews and inspections.

Skills

Safeguarding legislation

Leadership

Professional judgement

Influence partners

Communication skills

Education

Degree required

Relevant qualification

Job description

This permanent leadership post heads the Education Safeguarding Team at Gloucestershire County Council, covering schools, academies, early years settings and alternative provision. The postholder leads the directorate's response to complex, high-risk safeguarding concerns in education settings, and education's contribution to multi-agency arrangements, inspections and statutory reviews. The team also oversees safeguarding for children in entertainment and employment, and the post is open to job share, with some travel and occasional out-of-hours work. Sponsorship is not available, so applicants need a right to work for at least six months.

What the job involves

• Lead the education directorate's response to complex, high-risk safeguarding concerns involving education settings
• Ensure investigations and improvement activity are robust, timely and effective
• Provide strategic leadership and professional oversight across schools, academies, early years settings and alternative provision
• Use audit, performance information and learning from reviews to strengthen practice across the education system
• Lead education's contribution to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, statutory reviews and inspections
• Work closely with education leaders, Children's Social Care and safeguarding partners
• Manage and develop the Education Safeguarding Team
• Oversee safeguarding arrangements for children in entertainment and employment
• Provide authoritative advice in complex situations
• Produce clear reports and deliver training
• Represent the council at strategic boards, statutory reviews and inspections

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level
• Relevant qualification in education, safeguarding, social care, youth work or teaching

Experience

• Substantial experience of education safeguarding
• Experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead in an appropriate setting, or extensive experience of working with schools, vulnerable children and families

Skills & knowledge

• Comprehensive understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and the education system
• Ability to lead people, services and change
• Sound professional judgement
• Ability to influence senior partners, constructively challenge practice and build relationships across organisational boundaries
• Excellent communication, analytical and organisational skills

Checks & eligibility

• DBS check
• Right to work for at least six months, as sponsorship is not available
• Fluent spoken English, as required for customer facing roles under the Immigration Act 2016

What’s offered

• Flexible and agile working, where service needs allow
• Annual leave in line with council terms and conditions
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Regular, robust supervision
• Employee Assistance Programme, with free and confidential support 24 hours a day
• Cycle to Work and Green Car Salary Sacrifice schemes, subject to eligibility
• Access to employee networks