Interim DSL, East Sussex

Brava Education; England; On-site; GBP 83,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Brava Education is partnering with an all-through school seeking an experienced Interim Designated Safeguarding Lead to oversee safeguarding across the entire school from January. The role is full-time and on-site, reporting to the Headmaster and sitting on the leadership team.

You will manage day-to-day safeguarding issues, strengthen systems, and ensure readiness for the next inspection. Candidates must have statutory DSL experience, exposure to an all-through age range, and current DSL Level

Qualifications

• Must have held the statutory DSL role (not just Deputy DSL).
• Experience across an all-through age range, including safeguarding for ages over 18 in sixth form.
• Able to hit the ground running and work independently from day one.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding across the whole school and manage the day-to-day safeguarding caseload.
• Review and strengthen safeguarding systems and records, improving workflows ahead of inspections.
• Line manage the full-time Deputy DSL and collaborate with junior school and EYFS deputies, health centre, SEND and compliance teams.

Skills

Safeguarding leadership

DSL experience

Stakeholder management

Education

DSL Level 3 training

Job description

Brava Education is working with an all-through school, who are looking for an experienced Interim Designated Safeguarding Lead to lead safeguarding across the whole school from January.

The role

This is a full-time, non-teaching senior leadership role, covering the period between the current DSL leaving at Christmas and a permanent appointment starting after Easter. You will report to the Headmaster and sit on the leadership team.

The school educates pupils from EYFS to age 18, with the junior school on a separate site close by. It’s a town-based school with a higher-than-average proportion of pupils with SEND, so a clear understanding of the link between SEND and safeguarding vulnerability is important.

You will hold the statutory DSL role for the whole school, managing day-to-day safeguarding issues and a significant caseload. You will review and strengthen safeguarding systems and records, improve workflows where possible, and make sure everything is in good order ahead of the school’s next inspection. You will line manage a full-time Deputy DSL, with a dotted line to two further Deputy DSLs in the junior school and EYFS, and work closely with the health centre, SEND and compliance managers.

About you

• Experience holding the statutory DSL role (not only Deputy DSL).
• Experience across an all-through age range, including the nuances of safeguarding young people aged over 18 in the sixth form.
• Confident hitting the ground running and working independently from day one.
• Current DSL Level 3 training. Independent school experience is not required.

Terms

The role is interim, running from January until Easter, with the option to start sooner for a handover. Five days a week on site is preferred, but four days will be considered for the right candidate. It offers a competitive day rate.

The process

The process will begin with a Teams call, followed by a site visit.