Safeguarding Officer

Sir Harry Smith Community College; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Sir Harry Smith Community College is seeking a Safeguarding Officer to join its safeguarding and pastoral team, promoting safety, welfare and wellbeing of students. You will work with the DSL, senior leaders, staff, parents/carers and external agencies to implement safeguarding procedures.

Responsibilities include responding to safeguarding concerns, making referrals, and supporting pupils and families to access appropriate support.

Qualifications

• Strong safeguarding knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Commitment to building positive, trusting relationships with young people.
• Ability to liaise with external agencies and professionals.

Responsibilities

• Be first point of contact for child protection concerns for the Key Stage.
• Work with external agencies, referrals, and liaise with Social Services; attend PEP, TAC and core group meetings.
• Be the initial point of contact for students and parents, building links with families.
• Support Heads of Year with strategies to improve behaviour, attendance and policy adherence.
• Supervise students in Heads of Year Hub and Removal Room; contribute to the Duty Team.
• Analyse information and report to pastoral team, SLT, Deputy Principal and Governing Body.
• Work with the Pastoral Team to keep students safe and support their learning.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Child protection procedures

Relationship building

Job description

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated, committed and experienced Safeguarding Officer to join our dedicated safeguarding and pastoral team and play a pivotal role in promoting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all our students. Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), senior leaders, staff, parents/carers and external agencies, you will support the effective implementation of safeguarding and child protection procedures across the college. You will help to monitor and respond to safeguarding concerns, support colleagues in following appropriate procedures, make referrals where required and work collaboratively with external agencies to ensure that pupils and families receive the right support at the right time. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with strong safeguarding knowledge, exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and a genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and families. We are looking for someone who is committed to building positive, trusting relationships with young people, is willing to go the extra mile to support them and understands the important role that effective safeguarding plays in helping every pupil to succeed, both inside and outside of school.

Main Responsibilities

• To be first point of contact for child protection concerns for the Key Stage, liaising with Designated Officer where necessary.
• To work with external agencies, e.g. through referrals and liaising regularly with Social Services regarding child protection matters, organising and attending PEP,
• TAC and core groups meetings where necessary, attending relevant Child Protection meetings and feeding back regarding student's educational needs.
• To be the initial point of contact for students and parents, establishing and maintaining positive links between the school and parents/carers, supporting parents/carers in parenting or eliciting outside support for them to do so.
• To work with Heads of Year to put in place strategies and appropriate interventions to improve student's behaviour, conduct, appearance, punctuality, attendance and adherence to school policies.
• To supervise students within the school's Heads of Year Hub and Removal Room and be part of the schools Duty Team where required.
• Analyse information and report to the pastoral team, SLT, Deputy Principal and Governing Body.
• Work as part of the wider Pastoral Team ensuring that students are safe from harm at school and home, behave appropriately, attend school regularly and as a result are able to make progress in their learning. Sir Harry Smith is dedicated to developing staff and students into successful leaders. We offer wide range opportunities for staff to develop and take on roles that will support and open doors for them to progress in the future.

Sir Harry Smith Community College is an 11-18 Academy, proud of its traditional values and innovative approaches to Teaching and Learning and its standards of discipline and respect. The College serves the market town of Whittlesey, seven miles outside of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. The College is part of Aspire Learning Trust working together with Park Lane and New Road Primary Schools, also in Whittlesey, to help every child achieve their full potential, to prepare them for their next educational steps, to teach them kindness and respect for all and to equip them to play a full satisfying role in society.

Hours: 32.5 hours per week, 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday with ½ hour for lunch. Term time only