Safeguarding Officer

Sir Harry Smith Community College; Whittlesey; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Sir Harry Smith Community College is seeking a dedicated Safeguarding Officer to join its safeguarding and pastoral team. The role focuses on promoting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all students, working closely with the DSL and external agencies to implement safeguarding procedures and respond to concerns.

You will support colleagues, monitor referrals, attend safeguarding meetings, and help build positive relationships with pupils and families to ensure timely access to support services.

Qualifications

• Strong safeguarding knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with students, parents and external agencies.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for child protection concerns for the Key Stage, liaising with the Designated Officer as needed.
• Collaborate with external agencies, Social Services, and attend meetings (PEP, TAC, core groups) as required.
• Support Heads of Year with strategies to improve student behaviour, attendance and adherence to school policies.
• Monitor safeguarding concerns, make referrals, and ensure appropriate support is provided to pupils and families.
• Work within the Pastoral Team to keep students safe from harm at school and at home, and contribute to safeguarding reviews.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Safeguarding Officer

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

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.

For more information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ms A Wahlandt, on 01733 703991 or via email at [e-mail]

Application deadline is 9am Monday 12th October 2026

We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date if we consider that we have received an appropriate number of suitable candidates for the post.

Applicants are thanked for their interest in Sir Harry Smith Community College. Please note that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted after the closing date.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 22nd October 2026

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will require a cleared Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.