Safeguarding Officer - Deputy DSL

St Brendan's Sixth Form College; West of England; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

St Brendan's Sixth Form College is seeking a committed Safeguarding Officer (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) to join our Student Services team. This role focuses on promoting the welfare, safety and wellbeing of our students and helping to create an outstanding safeguarding culture across the College.

As Deputy DSL you will support the Designated Safeguarding Lead, work with external agencies, contribute to safeguarding assessments, referrals and multi-agency work, and help run staff

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people and supporting their wellbeing.
• Experience within safeguarding/child protection or pastoral support.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
• Confident working with external agencies and managing sensitive cases.
• Excellent communication with students, families, colleagues and professionals.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise.
• Commitment to safeguarding practice and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide safeguarding advice and guidance to staff across the College.
• Deputise for the Designated Safeguarding Lead as required.
• Contribute to safeguarding assessments, referrals and multi-agency working.
• Lead staff training, policy development and safeguarding awareness.
• Maintain accurate safeguarding records and documentation.

Skills

Experience with young people

Safeguarding/child protection

Knowledge of Keeping Children Safe in

Communicating sensitively

Organisation and prioritisation

Education

Level 4 qualification in a relevant subject

GCSE English and Maths (Grade 4/C+)

Level 3 Safeguarding qualification

Job description

Safeguarding Officer (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) 37 hours, Term Time only

Grade G: £28,189 to £30,987 per annum

We are seeking a committed, compassionate and proactive Safeguarding Officer (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) to join our highly regarded Student Services team. This is a rewarding opportunity to play a pivotal role in promoting the welfare, safety and wellbeing of our students and helping to create an outstanding safeguarding culture across the College.

About the Role

Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead's (Operational Lead and Strategic Lead), you will provide expert advice, guidance and support on safeguarding and child protection matters, ensuring students receive the appropriate interventions and support when they need it most. You will contribute to safeguarding assessments, referrals and multi-agency working, while supporting colleagues across the College to identify and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.

As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, you will deputise for the DSL's when required and work with a range of external agencies including Children's Social Care, the Police, CAMHS and other specialist services. You will also play an important role in staff training, policy development, safeguarding awareness and maintaining high-quality safeguarding records.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with young people and supporting their wellbeing and welfare.
• Has experience within a safeguarding, child protection or pastoral support environment.
• Possesses a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Prevent Duty.
• Is confident working with external agencies and managing sensitive and complex cases.
• Can communicate effectively and sensitively with students, families, colleagues and external professionals.
• Has excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding practice and continuous professional development.
• A Level 4 qualification in a relevant subject area (or equivalent experience), GCSE English and Maths (Grade 4/C or above), and a Level 3 Safeguarding qualification are essential.

Why Join St Brendan's?

At St Brendan's, we are proud of our inclusive, supportive and ambitious community. We are committed to helping every student achieve their full potential and recognise the vital role safeguarding plays in enabling young people to thrive.

As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' lives while developing your own professional expertise within a collaborative and supportive environment.

Safeguarding Statement

St Brendan's Sixth Form College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and all other safer recruitment checks in line with statutory guidance.

We strive to be representative of the community we serve and know that diverse talent builds a better College and provides an enhanced experience for our students. We’re committed to building an organisation where everyone is welcome, supported and able to thrive.

Equality and diversity are fundamental to our core beliefs and values. That’s why we welcome people from all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, religions, disabilities and ages in everything we do.

We are values-driven and our vision is to provide an inclusive, aspirational and academic education for all our students, so that all of them will learn, thrive and lead successful lives.

The safeguarding of all students is paramount and this approach is embedded into everything we do. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

In line with Keeping Children Safe In Education guidelines and having regard to all relevant guidance, any offer of employment will be subject to a comprehensive checking process including satisfactory references from current and previous employers, DBS Enhanced Disclosure and online searches will also be conducted for successful candidates.