Safeguarding & Positive Behaviour Manager

South & City College Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

South & City College Birmingham is seeking an experienced Safeguarding Manager to lead safeguarding across campuses. You will work with the DSL, deputise as Deputy DSL, and support mentors and welfare staff to safeguard learners.

You will manage referrals, multi-agency partnerships, Early Help, and the College's Prevent responsibilities, ensuring compliant, supportive and inclusive practice for Care Experienced Learners and the wider student body.

Responsibilities

• Assist the DSL, acting as Deputy Safeguarding Lead across campuses.
• Lead the Mentors/Welfare staff to support Care Experienced Learners.
• Serve as key contact for Care Experienced Learners; attend multi-agency meetings.
• Advise students on safeguarding matters and update training with legislation.
• Ensure Safeguarding Triage members are trained and developed.
• Review Triage outcomes for best practice and consistency.
• Develop and manage safeguarding files; transfer records between colleges as required.
• Review the safeguarding platform data; ensure staff are registered and trained to report concerns.
• Monitor the safeguarding platform to ensure timely responses.
• Deliver in-house safeguarding and Prevent training per Children Act and KCSIE.
• Incorporate policies into relevant training modules.
• Coordinate safeguarding with Workforce Development and HE for current practice.
• Lead on Early Help referrals and maintain links with external agencies.
• Provide students and safeguarding team with up-to-date service info.
• Attend case conferences and multi-agency meetings as required.
• Lead the Prevent agenda; audit processes like visiting speakers.
• Identify safeguarding trends from records and student feedback; report findings.
• Keep up to date with safeguarding trends and share knowledge.
• Maintain flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Job description

As one of the largest further education colleges in the country and a nationally award-winning organisation, South & City College Birmingham (SCCB) provides education and training to thousands of young people and adults across Birmingham every year.

We are committed to delivering high-quality education and training that equips our learners with the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to progress into employment or further education. Behind this commitment is a wide range of professional services that ensure the College operates effectively and delivers the best possible experience for learners, employers and staff.

Our vision is to be recognised as a leading provider of innovative and inclusive education, delivering exceptional outcomes for learners, employers and communities. Achieving this requires strong leadership, effective collaboration, reliable systems and high standards across every area of the organisation.

At SCCB, it's not just teaching, it's transformation. We play a vital role in supporting individuals, strengthening communities and contributing to the regional economy. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to creating a respectful and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and able to thrive.

We're an ambitious, inclusive and collaborative organisation, driven by a shared commitment to transforming lives. It's a place where new ideas are encouraged, continuous improvement is valued and the work you do can make a genuine difference to our learners, our people and the wider community.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and committed Safeguarding Manager to help lead and strengthen safeguarding across South & City College Birmingham. Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you will act as the College's Deputy DSL, ensuring effective safeguarding procedures and practices across all campuses.

You will lead our team of Mentors and Welfare staff, oversee safeguarding referrals and case management, and ensure learners, particularly Care Experienced Learners, receive the support and guidance they need. You will also lead on Early Help referrals, support the College's Prevent responsibilities and work closely with external agencies and partners.

Through staff training, effective safeguarding processes and multi-agency collaboration, you will play an important role in creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where all learners can thrive.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Safeguarding Leadership and Learner Support

• Assist the Designated Safeguarding Lead in ensuring robust safeguarding procedures and practices are followed, acting as the Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
• Manage the team of Mentors/Welfare staff across campuses to ensure that all Care Experienced Learners thrive at the College.
• Act as a key contact for Care Experienced Learners, including attending relevant multi-agency meetings where appropriate.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to students as Safeguarding Manager, keeping up to date with changes in legislation and best practice.
• Ensure all Safeguarding Triage members are up to date with the required training and development.
• Review Triage supervision outcomes to ensure best practice and consistency.

Safeguarding Procedures, Systems and Training

• Develop and manage systems and processes to maintain safeguarding and child protection files, and ensure records are transferred when a student moves to another college, in line with legislative requirements.
• Review the safeguarding platform to ensure effective data collection, check that all staff are registered and deliver training on how to report concerns.
• Monitor the College's Safeguarding Platform to ensure all concerns are assigned and responded to, and actions are dealt with in a timely manner.
• Develop and deliver in-house Safeguarding and Prevent training and procedures to meet the requirements of the Children Act, the Prevent Duty and Keeping Children Safe in Education, helping to reduce risk.
• Ensure all policies and procedures are incorporated into relevant training.
• Work with Workforce Development and Higher Education to ensure Safeguarding and Prevent training is current and reflects the local landscape.

Referrals, Partnerships and Multi-Agency Working

• Make appropriate referrals to external support agencies, such as the Police, Children's Services and Channel, and monitor and respond appropriately to Operation Encompass notifications.
• Lead on Early Help referrals.
• Maintain and develop links with key support agencies in the local community.
• Provide students and the Safeguarding team with information about services offered by these agencies, keeping this information up to date.
• Provide practical support and assistance in managing the effects of allegations or suspicions of child abuse.
• Attend case conferences and multi-agency meetings as required.

Prevent and Continuous Improvement

• Lead on the Prevent agenda, ensuring it is contextualised for the College, and carry out regular audits of processes, e.g. visiting speakers and the hiring of premises.
• Identify safeguarding trends through safeguarding records, disciplinary cases and student voice, and report findings to the DSL.
• Keep up to date with safeguarding trends and new approaches, sharing knowledge with colleagues.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain a flexible approach to work, including a willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post.

Safeguarding

The college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expect all staff to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks, including, enhanced DBS, Prohibition check, Childcare Disqualification (where applicable), qualifications, medical fitness, identity and right to work.

All applicants will be required to provide a minimum of two suitable references covering a 5-year period.

An online search will also be carried out as part of our due diligence on all shortlisted candidates.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions are 'protected' so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are employers cannot take them into account.

Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Safeguarding is top priority. We encourage all applicants to review Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which outlines our commitments to safety and wellbeing of learners.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016). Therefore, the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.