Welfare Officer

Oxford Gardens Primary School; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford Gardens Primary School in Greater London seeks an experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead to oversee safeguarding, ensuring compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education and high child-protection standards. You will lead multi-agency safeguarding meetings, coordinate referrals, and maintain confidential records.

The role requires strong communication, data analysis, and the ability to drive training updates to safeguard pupil wellbeing and support staff practice.

Qualifications

• Experience and skills demonstrating suitability for the role.
• Under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the DSL must be trained and kept updated.
• Ability to undertake relevant safeguarding training promptly after appointment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate multi-agency safeguarding meetings including CP conferences and Team Around the Family.
• Manage safeguarding referrals and professional documentation clearly and promptly.
• Maintain accurate, confidential safeguarding records and reports.
• Analyse attendance data to identify risk patterns and support interventions.
• Ensure compliance with data protection and information sharing requirements.

Skills

Safeguarding knowledge

KCSIE compliance

Child protection thresholds

Referral pathways

Disclosures management

Record-keeping

Attendance procedures

Data analysis

Pupil records management

Multi-agency meetings

Communication skills

Building trusted relationships

GDPR / information sharing

Policy compliance

Training & reflective practice

Organisational skills

Tools

SIMS

SAM

MS Office

Job description

Qualifications

Whilst noformal qualifications are not strictly necessary, the candidate needs to beable to demonstrate the experience and skills required to perform the role.

In addition, under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE),the DSL must be appropriately trained.It is therefore expected that the candidate would undertake all relevant trainingas soon as possible after appointmentand engage in a process of updatingthis as is necessary.

Skills andKnowledge

• In-depth knowledge of statutory safeguarding and childprotection guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education,enabling effective fulfilment of the Designated Safeguarding Lead role.
• Strong understanding of child protection thresholds,referral pathways and escalation processes, including early help, socialcare and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
• Ability to manage safeguarding concerns anddisclosures using professional judgement to secure timely referrals,effective intervention and positive outcomes for children.
• Knowledge of safeguarding record-keeping requirements,including maintaining accurate, confidential and inspection-ready recordsand reports.
• Knowledge of attendance legislation, Children Missingin Education procedures and safeguarding links to attendance andpunctuality.
• Good numeracy/literacy skills
• Full working knowledge of relevant polices/codes ofpractice and awareness of relevant legislation??
• Ability to analyse attendance data using schoolsystems to identify patterns of concern and contribute to targetedintervention strategies.
• Knowledge of admissions processes and statutoryrequirements, including liaison with local authorities and accuratemanagement of pupil records.
• Competence in using school information systems(including SIMS and SAM) to maintain accurate data, generate reports andsupport compliance.
• Skills in leading and contributing to multi-agencymeetings, including Child Protection conferences, core groups and TeamAround the Family meetings.
• Ability to complete referrals and professionaldocumentation (including MARFs) clearly, accurately and in line withstatutory guidance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to workeffectively with pupils, parents, carers, staff and externalprofessionals.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with familieswhile providing appropriate challenge to address attendance, behaviour andsafeguarding concerns.
• Knowledge of family support approaches that reducebarriers to learning, promote engagement and support pupil wellbeing.
• Ability to support reintegration, transition andcontinuity of support for vulnerable pupils following absence, exclusionor placement change.
• Knowledge of data protection legislation, informationsharing principles and GDPR requirements within a safeguarding context.
• Ability to lead and coordinate Subject Access Requestsand manage sensitive information lawfully and securely.
• Strong organisational skills to manage competingpriorities, respond to emerging risk and meet statutory deadlines.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, inclusion andprofessional standards, including ongoing training and reflective practice.