Whole School Safeguarding Lead

The Witherslack Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training induction

Full school holidays

Flexible benefits

Wellbeing support

Medical cover

Referral bonus

Pension matched up to 5%

Job summary

The Witherslack Group is recruiting for a Whole School Safeguarding Lead at The Secret Garden School in Solihull, West Midlands. You will join the leadership team and work across safeguarding, liaising with agencies and families to ensure high standards of care and protection for pupils aged 6-19.

We seek a candidate with at least 3 years in a DSL role, a strong CPD portfolio, excellent interpersonal and problem-solving abilities, and a full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years' experience in a Designated Safeguarding Lead role.
• Comprehensive portfolio of CPD related to Safeguarding and Child Protection.
• Outstanding interpersonal and problem resolution skills.
• Genuinely empathetic approach.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding within the school and liaise daily with statutory and non-statutory agencies, parents/carers and staff on wellbeing and child protection.
• Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for the team as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Skills

DSG Lead experience

Interpersonal skills

Problem resolution

Empathy

UK driving licence

Job description

Whole School Safeguarding Lead

Deadline: 2026-09-23T00:00:00

Location: West Midlands

Region: West Midlands

Country: GB

Postcode: B3 2QB

Additional Info: Any

Closing Date: 2026-12-23T07:00:51.55

Salary: £36,581 - £46,579 + excellent benefits

Please note that applications for this role will close on Thursday 6th October, and shortlisting will occur on the 7th October, with interviews scheduled for Wednesday, 14th October.

Introduction

Huge Small Victories

For children with complex, challenging needs, the level of care and education must go above and beyond and that's what drives us here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we're proud to have won a reputation for excellence. Our aspirational homes, schools and ethos help us achieve the best possible outcomes. In short, we're enhancing life opportunities.

Role Overview

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are a huge part of making sure our children and young people's needs are fully recognised and comprehensively met.

Get out what you put in

You will work as part of the leadership team and report directly to the Head Teacher for this crucial role. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other members of the Witherslack Group team in different locations to enable you to progress and develop your skills and knowledge.

As a Designated Safeguarding Lead, you will take responsibility for safeguarding within the school. This means liaising daily with statutory and non-statutory agencies, parents/carers, and staff on matters of wellbeing, child protection, and safeguarding. You will be a great source of support, advice, and expertise in the team.

About The Secret Garden School

The Secret Garden School is based in Solihull, currently a single site school, extending to over two sites in September 2026. The school meets the needs of pupils with special educational needs including ADHD, autism, speech, language & communication difficulties, and social & emotional difficulties. The age range is 6-19 years. The school is currently registered for 76 pupils. Serving Solihull and the wider community, this is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of the next phase of The Secret Garden School's development, with individual pupil progress, care, and high-quality educational experiences at the centre of everything we do.

What We Do for You

• Training: A full induction and on-the-job training
• Holiday: You'll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance - check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover: so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities - check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time
• Contributory pension scheme - matched up to 5%

Our Values and Inclusion

Bring your whole-self to work. Our young people and their families come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds, and with different needs—and our workforce reflects that diversity. We aim to engage, encourage, and inspire our young people to be themselves.

We look for: at least 3 years' experience in a Designated Safeguarding Lead role, a comprehensive portfolio of CPD related to Safeguarding and Child Protection, outstanding interpersonal and problem resolution skills, a genuinely empathetic approach, and a full UK driving licence.

Join Our Team

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and that they truly belong. We understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference—especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.

We are proud to be recognized as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we'll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we're better able to support the children, young people, and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

Safeguarding and Equality

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

Keywords

Special Education, Careers in Care, Careers in Special Education, Working with Children, SEMH, SEN, ASD

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