Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) will work to provide effective support to the students of the Federation ensuring that their welfare is safeguarded. They will report to and work closely with the senior DSL, who is a member of the senior leadership team. The DSL will take day-to-day responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the school. They will take part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings, contributing to the assessment of the safety of children.

They will advise and support other members of staff on child welfare, safeguarding and child protection matters, and liaise with relevant agencies such as the local authority and police.

DUTIES

The following list is only indicative of the role of the DSL; it is expected that the DSL will work proactively with children, families, staff and external agencies to ensure that all children in our care are safe. The overriding duty is to support the work of the Vice Principal in charge of safeguarding, to ensure that all aspects of keeping children safe in education and other relevant child protection advice and safeguarding relevant to schools is fully implemented.

• Act as a main point of contact for staff members raising safeguarding and child protection concerns and respond appropriately to any disclosures regarding the wellbeing of a student.


• Identify students who may be at risk and use the correct referral protocol to reduce these risks.


• To support students with safeguarding needs by liaising with parents, carers, social services, police, medical professionals, community safety and Channel.


• In discussion with the senior designated safeguarding lead make referrals to social services.


• Support students by providing strategies to help them to manage their emotions and general wellbeing and where appropriate, act as key worker and mentor.


• Maintain relevant records detailing student safeguarding and welfare concerns.


• Identify where student risk assessments are required and lead on writing risk assessments in partnership with staff, students and their families.


• Work with the Principal and the senior leadership team to take lead responsibility for identifying the impact that any safeguarding issues may have on the educational outcomes of students.


• Promote supportive engagement with families in the safeguarding and welfare of children, including where families may be facing challenging circumstances.


• Liaise with other key staff in school where safeguarding concerns relate to mental health or attendance and implement early intervention strategies as required.


• Ensure confidentiality at all times, be responsible for the upkeep and update of detailed, accurate and secure child protection records (concerns and referrals). In doing so, ensure records include a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern, details of how the concern was followed up and resolved, and a note of any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome.


• For student transfers, ensure child protection records are securely transferred and a receipt obtained, and consider whether it is appropriate to share any additional information with the new school to help them put appropriate support in place.


• Work in line with the relevant data protection legislation, including the Data Protection Act 2018.


FEDERATION

• To familiarise yourself and comply with the Federation rules, policies and procedures in force including those contained in the Staff Handbook.


• Support the vision and ethos of the Federation.


• Uphold routines for learning and uniform.


• Contribute to monitoring and evaluating the success of the Federation.


• To proactively respond to issues identified in the Transformation Plan to bring about sustained


• Contribute to the range of extracurricular opportunities on offer to students.


• Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Executive Principal.


SAFEGUARDING, HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students in our care and expects all staff to share this commitment. We provide safeguarding training to all staff on an annual basis, and all staff are responsible for ensuring safeguarding, health and safety policies are implemented in line with Federation policy and current legislation. Please familiarise yourself with our Safeguarding Policy, available online at www.rutlandfederation.com/policies

This position advertised is a 'regulated position' which means it will involve regular contact with children and young people; under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 it is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. This position is also 'exempt' from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This job description sets out the main duties associated with the stated purpose of the post. It is assumed that other duties of a similar nature undertaken within the role are not excluded because they are not itemised.

We are flexible regarding previous experience in safeguarding; we welcome applications from either children's social work, school safeguarding, or equivalent work within the charitable sector. We offer all staff flexible contracts, with staff also benefitting from generous holiday, pension and other work-related benefits. We encourage all staff to continue their own personal development and support this through financial support and time to enable this.

The safeguarding team is led by a Vice Principal who will support you in managing the day-to-day cases you will lead on. The safeguarding team is part of our broader pastoral team, called Client Services who support any student who needs help. All members of the senior team are also DSL trained. You will therefore join a team of staff with significant expertise who are well placed to offer you support as you get to know our community.

The successful candidate will be DSL trained (or the equivalent) and will have significant experience of managing complex safeguarding and pastoral cases involving children. We are also looking for someone who has the interpersonal skills to have the most difficult of conversations with children and their parents. You will have a strong sense of humour, be compassionate but equally determined to not shy away from challenging families and external agencies when it is necessary., At least 5 good GCSE grades including English and mathematics.

High level of communication and listening skills.

Ability to motivate and build a rapport with young people.

Ability to work individually or as part of a team.

Ability to manage own caseload and work under pressure.

Resilience and the ability to deal calmly and effectively with challenging situations.

Degree

Post graduate qualification

Relevant qualification in supporting students with vulnerable students e.g., social work, teaching, safeguarding.

DSL training, At least five years experience of working with vulnerable students within a school setting and developing and implementing strategies to help children and their families.

At least two years practical experience of the work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the safeguarding and child protection

Proven track record of effective implementation of safety plans, maintaining accurate records and creating reports.

Experience of being a key worker for vulnerable students to provide support and guidance.

Evidence of making referrals

Experience of working with a wide range of other professionals to develop and deliver shared initiatives and support for young people and families

Experience of working with key stakeholders including social services, police, parents and carers to support vulnerable children.

Evidenced in letter of application and interview

KNOWLEDGE

A strong working knowledge of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) annual updates.

Have a good working knowledge of local inter agency arrangements led by safeguarding partners as well as how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and be able to attend and effectively contribute to these when required.
Application and interview,
• It is a condition of employment that you can provide proof of identity and qualifications gained.


• Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.


• Further information is within our Staff Recruitment Policy which can be found online atrutlandfederation.com/policies
  
  Catmose College is very successful, recently judged outstanding by Ofsted. We offer a very broad range of academic and broader opportunities for children to thrive. We are offering a rare opportunity to join our pastoral and safeguarding team. The College is located within the beautiful market town of Oakham within Rutland but is within easy commuting distance of Corby, Leicester and Peterborough. The College offers state of the art facilities, a calm and purposeful student body and a very strong staff team who work effectively together. Our ethos is one which puts students at the heart of our work, but equally important is ensuring that our staff are well supported within both their professional and personal lives.
  
  Scale point 6, points 29-33 £37,747 - £41,880

(This salary is based on 37 hours per week, full-time with 31 days annual leave, plus bank holidays).

Full or Part Time applications considered, or term time only.
As way of contrast, a term time only salary is as follows:
37 hours x 37 weeks + 6.5 hours training day = 83.67%
£31,583 - £35,041

To start September 2024

Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable children to thrive at school?, Staff are able to enjoy many additional benefits that come as part of working within the Federation. These include, amongst others:

• Vast range of staff training including a funded Master's scheme.


• Staff laptops.


• Priority admission for children of staff to the College and Primary.


• Flexible working; part-time and a job share considered.


• A broad range of opportunities to engage in extracurricular trips and activities.


• A subsidised restaurant, refectory and orangery.


• Complimentary lunch on staff training days.


• Cycleshare scheme salary sacrifice for bike purchases.


• Free parking.


• Holidays outside of the usual term-time pattern, including a two-week autumn break and an early summer.


• Highly rated Government pension scheme.


• Tax efficient salary sacrifice scheme for electric and hybrid vehicles.