Student Welfare Officer and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead; DDSL

Salary Grade G Points 20 to 24 (£32,597 to £35,412 Full Time Equivalent) subject to pro rata. The minimum actual pro rata salary per annum for this job starts at £29,142.38.

Don Valley Academy are looking to appoint a Student Welfare Officer and DDSL to join our academy in February 2026 on a full time, permanent basis.

Do you want to work for a Trust that is transforming educational outcomes for students in some of the most deprived areas in the North of England? If so, this could be the role for you.

As a Student Welfare Officer, you will assist in tackling underachievement by working in partnership with families, parents/carers, students and external agencies in a school context to enable students, particularly the most disadvantaged to have full access to educational opportunities and overcome barriers to learning and participation. You will work directly with families in a non judgemental way empowering them and their family to get the most out of the educational opportunities available.

You will also support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in the academy in your role as Deputy DSL.

Please see the job description on our website for the essential criteria and more information on the role.

If you feel you have the necessary skills and experience required for this position, then we would very much like to hear from you.

Don Valley Academy is a vibrant, oversubscribed, secondary Academy with over 1100 students on roll from Year 7 to 11. We serve a mixed community however, despite these challenges, you will find Don Valley students to be polite and engaged with their learning.

Collaboration is at the heart of the Academy for both students and staff and you will find Don Valley Academy to be positive and reflective towards their own professionalism, with wellbeing as a pivotal aspect of our Academy ethos.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection was in July 2024. There has been no change to the Academy’s overall judgement of ‘Good’ as a result of this ungraded (Section
8) inspection. However, the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might be ‘Outstanding’ if a graded (Section
5) inspection were carried out.

Don Valley Academy is proud to be an EEF Research School. One of only 33 Research Schools across England, we work to exemplify our evidence informed teaching and learning strategies, share what we know about putting research into practice, and support schools in the region to make better use of evidence to inform and improve their teaching and learning.

We are very proud of our Academy and the opportunities available for staff and students alike. We would love to show you around so you can find out more for yourself about what your career could look like with us. Please contact us directly at  if you would like to arrange a visit.

Staff across the trust are talented and enthusiastic, and all contribute to the trust’s success story.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an outstanding team within a high performing multi academy trust with exciting career prospects for successful applicants.

As a Trust, we have developed an extensive range of employee benefits that focus on your Financial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing. Here are just a few examples in each area…

• Membership to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Technology scheme and Vehicle Leasing Scheme*
• Access to an extensive discounts platform

• 24/7 access to an online GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner for you & your household
• Gym & fitness discount’s
• Cycle to Work scheme*
• Free annual flu jab

• Access to an industry leading Employee Assistance Programme
• Menopause Support Service
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders in all our settings
• Subject to ensuring NMW is maintained
• Holiday Entitlement: minimum 37 days (subject to pro rata if working part time and dependent upon salary and continuous service) including statutory Bank Holidays.

In accordance with DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education, an online search will be completed on all shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any relevant information will be discussed further with the applicant during the recruitment process.