Schools Safeguarding Officer - South

Overview

Salary:
Up to £50,000. Closing date: 1st February. Interview Date: 10th February. This is a remote role; travel will be required across the South West and South East. The ideal candidate for this role will be Oxfordshire based.

Are you currently working as a DSL in a school or have wider DSL/Safeguarding responsibilities within a Multi Academy Trust, or are you a Schools Safeguarding Officer or equivalent within a local authority and are already supporting DSLs in schools? If so, we’d love to hear from you. We are the highest Ofsted-rated provider in the country for special education and care.

Our teams are fulfilled by making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. For children with complex needs, the level of care and education we provide must go above and beyond. 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 and market leading OFSTED ratings.

Get Out What You Put In

The Schools Safeguarding Officer will work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Head Teachers to ensure that safeguarding practice is robust and defensible within the school. You will:

• Work with the Head of Safeguarding to support schools and ensure compliance in accordance with safeguarding and wider legislation, and in the development and delivery of training for DSLs and school-based staff.
• Contribute to effective partnership working between different teams and departments within Witherslack Group.
• Undertake safeguarding audits in schools to ensure compliance with current frameworks and support schools in any actions plans resulting from findings.
• Support DSLs in schools and give advice to ensure safeguarding concerns are managed in line with Local Safeguarding Partnership procedures and thresholds.
• Work with DSLs in schools to ensure safeguarding record keeping is robust and in line with best practice and provide guidance related to safeguarding cases.

• At least 5 years experience as a DSL in a school and experience across various agencies. Wider agency experience (e.g., early help or children’s social care) is advantageous.
• Experience giving advice to and supporting DSLs/DDSLs, developing and delivering training, and undertaking safeguarding audits.
• Extensive safeguarding expertise — significant experience (5+ years) managing safeguarding and child protection cases, ideally as a DSL or in a senior role.
• Strong policy knowledge — up-to-date understanding of Keeping Children Safe in Education, national safeguarding policy, wider education legislation, and partnership arrangements.
• Excellent advisory, training, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to operate in high-pressure environments and manage competing priorities.

We reward hard work with a competitive salary and benefits package in the care sector, and the chance to make a genuine difference in the lives of our young people. Benefits include:

• Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 dependent on experience
• Medical cover for services such as optician or dentist, plus a range of high-street discounts
• Holiday: 7 weeks’ holiday (including bank holidays)
• Flexible benefits package to adjust holiday allowance, pension, and life insurance
• Wellbeing tools and advice, including employee assistance
• Beautiful working environments with excellent facilities
• Referral bonus scheme (£1,000) for a successful referral

Join the UK’s best special education and care provider. For more information please contact Mary Aurens, Head of Safeguarding, on  The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (cost covered). We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community. The group provides its ex-offenders policy upon request.