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- Tasks: Lead safeguarding efforts and advocate for vulnerable students in a supportive college environment.
- Company: Join Barnet and Southgate College, a forward-thinking institution dedicated to community empowerment.
- Benefits: Enjoy 31 days annual leave, flexible benefits, and access to gym facilities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration across multiple campuses.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Level 3 qualification and recent Designated Safeguarding Officer training required.
Are you an experienced safeguarding professional who wants to make a real difference for the most vulnerable young people in your community? Do you want to work alongside a committed, values-driven team who go above and beyond for students in often difficult circumstances and take genuine pride in seeing them achieve against the odds? If so, we would love to hear from you.
As our Designated Safeguarding Officer, you will act as a key source of safeguarding expertise and advocacy across the College, working closely with the Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead, Student Services and wider teams to protect and promote the welfare of vulnerable students. You will lead on referrals and casework, develop and deliver staff training, build effective partnerships with external agencies and lead on a specialist safeguarding area, bringing both knowledge and leadership to a function that sits at the heart of college life. This is a term-time post (38 weeks per year), based at our Borehamwood Campus with travel to other College sites as required.
About Barnet and Southgate College: We change lives, empower individuals and connect communities. We are an ambitious, forward-thinking further education college in North London, proud to serve diverse communities across Barnet, Southgate and beyond. Our 2030 Vision is bold: to be a leading provider of learning and skills development, fostering exceptional educational experiences, driven by innovation, collaboration and excellence.
Our safeguarding and Student Services team is made up of people who are genuinely passionate about protecting and supporting the most vulnerable learners. Partnership working is central to everything they do, and the team has built strong, trusted relationships with a wide range of external agencies. You will be joining a group of professionals who take their responsibilities seriously, support each other without hesitation and find real meaning in the work they do.
What You'll Be Doing
- Safeguarding expertise and advocacy: Act as a key source of safeguarding knowledge across the College, advocating for students identified as vulnerable or at risk and demonstrating sound understanding of procedures and the complex issues they face.
- Referrals and casework: Lead on referrals, action queries appropriately and in line with KCSIE, GDPR and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, and lead on collaborative strategy meetings involving relevant professionals.
- Records and quality assurance: Maintain accurate, up-to-date safeguarding records that evidence how risks are identified and mitigated, supporting compliance, quality assurance and inspection readiness.
- Specialist area lead: Take ownership of a specialist safeguarding area such as CCE, CSE, VAWG, misogyny/misandry or online safety, developing expertise and sharing best practice across the College.
- Training and awareness: Lead on the planning and delivery of safeguarding training for staff and promote key safeguarding updates to staff and students across all campuses using College platforms.
- Partnership working: Develop and sustain effective relationships with internal teams and external agencies including social care, the police, health services and other statutory partners to ensure joined-up, effective safeguarding responses.
- Statutory compliance: Support the Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead to ensure Governors, Senior Management and staff fulfil their statutory obligations under relevant legislation and guidance.
What You'll Bring
- A relevant Level 3 qualification
- English and Maths at Grade 5-9 or equivalent
- Designated Safeguarding Officer training completed within the last 3 years
- Proven experience and understanding of child protection procedures, referral processes and legislation
- Proven experience of adult safeguarding and referral processes
- Proven experience of multi-agency working
- Experience of supporting and working with vulnerable students in mainstream and more complex needs settings (e.g. EHCP, LAC, YOT, CP, CiN)
- Experience of Serious Safeguarding Reviews
- Excellent report writing and record keeping skills with high attention to detail
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with young people, families, staff and external professionals
- Ability to negotiate, manage conflict and work effectively under pressure
- High level of integrity, confidentiality and understanding of GDPR and information-sharing protocols
- IT literate with working knowledge of Microsoft Office and safeguarding-related systems
- Willingness to travel and work across all main College campuses
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding
Even Better If You Have...
- A higher-level qualification in safeguarding, social work, education or a related field
- Experience delivering safeguarding training to staff
- Experience working in a further education or post-16 setting
- Specialist knowledge in areas such as CCE, CSE, VAWG, online safety or Prevent
Potential Interview Dates: Week commencing 22nd June 2026.
Our Employee Pledge: The College offers employees a generous holiday allowance of 31 days annual leave for our support staff plus bank holidays. Pro Rata'd for part time employees. We also offer an attractive package of optional benefits for employees to take advantage of.
- Annual Season Ticket Loans: We offer permanent or contract staff with a minimum of a 12 month contract the option to purchase an annual season ticket loan without the big financial hit in one go!
- Cycle to Work Scheme: The scheme is an incentive for staff, offering tax free bikes through bike shops.
- Employee Support Helpline: The Employee Assistance Helpline can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Eye Tests for DSE Users: The College will refund the cost of regular eye tests for staff that use Display Screen Equipment regularly.
- Flu vouchers: We offer established staff a free flu vaccination voucher.
- Gym Facilities: Our Sports Centre at Southgate Campus is available for all staff.
- Hair Salon Services and Beauty Treatments: A range of competitively-priced hairdressing services are accessible at our Colindale Campus.
- High Street Discounts: Discount for teachers is a shopping benefits website for staff.
Designated Safeguarding Officer (Term Time Only) in Barnet employer: Barnet And Southgate College
Contact Detail:
Barnet And Southgate College Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Designated Safeguarding Officer (Term Time Only) in Barnet
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education and safeguarding sectors. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet people who might know about job openings. Remember, sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the college and its values, especially around safeguarding. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission to support vulnerable students. We want to see your passion shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your past work in safeguarding to the interview. Whether it’s case studies or training materials, having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Designated Safeguarding Officer (Term Time Only) in Barnet
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for safeguarding shine through! We want to see how much you care about making a difference for vulnerable young people. Share personal experiences or motivations that drive you to work in this field.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Designated Safeguarding Officer. Highlight your relevant qualifications and experiences that align with the job description. We love seeing how you connect your skills to what we do at Barnet and Southgate College!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and understand, so make sure your key points stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our college culture right there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Barnet And Southgate College
✨Know Your Safeguarding Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest safeguarding policies and procedures, especially KCSIE and GDPR. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the basics but are genuinely committed to protecting vulnerable students.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully handled safeguarding cases or worked with multi-agency teams. This will help demonstrate your practical knowledge and ability to navigate complex situations effectively.
✨Build Rapport with the Interviewers
Remember, this role is all about relationships. Use the interview to connect with your interviewers by showing empathy and understanding towards the challenges faced by vulnerable students. A genuine approach can make a lasting impression.
✨Prepare Questions About the Role
Think of insightful questions to ask about the college's safeguarding strategies and how they collaborate with external agencies. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if the college's values align with yours.