Designated Safeguarding Officer (Term Time Only)

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.

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.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 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

Benefits

• 31 days annual leave plus bank holidays for support staff, pro‑rata for part‑time employees
• Annual season ticket loan with salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme – tax‑free bikes
• Employee Support Helpline – confidential assistance 24/7
• Eye tests for DSE users – cost refunded
• Flu vaccination voucher
• Gym facilities – free for staff Monday to Friday within term time
• Hair salon services and beauty treatments – staff offers at Colindale Campus
• High Street discounts – select shopping benefits for staff