Designated Safeguarding Lead Manager

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details:

• Contractual hours: 30
• Basis: Full time - Term time
• Package: This role could be extended on further confirmation of funding
• Department: Children's and Education
• Terms and Conditions: Fixed Term Contract until 31/8/2028, 30 hours per week, term time only
• Closing date: Midnight on 28th June 2026
• Shortlisting date: Monday 29th June 2026
• Proposed Interview date: Friday 3rd July 2026

Are you an experienced dynamic practitioner with a sound knowledge of Children’s legislation, practice and procedures including those relating to safeguarding in education and the role of the DSL? Are you eager to promote positive outcomes for all our children and young people within the borough, with a keenness to drive forward development within schools? If so, then we are looking for you to join our team.

Children’s Services pride themselves in the way we work together both within our service areas and as a multiagency team, sharing our skills, knowledge and learning along the way. We are therefore delighted to be able to appoint an additional Designated Safeguarding Manager who will work alongside schools designated leads with a vision of delivering a collaborative approach to early intervention.

DSLs are the members of staff in a school who have the lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including responsibility for referring cases that meet threshold levels of concern to CSC. More specifically, Designated Safeguarding Leads are expected to:

• Manage referrals to CSC
• Act as a liaison with safeguarding partners including local authority case managers, Headteachers and other school staff
• Undergo specialist training
• Raise awareness
• Maintain child protection files

The role involves having to make difficult decisions about complex situations and vulnerable children through telephone advice and in-person support. This role aims to improve knowledge and understanding of Children’s Social Care processes and issues, resulting in reductions in inappropriate contacts to Children’s Social Care, and a reduction of DSL stress and anxiety.

As one of our Designated Safeguarding Managers, you will be required to support allocated schools across the borough by offering regular reflective one to one and group supervision whilst developing the schools’ links with social care. Whilst training will be provided, it is desirable that you will have had experience in delivering reflective supervision and are embracing systemic practice. There is an expectation that throughout this journey you will also welcome ongoing quality assurance, helping us understand the impact of the role and intervention for our children and young people.

For an informal chat about this role please don’t hesitate to contact the School Effectiveness Officer (Safeguarding), Jo Bleasdale to arrange a meeting to discuss.