Safeguarding Officer in Stoke-on-Trent

We have an incredible new opportunity for a Safeguarding Officer to join Landau. This role offers more than a wage – it’s about the deep reward of guiding young people who’ve faced challenging starts in life toward brighter futures. As a Safeguarding Officer, you will lead and coordinate safeguarding and child/adult protection arrangements within Landau. Acting as the Deputy Safeguarding Lead, the postholder manages concerns and referrals, works closely with external agencies, maintains accurate confidential records, and promotes a strong culture of safeguarding across sites. The role ensures safeguarding approaches are person‑centred, accessible, and responsive to the complex needs of young people transitioning into adulthood.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating safeguarding and child/adult protection procedures across the provision.
• Ensuring we are up to date and compliant with current safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
• Promoting a strong safeguarding culture where learner welfare is central to all decision‑making.
• Receiving, assessing, and responding to safeguarding concerns in a timely and proportionate manner.
• Making referrals to local authority children’s or adult social care, Prevent partners, or other relevant agencies.
• Maintaining accurate, secure, and confidential safeguarding records in line with data protection requirements.
• Monitoring vulnerable learners and coordinating multi‑agency support.
• Ensuring safeguarding responses are person‑centred and accessible, taking account of communication needs, cognitive differences, and capacity considerations.
• Conducting home visits where appropriate with accompanying staff.
• Supporting learners with additional vulnerabilities, including those with EHCPs, mental health needs, or social care involvement.
• Contributing to risk assessments, behaviour support plans, pastoral support plans, and transition planning.
• Delivering or coordinating safeguarding training and updates for staff and volunteers.
• Ensuring staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and reporting procedures.
• Keeping up to date with personal CPD.
• Maintaining oversight of safeguarding induction processes.
• Maintaining and reviewing safeguarding, child protection, and related policies.
• Preparing safeguarding reports for senior leaders, governors, or trustees.
• Contributing to inspection readiness (e.g., Ofsted).

Person specification

SKILLS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

• Technical competency (qualifications and training certificates/licenses).
• Level 3 qualification (or above) in education, social care, safeguarding, or related field.
• Relevant safeguarding training of level 3 or above or willingness to undertake.

Experience

• Experience managing safeguarding concerns in an education or care setting.
• Experience working with young people aged 16–25, particularly those with SEN and/or disabilities.
• Experience liaising with external agencies and participating in multi‑agency meetings.

Skills and Attributes

• Ability to assess risk and make sound, defensible decisions.
• Excellent record‑keeping and organisational skills.
• High level of discretion, resilience, and professional integrity.
• Strong communication skills, including adapting communication for learners with additional needs.

Personal qualities, communicating and relating to others

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, dignity, and the rights of young people with SEND.
• Able to manage complex, sensitive, and sometimes distressing situations calmly and objectively.
• Understands the impact of adverse experiences and responds with sensitivity and consistency.
• Builds trust with learners, families, staff, and external professionals; able to challenge constructively where necessary.

Hours

36.5 hours per week.

Salary

£22,851.90 - £28,336.35 (£27,037.50 - £33,526.50 FTE) per annum.

This is a Term Time Only position working 39 weeks per year plus 3 weeks for training as required.

Location

Telford 4 days per week with travel to Stoke 1 day per week.

Covenants & DBS

Landau is committed to equality and inclusion. Guaranteed interviews are offered under the Crisis Homelessness Alliance, Disability Confident Scheme, and the Armed Forces Covenant, subject to meeting minimum criteria. Landau is committed to safeguarding and promotes the welfare of all learners and expects its staff to share this commitment.

As this role involves regular work with children and young people, and meets the definition of regulated activity, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 you must disclose all unprotected unspent and spent cautions and convictions. Further details on what convictions must be declared can be found in the Government's Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975.

If you are offered this position, Landau will ask you to complete an enhanced DBS check with a children's barred list check and provide at least 2 references.

It is an offence for an individual who has been barred from working with children to apply for regulated activity. Providing false information is also an offence and could result in the rejection of the applicant, summarily dismissal if selected, and possible referral to the police.