Family Liaison, Attendance Officer and Safeguarding Officer (Designated Safeguarding Lead) MATERNITY COVER at Landon School Harmondsworth

About Landon School

Landon School is a newly established independent special day school that opened in October 2024, dedicated to supporting children aged 5-11 with autism and severe learning difficulties. Our vision is simple yet powerful: Safe, Happy, Learning. We believe that every child can maximize their potential regardless of their starting point, and we are committed to creating a nurturing environment where pupils are valued for who they are and challenged to achieve their very best. We operate with exceptional staff-to-pupil ratios (1:2) and provide highly individualized, play-based learning through three distinct curriculum pathways tailored to different developmental needs. Every pupil has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and we work in close partnership with families and a multi-disciplinary team of teachers, therapists, and support staff to provide holistic support. As a new school, we are building something special - a place where children feel safe, respected, and inspired to succeed. This is an exciting opportunity to join us at the beginning of our journey and help shape how we support families, promote excellent attendance, and embed outstanding safeguarding practice.

Job Purpose

To act as a key link between school, families, and the wider community, promoting positive relationships that support children's educational outcomes and wellbeing. As the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you will hold overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, ensuring that all children are protected from harm and that staff maintain the highest standards of safeguarding practice. The role combines strategic safeguarding leadership with family liaison responsibilities and attendance monitoring, working proactively and collaboratively with families to remove barriers to learning and ensure all pupils can access their right to education in a safe environment. Understanding that our pupils have complex needs including autism and severe learning difficulties, you will take a compassionate, individualized, and partnership-focused approach to both safeguarding and attendance, recognizing that barriers are to be overcome together rather than challenges to be met with compliance measures. You will work closely with the Headteacher and collaborate with our multi-disciplinary team to ensure every child is safe, supported, and able to engage with their education.

Key Responsibilities

• Safeguarding Leadership and Management (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
• Serve as the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection.
• Develop, implement, and review the school's safeguarding policies and procedures in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
• Ensure the school meets all statutory safeguarding requirements and maintains compliance with regulatory standards.
• Lead the development of a safeguarding culture where children's welfare is prioritised and all staff understand their responsibilities.
• Chair the weekly safeguarding meetings, setting agendas, reviewing cases, and ensuring appropriate actions are taken.
• Provide strategic oversight of all safeguarding matters and report regularly to the Headteacher and Advisory Board on safeguarding activities, trends, and areas for development.
• Maintain strategic oversight of the Single Central Record and ensure all safer recruitment practices are followed.
• Operational Safeguarding Management
• Act as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns raised by staff, parents, external agencies, or pupils.
• Receive, triage, and assess all safeguarding concerns and disclosures, determining appropriate levels of response.
• Make referrals to Children's Services (Child Protection/Child in Need) and other statutory agencies including police when necessary.
• Liaise with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) regarding allegations against staff or volunteers.
• Coordinate responses to safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate support is provided to children and families.
• Maintain comprehensive, confidential safeguarding records using CPOMS or equivalent systems, ensuring compliance with GDPR and data protection legislation.
• Monitor children subject to Child Protection Plans, Child in Need Plans, Early Help Assessments, or Looked After status.
• Oversee the quality and effectiveness of safeguarding interventions and ensure appropriate escalation when needed.
• Ensure appropriate information sharing with external agencies.