Safeguarding and Wellbeing Officer in Bradford

We have an exciting opportunity to join our brilliant Student Support department as a Safeguarding & Wellbeing Officer. Our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Officers are instrumental in working with our students to transform lives. They assess and provide support for students and prospective students with safeguarding, mental health, and personal welfare challenges, including the provision of ‘early help’ and curriculum staff support. This is a term-time role working 37 hours per week, 40 weeks per year.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide a first point of contact for staff and students with safeguarding and wellbeing concerns, including mental health.
• Liaise with curriculum staff and other support staff to ensure positive outcomes for service users, including retention, achievement and progression.
• Negotiate reasonable adjustments necessary to enable the students to overcome barriers to learning.
• Signpost and refer students to additional internal and external sources of support, providing advocacy where appropriate.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a range of resources, both electronic and paper, which support the personal and social welfare of students.
• Work flexibly as a member of the College supporting colleagues and the general operation of the area including weekend and evening work if required.
• Attend and contribute to appropriate team meetings, staff development and marketing activities.
• Proactively engage with students in service evaluation and quality improvement.
• Support young people and vulnerable adults at risk of harm.
• Make appropriate referrals to statutory bodies and other internal and external services based on assessed needs and risk.
• Devise, coordinate and monitor risk assessments and support plans and agree safety plans for students at ongoing risk of harm which maximise individual potential and achievement.
• Implement best practice in relation to safeguarding, Prevent and mental health.

The Ideal Candidate:

Our ideal candidate will be a learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Outstanding, creating a positive working and study environment, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

Education & Training:

• Safeguarding or Mental Health qualification at Level 2 and above or demonstrable experience working within a Safeguarding role.
• GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale.
• GCSE 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale.

Experience:

• Experience of working in an education, Social Care or youth work setting including direct work with service users.
• Experience of supporting young people and/or vulnerable adults at risk of harm.
• Experience of working in partnership with external agencies, for example Children’s Services, CAMHS, the Police.
• Experience of compiling support plans with individuals and or parents/carers ensuring accuracy, accountability and confidentiality.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection with children and vulnerable adults.