Regional Safeguarding Lead in Sutton

Regional Safeguarding Lead in Sutton

Sutton Full-Time No working from home possible
Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead safeguarding practices across multiple academies and ensure compliance with child protection standards.
  • Company: Join Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, a family of specialist education providers.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, and employee wellbeing support.
  • Other info: Opportunities for career progression in a supportive and inclusive environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in safeguarding vulnerable learners and shape best practices.
  • Qualifications: Strong experience in safeguarding, excellent knowledge of legislation, and effective communication skills.

Salary: £52,187 - £60,571 p/a, Grade PO5/6/7, Outer London Business Support Scale (inclusive of London Weighting).

Location: Regional / Multi-site Role - Travel required across one designated OHCAT region: Region 1 (Kingston, Chessington & Wandsworth), Region 2 (Sutton, Croydon & West Sussex), or Region 3 (Hillingdon, Slough & Surrey), plus occasional travel to OHCAT Head Office, Sutton (SM1 1DA).

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, all year round. (8.45am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and from 8.45am to 4.15pm on Friday (exclusive of meal breaks), although the post holder may have to work at different times and/or such additional hours as reasonably required by OHCAT.

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust (OHC&AT) is a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education. We operate across academies and college centres in London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. Supporting our academies and college, OHC&AT also operates learning support services, such as nursing and therapy, and a central business support team which includes HR, finance and IT.

Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. These include autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health needs; profound and multiple learning disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health conditions.

We are seeking an experienced and driven Regional Safeguarding Lead to join OHCAT and drive excellence in safeguarding and child protection practice across our academies. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, expert guidance and robust support to safeguarding teams, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding culture, compliance and learner wellbeing across their region.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead, support and challenge Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) across your region to ensure high-quality safeguarding practice.
  • Provide expert leadership, advice and guidance on safeguarding and child protection matters across academies.
  • Ensure compliance with KCSIE, safeguarding legislation and statutory requirements, maintaining robust systems, policies and procedures.
  • Lead safeguarding audits, quality assurance and continuous improvement activity, using data and insight to strengthen practice and identify risks.
  • Build strong partnerships with external agencies and deliver training, coaching and support to school safeguarding teams to promote a consistent culture of safeguarding excellence.
Key Requirements
  • Strong experience of managing complex safeguarding and child protection cases.
  • Excellent knowledge of KCSIE, safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
  • Confidence working strategically, influencing practice and building effective partnerships.
  • Experience delivering training, coaching and mentoring to support safeguarding excellence.
  • A commitment to supporting children with SEND and vulnerable learners, with strong communication, resilience and professional integrity.
  • Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across a designated region.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape safeguarding practice at scale and make a real difference to the lives of our learners.

Benefits
  • Pathways for progression within the Trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
  • Pension Scheme – you will be enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
  • Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
  • Employee Wellbeing – We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
  • Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
  • Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

Safeguarding Statement: Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. In line with the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Trust will request and review references and carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates prior to interview as part of our safer recruitment process. Any concerns raised will be followed up with the applicant before a recruitment decision is made. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Regional Safeguarding Lead in Sutton employer: Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust (OHC&AT) is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its staff. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, OHC&AT offers numerous benefits including a comprehensive pension scheme, flexible working arrangements, and pathways for professional growth, all while making a meaningful impact on the lives of learners with diverse needs across the Outer London region.

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust

Contact Details:

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Regional Safeguarding Lead in Sutton

Dive into Local Community Groups

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Attend Social Work Events and Workshops

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We think you need these skills to ace Regional Safeguarding Lead in Sutton

Safeguarding Expertise
Child Protection Knowledge
KCSIE Compliance
Strategic Leadership
Training and Coaching
Partnership Building
Data Analysis for Safeguarding

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.

Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!

Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!

Tailor Your Application to Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust

Understanding the Role of Empathy

In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.

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Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills

In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

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