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- Tasks: Lead safeguarding and mental health initiatives to empower students with special educational needs.
- Company: Orchard Hill College, an Outstanding Specialist College transforming lives across London and Surrey.
- Benefits: Career progression, pension schemes, employee discounts, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a diverse team dedicated to supporting young people with SEND.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Safeguarding trained with at least 3 years of DSL experience.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, April 2025) offering life-changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We operate vibrant community-based College Centres across London and Surrey, where committed specialist teams deliver a variety of programmes designed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.
We are looking for an experienced and committed Head of Safeguarding, Mental Health and Well-being to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the College’s safeguarding and well-being provision. Reporting to the Principal of Orchard Hill College, the postholder will work closely with Designated Safeguarding Leads, Heads of College and partner organisations to ensure safeguarding arrangements are robust, compliant with current legislation and aligned with sector best practice, while also leading the development of high-quality support that promotes students’ mental health, emotional well-being and safety through targeted and responsive interventions.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and management to regional Designated Safeguarding Leads, supporting the delivery of high-quality safeguarding, wellbeing and student support across the College.
- Offer senior expertise on complex safeguarding matters, ensuring robust decision-making and effective responses to serious safeguarding concerns.
- Lead the development and implementation of a College-wide safeguarding strategy, using data, feedback and best practice to continuously strengthen safeguarding arrangements.
- Promote positive educational outcomes by identifying and addressing the impact of safeguarding, welfare and protection issues on student attendance, engagement and achievement.
- Act as the senior lead for safeguarding partnerships and mental health, working with external agencies and leading a whole-college approach to mental health and wellbeing aligned with national policy and sector developments.
Key Requirements
- Level 3 Safeguarding Trained
- At least 3 years DSL experience
- Level 2 Qualification in English
- Excellent leadership and management skills, including team development and supervision.
- Experience of working with young people who have barriers to learning or SEND
Rewards & 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 either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
- 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)
Our Trust The College is an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013 which is home to 13 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our vacancies page. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHC and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the college directly. Visits to the College in advance of applications are encouraged. Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
Head of Safeguarding, Mental Health and Well-being in London employer: Orchard Hill College
Contact Detail:
Orchard Hill College Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Safeguarding, Mental Health and Well-being in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the safeguarding and mental health sectors. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Orchard Hill College thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and the specific challenges they face in safeguarding and well-being. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for supporting students with special educational needs. Share real-life examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles. This will help you stand out as someone who truly cares about the well-being of students.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our community at Orchard Hill College.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Safeguarding, Mental Health and Well-being in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for safeguarding and mental health shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the lives of students with special educational needs.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in safeguarding and working with young people who have barriers to learning. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to handle complex situations.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see how you meet the key requirements.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Orchard Hill College.
How to prepare for a job interview at Orchard Hill College
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in safeguarding legislation and best practices. Brush up on your knowledge of mental health strategies and how they apply to students with special educational needs. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the role but genuinely passionate about making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past, especially in safeguarding or mental health contexts. Highlight your experience in managing complex situations and decision-making processes, as this is crucial for the Head of Safeguarding role.
✨Connect with Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with Orchard Hill College’s values and mission. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their goal of transforming lives through education. This connection can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions that demonstrate your understanding of the role and the challenges it entails. Inquire about their current safeguarding strategies or how they measure the success of their mental health initiatives. This shows your genuine interest and proactive mindset.