Safeguarding Officer (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)

Oxted School are looking for a dedicated Safeguarding Officer to join our team and play a key role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. As part of our committed safeguarding team, you will work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Team to uphold safeguarding best practices across the school.

You will work closely with the Safeguarding Team to monitor and provide a comprehensive overview of all safeguarding concerns. Your responsibilities will include supporting colleagues in following safeguarding and child protection procedures, making referrals, and working with external agencies as needed. Additionally, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate and confidential safeguarding records, ensuring compliance with both school and Trust policies. You will also assist in the delivery of staff training and development on safeguarding matters, as directed by the DSL.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain vigilance as to safeguarding issues across the school, both known and emerging and act swiftly to address all concerns in line with school and trust policies.
• Maintain and review safeguarding records to ensure compliance with school and trust policies.
• Provide comprehensive overview and monitoring of safeguarding concerns.
• Provide feedback to pastoral teams and DSL as required regarding student welfare and wellbeing.
• Liaise with school counsellors and other external services.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade4or above (including English & Maths), or equivalent, or able toevidenceability at an equivalent level.
• A technical/professional qualification related to the role is advantageous.
• Proficiency in IT tools and excellent communication skills.
• Ability tomaintainaccurate, confidential safeguarding records.
• Prior experience in an educational or similar environment.

All adults employed by the Trust have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.

The Howard Partnership Trust is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, marital status, disability, race, age, or sexual orientation.

All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

SAFEGUARDING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

The successful candidate will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Howard Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-overs or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.