Regional Designated Safeguarding Lead - South

Regional Designated Safeguarding Lead

£50,000 per annum plus £6,000 car allowance. Field‑Based (South) | Full Time (37.5 hours) | Permanent.

We're looking for an experienced Regional Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to provide expert safeguarding oversight and support across a portfolio of nurseries across our South location (Beds, Bucks, Herts, London & Home Counties).

This is an excellent opportunity for a confident safeguarding professional who enjoys coaching leaders, driving best practice and making a real difference to children's lives.

As Regional DSL, you will provide specialist safeguarding expertise to nursery leaders across your region. Acting as a trusted advisor and safeguarding champion, you'll support robust decision‑making, ensure concerns are managed appropriately and help maintain consistently high standards of safeguarding practice.

You will work closely with Nursery Managers, Area Managers and regional leadership teams, providing professional guidance, quality assurance, coaching and oversight of safeguarding activity. While safeguarding responsibility remains within each nursery, you'll be instrumental in strengthening confidence, consistency and compliance across your region.

The role is field‑based, with regular travel across the region, so a full UK driving licence is essential.

What You’ll Be Doing

Safeguarding Leadership & Oversight

• Provide day‑to‑day safeguarding oversight across multiple nurseries.
• Support leaders in assessing concerns, applying safeguarding thresholds and making informed decisions.
• Identify safeguarding trends, emerging risks and areas requiring escalation.
• Provide expert support in complex, high‑risk or sensitive safeguarding cases.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Review safeguarding records, documentation and case files to ensure quality and consistency.
• Support statutory reporting and notifications.
• Maintain clear safeguarding oversight and reporting across your region.
• Help ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation, guidance and organisational policies.

Coaching & Development

• Coach Nursery Managers and leadership teams to strengthen safeguarding knowledge and confidence.
• Deliver practical support through site visits, virtual meetings and follow‑up activity.
• Share learning, best practice and safeguarding insights across the region.

Partnership Working

• Collaborate with operational, quality and early years teams to support continuous improvement.
• Build effective relationships with external agencies and safeguarding partners.
• Work alongside the Head of Safeguarding to manage complex and escalated cases.

Who We’re Looking For

We're looking for a safeguarding professional who combines expertise with excellent relationship‑building skills.

You’ll Bring

• Significant experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) within a regulated children’s setting.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance relevant to early years or education.
• Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns and working with external agencies.
• Excellent judgement, resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Strong coaching and influencing skills, with the confidence to support and challenge when needed.
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and experience handling sensitive information.

What Success Looks Like

• Confident, well‑supported nursery leaders making effective safeguarding decisions.
• Consistently high‑quality safeguarding documentation and record keeping.
• Strong safeguarding cultures where concerns are raised and escalated appropriately.
• Greater consistency in safeguarding practice across multiple settings.
• Robust safeguarding assurance for children, families, leaders and regulators.

In Return, We Offer

• The opportunity to lead within a growing, values‑driven organisation.
• Access to global expertise and best practice in early years.
• A role with real influence where you directly impact outcomes.
• Ongoing development and career progression opportunities.
• Competitive salary of up to £50,000 plus car allowance of £6,000 per annum.
• 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off.
• EAP and Medicash benefits.
• Childcare discount.

Learn more about working at Partou: www.partou.co.uk/careers

Safer Recruitment: All applicants will undergo Enhanced DBS checks and thorough vetting. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Partou is proud to be part of the National Partnership in Early Learning and Childcare (NPELC) – a group of 10 of the largest childcare providers across England. Together, we operate over 1,300 childcare settings, employ more than 38,000 people and take care of over 160,000 children.