Safeguarding Officer at The de Ferrers Academy in Burton upon Trent

The successful candidate will be an experienced and compassionate professional with a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students. They will have proven experience of working with children and young people who may face emotional, behavioural or social challenges and will be confident in building trusting relationships with students, families and academy staff.

The role requires excellent communication skills, the ability to maintain confidentiality and the confidence to liaise effectively with external agencies and contribute to multi-agency processes when required. The candidate will be highly organised, able to work calmly under pressure and manage competing priorities while ensuring records are accurate and up to date. They will demonstrate professionalism, integrity and accountability at all times, align with the values and ethos of the Trust and show a clear commitment to continuous professional development and inclusive practice.

Work hours: 37 hours per week, 39.2 working weeks per year.

Why Work for Affinity? At Affinity, we pride ourselves on being a great place to work, a workplace where everyone belongs, progresses, and thrives. We recognise that our colleagues are our greatest asset, and we are committed to ensuring they feel valued, supported, and empowered. As a Trust, we are privileged to employ inspirational people who make a positive difference every day. In return, we continually strengthen our offer of a supportive, inclusive, and ambitious working environment, one that promotes mental and physical wellbeing, builds confidence, and fosters pride across our organisation.

Our People Strategy Is Built Around Three Core Pillars:

• Belongs – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We cultivate an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity, champions equality, and ensures all staff feel respected, valued, and genuinely part of our community.
• Progresses – Staff Development and CPD. Our Professional Growth Model empowers colleagues to take ownership of their development. Our strong investment in CPD sets us apart and ensures every colleague has the opportunity to grow and succeed.
• Thrives – Wellbeing. We know that mental and physical wellbeing are essential to feeling supported and performing well. That’s why we place strong emphasis on creating an environment where colleagues feel healthy, valued, and able to thrive.

What are the Benefits of Joining Affinity?

• Investment in your professional development and CPD through our Professional Growth Model
• Removal of performance-related pay
• A commitment to dignity and respect in the workplace
• Opportunities for collaborative working through leadership and staff networks
• A Trust-wide approach to reducing workload
• Wellbeing initiatives supported by our Wellbeing Champion Network

In addition to these core benefits, we also provide an excellent wider package that includes:

• Employee Assistance Programme and mental health support services
• Access to Benenden Health’s self-pay private healthcare service
• Discounted gym membership with Everyone Active
• Cycle to Work scheme
• BHSF health cash plan
• Eye care vouchers
• Flu vaccination vouchers

Please note that we do not hold a sponsorship licence and, therefore, are unable to employ individuals residing outside of the UK or candidates living within the UK who require continued sponsorship to work in the UK. Completed applications should be received by 09:00am of the closing date. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Please ensure to regularly check your junk/spam folder for any correspondence in relation to the progress of your application. Due to the volume of applications we receive, it is not policy to give individual feedback at this stage.

We welcome a broad range of perspectives with a commitment to equality of opportunity by recruiting a diverse workforce, and creating an inclusive environment and a culture of belonging for everyone in Affinity Learning Partnership. Therefore, we encourage applications from underrepresented communities irrespective of age, disability, race, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership status, or neurodivergent status. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments wherever possible through the recruitment process should this be required.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and this position is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.