Operational Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in England

• Operational Safeguarding Oversight
• Act as an Operational Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the school.
• Provide operational oversight of safeguarding systems, procedures, and interventions.
• Supporting the DSL in writing reports and conducting data analysis on safeguarding activities for the leadership team and external regulators.
• Coordinate and support the work of Deputy DSLs, ensuring consistency and effectiveness of safeguarding practice.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns, referrals, records, and interventions are managed effectively and in line with statutory guidance.
• Maintain oversight of vulnerable students, ensuring risks are identified promptly and appropriate interventions are implemented and reviewed.
• Monitor safeguarding trends and emerging concerns, including those linked to attendance, medical needs and student welfare.
• Maintain accurate safeguarding records and ensure compliance with statutory and local safeguarding requirements.
• Act as the Designated Teacher for looked‑after and previously looked‑after children.
• Attendance and Vulnerable Student Intervention
• Ensure attendance is recognised as a key safeguarding indicator and that concerns are identified, escalated and addressed at the earliest opportunity.
• Work closely with attendance, pastoral, safeguarding, SEND and inclusion teams to identify barriers to attendance and implement effective support plans.
• Ensure attendance information informs safeguarding decision‑making and risk assessments, particularly for children subject to Child Protection Plans, Child in Need Plans, Early Help support, and other vulnerable groups.
• Promote a culture where attendance is viewed as everyone's responsibility and a key factor in safeguarding and student success.
• Multi-Agency Working

• Work collaboratively with external agencies including

• Social Care
• Early Help
• CAMHS
• Health Services
• Police
• Alternative Provision Providers
• Attend and contribute to Child in Need (CIN), Child Protection (CP), Team Around the Child (TAC), professional review meetings, and other multi‑agency forums.
• Ensure information relating to safeguarding, attendance, and medical concerns is appropriately shared to support coordinated intervention planning.
• Act as a key point of contact for external agencies regarding vulnerable students and families.
• Ensure that multi‑agency support is effectively coordinated, monitored, and reviewed.
• Knowledge and Understanding of Safeguarding
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of statutory safeguarding guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and local safeguarding procedures.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, emerging risks and best practice.
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture across the school, ensuring safeguarding remains everyone's responsibility.
• Support and advise staff on safeguarding processes, thresholds, and appropriate responses to concerns.
• Contribute to regular safeguarding training, awareness, and professional development activities across the school including safeguarding induction.
• Maintain a record of all staff training and attendance.
• Maintain professional curiosity and a child‑centred approach when assessing risk and determining appropriate interventions.
• Caseload Management and Intervention
• Maintain and effectively manage an allocated caseload of safeguarding and vulnerable student cases.
• Undertake direct casework and interventions to support students and families where required.
• Ensure safeguarding records are accurate, comprehensive, and updated in a timely manner.
• Monitor, review, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and support plans.
• Prioritise workload effectively, ensuring that safeguarding concerns are responded to promptly and appropriately.
• Contribute actively to the wider safeguarding team's workload and operational effectiveness.

Thesuccessful candidate will be an experienced safeguarding professional with a proven ability to provide operational leadership in safeguarding, child protection and vulnerable student support within an educational setting.

They will possess an excellent understanding of statutory safeguarding guidance and demonstrate a child‑centred approach, ensuring that the welfare of children remains paramount in all decision‑making.

They will be confident in managing complex safeguarding cases, working collaboratively with internal colleagues and external agencies to coordinate effective interventions that improve outcomes for children and families.

The post holder will be highly organised, able to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate and confidential records, and use safeguarding data to identify trends, evaluate practice and inform strategic decision‑making.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling them to build positive professional relationships with students, families, colleagues and partner agencies.

They will be resilient, emotionally intelligent and capable of making sound professional judgements in challenging situations.

They will promote a culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, attendance is recognised as a key safeguarding indicator, and vulnerable students receive timely, effective and coordinated support.

They will be committed to continuous professional development, maintaining current knowledge of safeguarding legislation, emerging risks and best practice.

Above all, the successful candidate will demonstrate integrity, professional curiosity, discretion and a commitment to ensuring that every child is safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential.

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