Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

For children with complex, challenging needs, the level of care and education must go above and beyond and that’s what drives us here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we’re proud to have won a reputation for excellence. Our aspirational homes, schools and ethos help us achieve the best possible outcomes. In short, we’re enhancing life opportunities.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are a huge part of making sure our children and young people’s needs are fully recognised and comprehensively met.

You will work as part of the leadership team and report directly to the Head Teacher for this crucial role. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other members of the Witherslack Group team in different locations to enable you to progress and develop your skills and knowledge.

As a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, you will support the DSL to ensure that actions are taken to support and safeguard children within the school. This will include, on a daily basis, undertaking tasks that are delegated to you by the DSL including:

• Liaising with statutory and non‑statutory agencies, parents/carers and staff on matters of wellbeing, child protection and safeguarding.
• Supporting the wider school team.

Queensmead House School is located on a historic site with views of Windsor Castle. This inspiring setting, with a rich heritage of education, is now home to a specialist learning environment recently rated Good by Ofsted. QHS is an independent specialist day school, with both primary and secondary settings providing high quality education. The school meets the needs of a diverse group of pupils with complex educational needs, communication difficulties and challenging behaviours.

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training.
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays.
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance.
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance.
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high‑street discounts.
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities.
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time.
• Contributory pension scheme – matched up to 5%.

To join us, you will have at least 2 years’ experience of being in a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead position in a school setting previously with a comprehensive portfolio of CPD related to Safeguarding and Child Protection. Experience of using Microsoft Office and other IT based systems would also be valuable together with outstanding interpersonal and problem resolution skills. A genuinely empathetic approach is also essential. Finally, you must be ready to support the Designated Safeguarding Lead in their statutory duty and be able to work under your own initiative, and you will need a full UK driving licence.

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong. As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference – especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way. By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.