Safeguarding Officer and LAC support in Coventry

The postholder of Safeguarding Officer will play a key role in supporting the school’s safeguarding arrangements and promoting the welfare of our children and young people. The postholder will be responsible for monitoring and taking appropriate action on internal safeguarding referrals recorded on CPOMS, ensuring that the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) always maintains clear oversight. The role requires a sound understanding of the school’s statutory duties in relation to Looked After Children (LAC) and the ability to support these pupils effectively.

The Safeguarding Officer will refer cases of suspected abuse to the DSL and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) and will seek advice and guidance from the DSL/DDSLs in relation to concerns involving domestic violence, substance misuse, or any other identified safeguarding or welfare risks. All staff are expected to know what to do if they have concerns about a child, take on the responsibility for providing a safe environment and promoting children’s welfare, undertake regular safeguarding and child protection training and, familiarise themselves with KCSIE part 1 and local policies and procedures as directed by the trust/academy.

Why work for us? A career at Inspire Education Trust offers a rewarding future, with the opportunity to make a real impact on the lives and outcomes of our young people. We work hard to provide an environment which places staff wellbeing at the forefront of the agenda, as well as providing ample opportunities for personal and professional development.

• A highly supportive and committed senior leadership team
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers 24/7 confidential advice and support on a range of matters and free access to accredited counsellors
• A focus on staff wellbeing including a network of wellbeing champions and a supportive working environment
• Opportunity to join a committed and forward-thinking team of staff
• Employee Benefits platform providing staff access to a range of benefits such as shopping discounts

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and appointments will be subject to rigorous safeguarding checks including enhanced DBS and references. The postholder must share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted will be asked to complete a self-declaration to confirm any (non-protected) criminal disclosures or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children.

The post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

We aim to recruit the very best staff and welcome those from all backgrounds, communities and faiths (including non-faith individuals). Inspire Education Trust is clear about its responsibilities in embracing diversity and ensuring we recruit people of a high calibre based on their skills, abilities, and experience. As such, we welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates.

The role of Safeguarding Officer will be classed as regulated activity. Any offer of employment will be conditional until satisfactory completion of all mandatory pre-employment checks. It is an offence to apply for this role if barred from engaging in regulating activity relevant to children. Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre-employment check, with the effect of 1st September 2022, please note an online search may form part of this recruitment process.