Designated Safeguarding Lead

Designated Safeguarding Lead

We have an exciting opportunity at The Chalk Hills Academy for a highly experienced and proactive Designated Safeguarding Lead to join a thriving academy committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. We are seeking a Designated Safeguarding Lead with a proven track record of leading safeguarding in a secondary school setting, who has experience managing complex safeguarding cases and a deep understanding of multi-agency working.

The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and best practice, alongside the confidence and authority to lead safeguarding across the school and act as a central point of contact for all child protection concerns.

You will be part of the dedicated and supportive inclusion team at The Chalk Hills Academy who work together to ensure that all our children are able to thrive in their learning, and that high standards of safeguarding are maintained within the academy. Join us and make a meaningful impact on student welfare in a supportive and forward-thinking school community.

Key Duties

Lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the academy.

Taking part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings and contributing to the assessment of children.

Advise and support other members of staff on child welfare and child protection matters and liaise with relevant agencies such as the local authority and police.

Line manage the Deputy Safeguarding Officers and Safeguarding Team.

Raising the profile of safeguarding with the academy so that all teachers, students, parents and visitors are aware of safeguarding issues and referrals.

The successful candidate will have:

Level 4 or higher Safeguarding qualification

Knowledge of legislation, government guidance and national frameworks for safeguarding children and adults at risk

Knowledge of the role and responsibilities of local key safeguarding agencies, including social services, MASH and the police

Knowledge of local and national agencies that provide support for children, adults and their families

Knowledge of local social services processes for the assessment and referral of safeguarding concerns

Exceptional leadership skills.

Ability to build effective working relationships with all stakeholders in particular parents

Ability to advise and support individuals at all levels within an organisation

Ability to act with integrity and respect when working with others

Good administration and data analysis skills

Excellent communication skills

Strong influencing skills

Job Specifics

Start Date: 1st September 2025

Salary: AS 29-35 FTE £38,926-£45,011 pro rata £35,992-£41,618 dependent on experience

Contract: Permanent, full-time, Term-time + INSET days plus 2 weeks, 41 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week – Monday to Friday 8am-4pm. (*flexibility will be required to meet the needs of the school & role)

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the deadline date

Safeguarding

We believe in the safeguarding and welfare of children and expect all staff to share this view’.

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer.

The Department for Education (DfE) has set out statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ for schools and colleges on safeguarding.

Safeguarding is defined in paragraph 4 as:

“Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.”

The definition of ‘children’ includes everyone under the age of 18.