Safeguarding Officer & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Grade G - £32,199 – £35,395 per annum pro rata | Full Time (37 hours per week), Term Time Only + 4 weeks | Start Date: August 2026
Help Shape the Future of Safeguarding at St Brendan's
We’re seeking an exceptional safeguarding professional to join our expanding Safeguarding and Student Welfare Team as a Safeguarding Officer and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL).
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key operational lead role within a team and service that is evolving, strengthening and investing in its future. Following a comprehensive review of safeguarding practice, the College is implementing an ambitious programme of development focused on specialist expertise, professional development, collaboration and innovation. We are looking for colleagues who want to help shape that future.
As a DDSL, you will work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead and fellow safeguarding professionals to provide oversight, triage and coordination of safeguarding concerns, ensuring that students receive timely, effective and proportionate support. You will contribute to a culture of professional curiosity, continuous learning and high-quality safeguarding practice across the College.
Why Join Us?
This is more than a safeguarding role. It is an opportunity to become part of a service committed to:
- Building specialist safeguarding expertise across the team.
- Developing innovative and agile approaches to safeguarding practice.
- Creating clear pathways for professional development and leadership growth.
- Strengthening multi-agency partnerships and evidence-informed practice.
- Supporting colleagues through engagement with supervision, reflection and continuous improvement.
- Ensuring every student has equitable access to support and protection.
Our Commitment to Diversity
Our students come from a rich range of backgrounds, cultures, identities and lived experiences. We believe our safeguarding leadership team could better reflect the diversity of the community we serve.
We are therefore particularly keen to hear from candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, including Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, men, disabled applicants and individuals whose experiences and perspectives can contribute to a broader range of voices within safeguarding leadership.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.
About You
You will bring:
- Experience of working within a safeguarding environment.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and legislation relating to Adult Safeguarding.
- Experience of managing safeguarding concerns and working with external agencies.
- Excellent professional judgement and the confidence to challenge constructively.
- The ability to remain calm and effective in complex and emotionally demanding situations.
- A commitment to reflective practice, continuous learning and professional development.
Most importantly, you will share our belief that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and that effective safeguarding depends upon strong relationships, professional curiosity, courage and collaboration.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to join a growing and developing safeguarding service.
- Ongoing investment in safeguarding training and specialist knowledge development.
- Professional supervision and support (termly 121).
- Opportunities to develop leadership expertise and specialist safeguarding interests.
- A collaborative and values-led working environment.
- The chance to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people.
Start Date
We are keen for the successful candidate to join the College in August 2026, enabling a full induction and preparation period ahead of the new academic year.
If you are an ambitious safeguarding professional who wants to contribute to a service focused on growth, learning and continuous improvement, we would welcome your application.
St Brendan's Sixth Form College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.
Important Information for Applicants
- We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
- Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and interviews may be arranged before the advertised closing date.
- The use of generative AI in applications is monitored. Any use of AI to support your application must be declared.
We strive to be representative of the community we serve and know that diverse talent builds a better College and provides an enhanced experience for our students. We’re committed to building an organisation where everyone is welcome, supported and able to thrive.
Equality and diversity are fundamental to our core beliefs and values. That’s why we welcome people from all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socio-economic classes, religions, disabilities and ages in everything we do.
We are values-driven and our vision is to provide an inclusive, aspirational and academic education for all our students, so that all of them will learn, thrive and lead successful lives.
The safeguarding of all students is paramount and this approach is embedded into everything we do. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
In line with Keeping Children Safe In Education guidelines and having regard to all relevant guidance, any offer of employment will be subject to a comprehensive checking process including satisfactory references from current and previous employers, DBS Enhanced Disclosure and online searches will also be conducted for successful candidates.
