Safeguarding Lead – Greenroots & Greenview Nurseries
Job Title Safeguarding Lead (Across Greenroots & Greenview Nurseries)
Reports To Nursery Directors / Trustees
Location Across both Greenroots Nursery and Greenview Nursery
Job Purpose
To lead and strengthen safeguarding practice across both nurseries by ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and welfare of all children. The Safeguarding Lead will work closely with Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), staff, parents, external agencies, and trustees to ensure safeguarding procedures are effective, up to date, and responsive to the contextual safeguarding needs within Herefordshire.The role will have a strong focus on attachment-aware practice, early help intervention, attendance support, staff development, policy compliance, and multi-agency working to improve outcomes for children and families.The Safeguarding Lead will champion a proactive safeguarding culture that prioritises the safety, wellbeing, and emotional development of children while supporting families and staff through inclusive, nurturing, and reflective practice.The successful candidate will play a key role in creating and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture across both nurseries where children, families, and staff feel safe, valued, listened to, and supported.
Main ResponsibilitiesSafeguarding Leadership
- Support and guide Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) across both nurseries.
- Assist DSLs with making safeguarding referrals to relevant agencies.
- Review and monitor safeguarding chronologies to ensure records are accurate, detailed, and up to date, including pre-existing concerns, historical information, and actions taken.
- Ensure safeguarding records clearly evidence professional decisions, actions, and outcomes for children.
- Support the identification of vulnerable children and families requiring additional support or intervention.
- Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented consistently across both settings.
- Review safeguarding policies and procedures annually to ensure compliance with current legislation, statutory guidance, and local safeguarding requirements.
- Undertake regular safeguarding audits and monitor compliance with statutory requirements.
- Maintain confidential and accurate safeguarding records in line with GDPR and safeguarding legislation.
- Ensure safeguarding noticeboards, whistleblowing posters, and staff guidance on how to report concerns are current, visible, and accessible across both settings.
- Provide professional challenge where appropriate to ensure children’s welfare remains paramount.
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture where staff feel confident to report concerns and escalate where necessary.
- Encourage a culture of professional curiosity, reflection, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure safeguarding remains central to nursery practice and decision-making.
Attachment & Early Help Support
- Undertake ongoing research into attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and child development.
- Develop and deliver attachment-focused training to staff to support children in developing secure and positive attachments.
- Support practitioners to implement nurturing, emotionally responsive approaches within nursery practice.
- Provide guidance and support to parents regarding attachment, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and early childhood development.
- Deliver workshops, information sessions, and early help support for families where appropriate.
- Promote positive relationships between children, families, and nursery staff.
- Support families to access appropriate services and interventions where needed.
Training & Staff Development
- Identify safeguarding and welfare training needs across both nurseries.
- Deliver safeguarding, welfare, attendance, and attachment-based training to staff teams.
- Deliver safeguarding training and updates to trustees to ensure governance responsibilities are understood and fulfilled.
- Ensure safeguarding training remains current and reflects contextual safeguarding issues relevant to Herefordshire.
- Undertake regular professional development to maintain up-to-date safeguarding knowledge and best practice.
- Attend safeguarding and domestic abuse network meetings and share learning with staff teams.
- Support induction and ongoing safeguarding supervision for new staff members.
- Ensure all staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and feel empowered to act in the best interests of children.
- Support staff wellbeing and confidence in safeguarding practice through guidance, mentoring, and training.
Multi-Agency Working
- Attend safeguarding network meetings and local authority briefings.
- Attend domestic abuse network groups and share relevant learning with staff and leadership teams.
- Build effective relationships with external agencies including:
- Children’s Services
- Early Help Teams
- Health Visitors
- Schools
- Domestic Abuse Services
- SEND support services
- Police and safeguarding professionals
- Contribute to Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings and other multi-agency meetings where appropriate.
- Escalate concerns and professionally challenge external agencies where responses do not sufficiently safeguard children.
Attendance & Family Engagement
- Monitor and review children’s attendance across both nurseries.
- Identify patterns of poor attendance or persistent absence.
- Work with families to improve attendance and understanding of the importance of regular early years education.
- Support parents in overcoming barriers affecting attendance and engagement.
- Promote positive home–nursery partnerships and encourage early communication with families.
- Foster trusting relationships with families to encourage early support and intervention.
Monitoring & Reporting
- Identify safeguarding trends, emerging concerns, and areas for development across both settings.
- Produce reports and updates for trustees and leadership teams.
- Analyse safeguarding, attendance, and welfare data to support strategic planning and improvement.
- Monitor recurring safeguarding themes and identify areas requiring intervention or additional staff training.
- Support the continuous improvement of safeguarding practice across both settings.
Additional Responsibilities
- Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all safeguarding practice.
- Support children with additional vulnerabilities including SEND, behavioural, emotional, and social needs.
- Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.
- Act as a deputy DSL where required.
- Contribute to nursery improvement plans relating to safeguarding, attendance, wellbeing, and family support.
- Promote children’s voice and ensure children feel safe, listened to, and supported.
- Work collaboratively to create safe, inclusive, nurturing, and emotionally secure environments across both nurseries.
Person SpecificationEssential
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and procedures.
- Experience working within an education settings.
- Understanding of attachment theory and trauma-informed practice.
- Experience supporting families and multi-agency working.
- Ability to deliver staff and trustee training confidently.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Ability to analyse safeguarding concerns and identify patterns.
- Confidence in offering professional challenge where required.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development.
Desirable
- DSL qualification/training/experience.
- Early Help or Family Support experience.
- Knowledge of contextual safeguarding issues within Herefordshire.
- Understanding of domestic abuse support services.
- Experience supporting attendance improvement.
- Mental Health First Aid or related wellbeing training/knowledge.
Pay: From £13.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
