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Job Title: DDSL with expansive duties
Location: Wessex Lodge School, Frome, Somerset BA11 4LA
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday–Friday
Salary: From £26,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: July 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
At Wessex Lodge School, safeguarding isn't simply a responsibility – it's at the heart of everything we do. We're seeking a compassionate, proactive and highly organised Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) to join our Welfare Team and play a pivotal role in ensuring that every child and young person in our care feels safe, supported and empowered to thrive.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about safeguarding and wants to make a meaningful difference within a specialist educational setting. As part of our Middle Leadership Team, you'll work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to champion a culture of vigilance, care and high expectations across the school.
As DDSL, you will be the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns within your designated site, leading the day-to-day operational response while working under the guidance and oversight of the DSL. You'll monitor and triage concerns using our safeguarding reporting platform, SLEUTH, ensuring all safeguarding records, actions and interventions are accurate, timely and compliant. You'll also support colleagues through challenging situations, provide safeguarding advice and contribute to the wider strategic development of safeguarding, welfare and inclusion across the school.
While this is a predominantly non-teaching role, there may be occasions where you'll support targeted interventions within the classroom to meet the needs of pupils. Previous experience in a school setting is desirable, but not essential. What matters most is your commitment to safeguarding, your ability to build trusted relationships, and your determination to secure the very best outcomes for children and young people.
What You'll Be Doing
- Act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns on site, escalating matters appropriately to the DSL and Headteacher.
- Monitor and manage safeguarding concerns through SLEUTH, ensuring concerns are triaged, recorded and followed up effectively.
- Record and oversee all physical interventions, ensuring documentation is completed on the same day and all actions are implemented promptly.
- Conduct debriefs with staff following incidents, providing support and reflection before reporting outcomes to senior leaders.
- Make referrals to Children's Social Care, the Channel Programme and, where appropriate, the police, with support from the DSL.
- Attend and contribute to strategy meetings, child protection conferences and multi-agency discussions.
- Maintain accurate, confidential safeguarding records in line with GDPR, KCSIE and information-sharing guidance.
- Support colleagues by providing expert advice and guidance on safeguarding, child protection and welfare matters.
- Promote positive engagement with parents and carers, particularly where families may be facing complex circumstances.
- Monitor the welfare and educational outcomes of vulnerable pupils, identifying barriers to attendance, engagement and achievement.
- Work alongside senior leaders to implement interventions that improve pupil engagement, behaviour and outcomes.
- Produce evidence of safeguarding interventions and their impact for the Headteacher and Governors.
- Ensure safeguarding files are accurate, up to date and transferred appropriately when pupils move schools.
- Champion a culture where children's voices are heard, valued and acted upon.
- Lead and contribute to staff, parent and pupil voice activities focused on safeguarding and wellbeing.
- Participate fully in training, supervision, performance management and continuous professional development.
About You
We're looking for someone who is:
- Passionate about safeguarding and committed to improving the lives of children and young people.
- Experienced in safeguarding practice, ideally within an educational setting.
- Educated to Level 2 Safeguarding standard or above.
- Knowledgeable about Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and child protection procedures.
- Organised, resilient and able to prioritise effectively under pressure.
- An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work sensitively with children, families and professionals.
- Confident working independently and collaboratively as part of a wider team.
- Committed to confidentiality, equality and professional integrity.
- Passionate about ensuring that every pupil achieves the very best outcomes academically, socially and emotionally.
- Full UK Driving Licence required
About Us
Learning at Wessex Lodge goes far beyond the classroom. Our outdoor spaces across all three sites offer meaningful opportunities for pupils to regulate, connect and engage. These environments, whether it be out in the the community or time with animals, are key to helping our children feel calm, confident and curious.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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