Salary: Inner London Grade PO4 (Point 41–44), Actual salary: £46,111.80 – £48,934.88 (FTE £51,223 – £54,359)
Location: Nightingale Community Academy & Nightingale Preparatory Learning, Beechcroft Road, London, SW17 7DF
Working Pattern: Term Time Plus 2 Weeks, 36 Hours
Nightingale Community Academy is a special school in Wandsworth, providing education for boys aged 5 to 19 with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. Our primary pupils benefit from a purpose-built classroom hub, an outdoor adventure playground, weekly music lessons, and a comprehensive therapy service. Secondary and post-16 students have access to a broad curriculum, including vocational courses such as motor vehicle studies, construction, horticulture, and hospitality. All pupils also enjoy regular animal therapy sessions at Tom’s Farm, located on our expansive school grounds.
Staff at Nightingale Community Academy take pride in the development of young people in a safe and stimulating environment and are offered a rewarding and varied career in return.
We are seeking an experienced, resilient and compassionate Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to provide strategic leadership for safeguarding and child protection across both Nightingale Community Academy and Nightingale Preparatory Learning. The successful candidate will be passionate about safeguarding, confident in managing complex child protection matters and committed to developing an outstanding safeguarding culture where every learner feels safe, supported and able to thrive.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding and child protection across both NCA and NPL, ensuring compliance with statutory safeguarding guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education.
- Lead and manage safeguarding systems, statutory processes and complex safeguarding cases, including Child Protection, Child in Need, Early Help, Prevent and LADO referrals.
- Line manage Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads and safeguarding staff, providing professional support, supervision and quality assurance across both academy sites.
- Work collaboratively with senior leaders, therapists, attendance teams, families and external agencies to improve outcomes for vulnerable learners.
- Monitor safeguarding, attendance, behaviour and wellbeing data to identify trends, drive continuous improvement and ensure safeguarding practice remains consistent across both provisions.
Key Requirements:
- GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (Level 3) Training (or willingness to obtain immediately)
- Experience working as a Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Excellent knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and multi-agency working.
- Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with learners, families, colleagues and external professionals.
- Commitment to continuous professional development and a passion for improving the life chances of children and young people with SEND and SEMH.
OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
- Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
- Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
- Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
- Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust
Nightingale Community Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.
As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.
It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.
How to Apply:
To apply for this role, please select 'Quick Apply', our Recruitment Business Partner will then be in touch with more details on how to officially apply.
Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.
Closing Date: Thursday 10th September 2026
Interview Date: Thursday 24th September 2026
To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.
Work Location: In person
