Assistant to Designated Safeguarding Lead

Bedford Modern School (BMS) is an outstanding HMC independent co-educational day school for students aged 7-18. Our community is a friendly, happy and supportive one and all of the 350 staff members, spanning both teaching and non-teaching roles, help to make BMS a very special place to work.

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Assistant/Administrator to support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students. This role is crucial in maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students.

Job Purpose:

• To provide flexible, responsive, and excellent administrative support to the Deputy Head Pastoral and Student Progress in their role as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• To support the DSL in ensuring the school’s policies and practices are compliant and assist the school in meeting statutory safeguarding requirements, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and the Independent Schools Inspectorate Framework.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the DSL: Provide day to day administrative support for the DSL in managing safeguarding and child protection issues within the school.
• Dealing with concerns: Act as an initial point of contact for safeguarding queries and provide timely responses to ensure students are kept safe from harm.
• Maintain Records: Provide detailed support for the DSL in the use of CPOMS to keep accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records of all safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
• Training and Development: Support the DSL in ensuring that safeguarding training is delivered to all staff by organising sessions and maintaining accurate and up to date records.
• Compliance and Policy: provide excellent administrative support for the writing of policies, including a knowledge and understanding of the importance of compliance with relevant statutory documents and regulations.

Requirements:

• Experience: Previous experience of proven administrative support.
• Qualifications: Relevant qualifications in safeguarding or a related field are desirable along with an A level standard (or equivalent) standard of education.
• Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, good IT skills, strong organisational skills and ability to work collaboratively and flexibly, respects and understands the importance of confidentiality.
• Commitment: A genuine commitment and interest to the welfare and safety of children and young people.

The post will be full time for 37 hours per week to be worked Monday-Friday 08.30 – 4.30pm, with half an hour unpaid lunchbreak, term time plus four additional weeks in school holidays.

In return, we can offer a friendly and supportive working environment, CPD opportunities available through our membership of the Harpur Trust, the option to be part of a private healthcare scheme, a generous pension scheme, free lunches (in term time) and free parking.

We encourage applications from all communities as we want to have a workforce that reflects the social, cultural and ethnic diversity of our students.

Closing date: Wednesday 8 January 2025

Interview: w/c 13 January 2025

Further details and how to apply can be found on our website: https://www.bedmod.co.uk/job-opportunities/

Any internal candidates must apply through Employee Self Service. Please see the guide in the company news area.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview.