Group Safeguarding Lead

Position: Group Safeguarding Lead 

Location: Hopedale Group of Schools - Hopedale, Bluebell, Lavender Field School, Poppy Field School & Cherry Tree School

Salary: £49,780.00 - £54,937.88 (open to negotiation)

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday during term time.

Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited is seeking an experienced and dedicated Safeguarding Lead to oversee and strengthen our safeguarding practices across our services. This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in protecting vulnerable children, families, and adults within our care.

Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited is a group of special schools providing exceptional, holistic education and therapy to children from 3 – 19 with a range of complex social, emotional and mental health difficulties, cognitive impairment and/or aspects of autism spectrum disorder.

The Role:

·      To take the lead role in safeguarding across the business group

·      To provide administrative quality assurance across the business group

·      Take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the group.

·      Advise and support staff on child welfare and child protection matters, and liaise with relevant agencies such as the local authority and police.

·      Communicate as necessary with children and young people's families and friends

·      Demonstrate optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attitudes towards pupils, parents/carers, staff, local authorities and members of the local community

·      Implement, and create, relevant policies which impact on outstanding practice and are understood and implemented by all stakeholders.

·      Welcome strong governance and actively support the Proprietorial Group to understand its role and deliver its functions effectively- in particular its functions to oversee safeguarding

·      Play a key role in maintaining a self-evaluation framework; with respect to (safeguarding) which clearly identifies strengths and areas for development, in order to inform the group improvement agenda and maintain high standards.

·      Provide training across the group on de-escalation and physical intervention techniques

·      Ensure the school's child protection policies are known, understood and used appropriately

·      Work with the Proprietorial Group and Critical Friends to ensure the school child protection policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly

·      Ensure the safeguarding policy is available and easily accessible to everyone in the school community

·      Link with the local safeguarding children board (LSCB) or Safeguarding Children Partnership (SCP) to make sure staff are aware of training opportunities and the latest local policies on safeguarding

·      Ensure that those in recruitment positions undertake safer recruitment training and support the schools to follow best practice

·      Model best practice and uphold the principles of confidentiality and data protection at all times

·      Inform senior leaders of safeguarding issues, especially ongoing enquiries into whether a child is at risk of harm, and police investigations

·      Understand the assessment process for providing early help and intervention

·      Maintain a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference

·      Attend and contribute to child protection case conferences effectively when required to do so

·      Refer cases of suspected abuse to local authority children's social care and other matters.

Our Ideal Candidate will:

• Be resilient and able to stay calm under pressure
• Have a comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to children’s services as well as publications which inform current thinking regarding good practice and the safeguarding of children and adults.
• Experience working with children, young people and their families with complex and multiple needs, including child protection issues.
• Proven experience in a safeguarding role and investigating safeguarding issues and responding to incidents.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills, especially under pressure.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), with the ability to engage confidently with staff, external bodies, and individuals at risk.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive information.
• Desirable qualifications or experiences include Social Work or previously have worked within the police.
• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.

Benefits

• Company pension scheme
• Blue Light Card for discounts
• Life assurance cover
• Employee assistance programme