Safeguarding Officer (Remote / UK)

Safeguarding Officer

Location: Remote/Term Time Only

All MVA staff are expected to embody the Ways of Being in their work with us, to be mindful of their safeguarding responsibility for all students, and to ensure they are familiar with and confident in the implementation of school policies. 

MVA is committed to creating a diverse workforce. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.

We are seeking to appoint an experienced and proactive Safeguarding Officer to join our vibrant school team. This is an exciting opportunity to utilise valuable experience in an online school that has a diverse student body. Our students are located within and outside the UK and MVA offers a flexible approach to learning. You will work closely with the Assistant Vice Principal Safeguarding/DSL and the Safeguarding Team to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of our students.

You will need to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities, ensuring that you deliver a professional and efficient service when dealing with parents/carers, staff and external agencies, therefore excellent interpersonal skills are essential. 

Good working knowledge of ISAMs or a similar management system, CPOMs (or similar) and Excel would also be advantageous.

The post holder will support the Safeguarding Team with day-to-day safeguarding concerns, will often be the first point of contact, and support the team with more complex cases where the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or  Deputy DSL will take the lead. The post holder will also support the Safeguarding Team with administrative tasks and liaison with external agencies. 

Main purpose 

• To provide a high quality, responsive service to students faced with welfare and safeguarding issues, in accordance with statutory responsibilities and support the DSL making referrals to appropriate agencies when required
• To support the transfer of safeguarding information for students transitioning to and from the school
• Flexibility to meet rapidly changing priorities and accommodate the needs of our diverse community
• Regularly be a first point of contact for the Safeguarding Team.
• Alongside the DSL/DDSL, triage students with potential safeguarding needs to gather information and make referrals to the appropriate individual/service. This will include assessment of risk, to ensure urgent needs are dealt with in a timely manner.

Duties and responsibilities

Administration

• Manage the transfer of safeguarding files (incoming and outgoing) in line with statutory requirements ensuring they are accurately recorded and stored; following up with individual schools, when required.
• Update CPOMS in line with MVA processes and protocols, in a timely and accurate manner ensuring clear records of information gathered, next steps and decisions made.
• Establish direct links with schools for dual-enrolled students ensuring safeguarding policies and practices are shared; named points of contact are established and safeguarding concerns shared/received in a timely manner; liaising closely with the Attendance Officer and Operations Team to ensure accurate and up to date information.
• Provide CPOMS data and trends analysis to the Safeguarding Team; Heads of Year and Senior Leadership Team, as required.
• Attend weekly Safeguarding Meetings with the Safeguarding Team in respect of individual students and wider safeguarding matters.
• Respond to requests for support and information from parents/carers and professionals.
• Liaise with external agencies, such as the Children’s Services, Police and Health when necessary.
• Coordinate Team around the Child/Family meetings where school are the lead professionals 
• Attend Multi Agency/Professional/Strategy/TAC meeting, as directed by the DSL/DDSLs
• Support the liaison with parents/carers, MVA staff and social work colleagues regarding ‘Looked After Children’.
• Communicate to students, staff members and, when necessary parents, decisions made and next steps in a clear, accessible and helpful manner.
• Provide administrative support for safeguarding training events and other wider school initiatives and events.
• Support with risk assessments to safeguard students, as required, and share as appropriate with other individuals with consent, adhering to MVA’s privacy statement.
• Support the effective signposting of services and referrals by developing good working relationships with other stakeholders including parents/carers, college staff and professionals from external specialist voluntary, statutory and community agencies.
• Maintain accurate records of communications with parents/carers and relevant interventions using CPOMs

Professional development

• Take opportunities to build the appropriate skills, qualifications, and/or experience needed for the role, with support from the school 
• Take part in the school’s appraisal procedures
• Undergo safeguarding training and maintain up to date knowledge of child protection and safeguarding, including legislation, statutory and inspection guidance.
• Support new staff in their use of CPOMS ensuring they can log in successfully, navigate the system confidently and record concerns and communications effectively.
• Support the Safeguarding Team to develop MVA’s safeguarding policy (and related policies) in line with national recommendations and advice.
• Ensure that clear and consistent messages regarding MVA safeguarding policies and practices are given to students, parents/carers and external organisations.
• Undertake DSL training and attend additional training sessions as required for the role.
• Build and refresh knowledge of the school’s MIS and other relevant systems
• To be a flexible member of the Safeguarding and Operations Teams, covering colleagues’ duties as required.

Other areas of responsibility 

Safeguarding 

• Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g. Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies 
• Be alert to when persistent absence becomes a safeguarding concern and early help may be required
• Work with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) to promote the best interests of pupils, including sharing concerns where necessary
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and the Attendance and Safeguarding Officer may from time to time be asked to complete other reasonable duties.