What skills and experience we're looking for
JOB PURPOSE
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) holds primary responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the school. The DSL is the first point of contact for any concerns regarding the safety and well-being of pupils. This includes ensuring staff are appropriately trained, policies are implemented effectively, and external referrals are made where necessary. At Churchdown we also see the role of DSL as a proactive one and ensuring students are skilled to avoid risk or act safely within given circumstances.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Safeguarding Leadership and Case Management
* Take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the school.
* Provide advice and support to staff on child welfare, safeguarding, and child protection matters.
* Ensure the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures are up to date and aligned with statutory guidance, primarily Keeping Children Safe in Education.
* Ensure policies are reviewed annually and understood by all staff.
* Lead an established and skillful team within Churchdown in order to enact a highly effective safeguarding strategy.
* Manage child protection files and records in line with data protection and confidentiality requirements.
* Liaise with social workers and other external agencies in relation to safeguarding and child well-being.
* Work alongside the relevant local authority children’s services as appropriate.
* Act as the main contact for safeguarding audits and inspections (e.g., Ofsted).
* Prepare reports for governors and attend governing body meetings where safeguarding and attendance are discussed.
* Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records using the school systems.
* Staff Training & Support
* • Ensure all staff receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training and updates.
* • Oversee the effective record keeping of staff training and ensure it is refreshed in line with policy.
* • Support staff in recognising the signs of safeguarding concern and responding appropriately.
* Pupil Support
* • Ensure vulnerable pupils are monitored and supported effectively and working alongside other staff members as required to do so.
* • Work closely with pastoral teams, SENCOs, and external agencies to provide appropriate interventions and support.
* • Be the designated teacher for Looked After Children at Churchdown.
* Early Help Strategy
* • Work with the school’s pastoral team to design and implement effective parental workshops that enhance the safeguarding of children.
* • Design and implement a dynamic curriculum for PSHCE. This aims to teach students contextual concerns and equips them to manage them well.
* • Work alongside the Director of Engage to continuously refine the Headstrong Programme (a self-written tutor programme that develops student resilience and builds self-awareness around areas such as exam pressures as well as healthy friendships).
* • Lead on showcasing national events that help develop understanding and a strong community at Churchdown. These include Black History Month, for example.
* Attendance Strategy
* • Ensure the school’s attendance policy and procedure are up to date and aligned with statutory guidance.
* • Work closely with the EWO to identify attendance trends and deploy strategic next steps in order to prevent absence and grow attendance.
* • Work with families and students in order to improve their attendance as needed. This often involves setting targets and holding all stakeholders to account.
* • Working with the Deputy Headteacher, ensure the current attendance strategy is enacted by all staff as well as review the attendance strategy as part of the school’s own self-evaluation.
* Performance Management
* • To demonstrate a clear commitment to your own professional development every day.
As a classroom teacher
* • Planning and teaching high quality lessons within your subject, working hard to achieve success for all in your classroom
Other
* • To undertake any other duties, commensurate with the grade, as requested by the Headteacher;
What the school offers its staff
Teacher Benefits
* • Time-saving simple structures and systems
* • All teachers teach below standard allocation
* • No written reports
* • Strategically planned INSET to support an increased number of PPA lessons
* • No marking policy
Employee Benefits
* • Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
* • Onsite parking and cycle storage
* • Cycle-To-Work Scheme
* • Free Flu Vaccines
* • Free access to school fitness suite
* • Dry cleaning delivery service
* • Onsite car valet service
* • Family-focused leave
* • Discounted Nuffield Health gym membership
* • Comprehensive Free Employee Assistance Programme
* • Free onsite financial advice clinics
* • ...and more!
Commitment to safeguarding
Churchdown School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children in school and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We believe that students have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment, which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse, where staff are vigilant for signs of any student in distress and are confident about applying the processes to avert and alleviate any such problems. We have a Safeguarding Policy and procedures in place. All staff must ensure that they are aware of these procedures.
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