Vulnerable children deserve better futures.
So we’re looking for the best.
At Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, we believe in enriching lives and transforming futures through a high-quality education. This is of particular importance to us as we work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds across four academies within the Birmingham and Solihull area.
To enable the children we serve to realise their full potential, it’s vital we provide world-class safeguarding support. That’s where you come in. If you’ve ever thought of safeguarding as a backroom operation, think again: you’ll be on the frontline as you advise our school leaders, executive team and Trust directors on best practice, shape policies and procedures, and provide operational support with complex cases. Reporting to the Director of Education, you will develop, implement and lead the Trust’s safeguarding strategy to ensure that all our students and staff work within both a compliant and strong culture of safeguarding.
As Trust Safeguarding Lead, you’ll act as our link with external agencies, whether you’re securing their input to bring about positive outcomes or helping to shape the way they think and work. Add in significant contributions to recruitment initiatives and Ofsted inspections, and it’s clear that you’ll be integral to everything we do – so we’re looking for someone exceptional.
You could already be working within teaching or safeguarding in an educational setting, whether a mainstream school or specialist facility. Alternatively, you could join us from a social work, children’s home, care, prison, local authority or youth offending background and be looking for a position that’s both more strategic and more hands-on. Either way, you’ll need deep expertise in protecting vulnerable people and expert knowledge of cutting-edge practice in safeguarding. If you can help us transform our students’ futures, we’ll do the same for you, with a career that could take you into the highest levels of management.
In return, we will offer you:
* Bespoke continual professional development (in the academy and online via the National College)
* Perkbox benefits
* Discounts at nationwide retailers
* Gym discount
* Cinema discounts
* Employee assistance programme
* Up to four structured counselling sessions per year
* A MAT-wide focus on staff wellbeing
This pivotal role is based within the School Improvement Team, which works out of Erdington Academy; however, you will be expected to travel to all FMAT academy sites, as well as having the opportunity to work remotely at appropriate times. The role is term time plus 10 days.
Please contact Martyn Jobling, Director of Education, for an informal discussion: m.jobling@fmat.co.uk .
To start making all the difference, click to apply.
Closing date: 9.00am on 9 May 2025.
Interview date: 16 May 2025.
Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: .