DescriptionEmployerLocation
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week, 52 weeks per year (9am–5pm)
Location: Godstone, Surrey
Contract: Permanent
About the Orpheus Centre
The Orpheus Centre is an independent specialist college and registered charity that supports disabled young adults aged 18–25 to live independent, fulfilling lives through the performing and visual arts. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, we are driven by our values — joyful, bold, inclusive, resilient and determined — and a vision of an inclusive world where every young person can achieve their aspirations.
The Role
We are looking for a dedicated Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) to join our team and support the Head of Care (Registered Manager) in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all learners, staff, and volunteers.
The successful candidate will play a key role in leading day-to-day safeguarding operations, supporting a team of Deputy Safeguarding Officers, and deputising for the Designated Safeguarding Lead when required.
You’ll work closely with internal teams and external agencies to ensure the highest safeguarding standards, promote a culture of safety, and deliver training across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
•Act as a point of contact for safeguarding concerns, disclosures and referrals.
•Support and deputise for the Designated Safeguarding Lead as required.
•Maintain accurate and confidential safeguarding records.
•Liaise with local authorities, MASH and external safeguarding partners.
•Deliver safeguarding and PREVENT training to staff and volunteers.
•Monitor safeguarding data and trends, supporting the development of effective strategies and reports.
•Contribute to policy reviews, audits and compliance processes.
About You
You will be an experienced safeguarding professional who is highly organised, calm under pressure and confident working with sensitive issues.
Essential:
•Strong knowledge of safeguarding best practice and legislation.
•Experience of managing or supporting safeguarding cases.
•Excellent communication, record-keeping and IT skills.
•Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
•Minimum of 5 GCSEs (A–C) or equivalent including Maths and English.
•Recent safeguarding training (Level 4 or willingness to complete).
Desirable:
•Experience working in education, care, or SEND settings.
•Experience liaising with external safeguarding bodies.
•Knowledge of PREVENT and GDPR.
•Makaton skills.
Why Join Us?
At Orpheus, you’ll be part of a passionate, creative and inclusive team making a real difference in the lives of young people. We offer:
•Opportunities for professional development and training.
•A friendly, collaborative and supportive working environment.
•The chance to help shape the safeguarding culture of a unique arts-based educational charity.
•Safeguarding Commitment
Safeguarding & Equality
Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all service users. As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches will form part of this process. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is therefore subject to an Enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure Barring Service.
In order to be considered you must be eligible to work in the UK.
The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a disability confident employer.
We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be guaranteed an interview.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are:
•Challenging attitudes towards disability
•Increasing understanding of disability
•Removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
•Ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspiration
Applications will be reviewed as we receive them and if a suitable candidate is identified, we reserve the right to close our advert sooner.
Safeguarding Statement
The Orpheus Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.