Salary: R6 Scale point 35 – 38; FTE: £37,832 - £39,258 per annum (Actual: £33, £34,941.68 per annum), depending on experience
Location: St Dominic's School, Hambledon, Nr Godalming, Surrey GU8 4DX.
Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, Term Time only + 1 week
St Dominic's School is a well-known and highly regarded special school in Surrey and stands in 56 acres of wooded grounds with ample space for recreational and outdoor learning activities. The school caters for up to 150 pupils and Sixth Form students between the ages of 7 – 19, who have a range of academic abilities and complex needs. It is owned and run by Orchard Hill College Academy Trust.
The School has an in-house team of qualified therapists offering Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration. The range of therapeutic support available to pupils and students enables them to access the curriculum at an appropriate level, maximising each individual's potential for achievement. Additionally, there are purpose-built medical facilities where nursing cover is provided on a daily basis by qualified staff.
The School has achieved Advanced Autism Accreditation, the prestigious Arts Council 'Artsmark' Silver Award and holds the National Healthy Schools status.
We are seeking to appoint a professional, well-educated and enthusiastic individual to support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to safeguard the school community and promote pupil and student welfare.
This is a varied role working closely with parents, carers, the safeguarding team as well as the wider school staff adhering to the school's safeguarding procedures and policies to promote the welfare and protection of all pupils and students attending the school.
The job description outlines in detail the main duties for the role which includes acting as DSL when the DSL is off site, attending Child Protection and other safeguarding conferences as well as co-ordinating and leading multi-agency meetings and ensuring that the specialist training needs of the staff are addressed.
Applicants should be an excellent communicator with an eye for detail, able to work on their own initiative, under pressure and have the ability to prioritise to meet demands and deadlines; importantly this means moving between sometimes fast-paced administrative tasks and face-to-face work with pupils, staff and parents. As well, you should possess a natural ability to build relationships easily with children and young people, parents and external agencies.
The successful candidate will maintain confidentiality and sensitivity at all times. You will have previous experience of working with children and young people and an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding and child protection requirements in schools.
Benefits include: Free car parking, lunch provided on site, and Employee Assistance Programme.
St Dominic's School is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs.
For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Kirsty Glaysher (DSL) via email.
To apply for this role, please click 'Fast Apply', you will then be directed to a 'Login' page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form. If you have any queries, please contact Tina Petkova via email.
Closing Date: 26th October 2025 at 11:59pm
Interviews will be held the following week.
We encourage you to apply before the closing date as we reserve the right to arrange interviews and close this advert before the closing date if we receive applications from exceptional candidates.
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.