Safeguarding Officer

We are looking for an outstanding Safeguarding Officer to join our team based in Walthamstow, East London.

The Safeguarding Officer (SO) will work in a team with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and be the first point of contact for staff and learners with safeguarding concerns. The SO will work with the DSL to support learners at risk including coordinating referrals to social care, attending and contributing reports for relevant meetings and keeping careful records of actions. They will work with the DSL in developing and delivering training to college staff and updating relevant policies, procedures and guidance as necessary.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a successful and diverse college across our various programmes: Alternative Provision, 16-19 Study Programmes, Creative Apprenticeship and Adult Education. Candidates will have maths and English at GCSE grade “C” or 4 or above, and will be educated to degree level with evidence of outstanding practice working in a similar environment.

Main duties and responsibilities – to work with and support the DSL to:

·Build relationships and work with learners and their parents / carers, BCT staff, external agencies and the wider community to secure good outcomes for learners and families especially those pupils who are deemed vulnerable
·Respond in a timely manner to safeguarding concerns to ensure learners are kept safe from harm
·Deputise for the DSL if they are unavailable, including attending meetings and making referrals to MASH or other appropriate agencies
·Encourage good practice by implementing, promoting and championing BCT safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures
·Respond appropriately to all disclosures or concerns which relate to the wellbeing of a learner
·Maintain accurate, confidential and up-to-date documentation on all cases of safeguarding and child protection and provide reports where required
·Work directly with children in need and their families to promote, strengthen and develop the potential of parents / carers to support children in order to prevent learners suffering significant harm or becoming looked after
·Liaise with statutory agencies and ensure they have access to all necessary information to make sound judgements and decisions about learners’ welfare
·Initiate and refer learners to outside agencies and co-ordinate referrals
·Liaise with college staff in initiating multi-agency referrals for learners
·Ensure that vulnerable learners who are victims of abuse and maltreatment are supported appropriately and sensitively and that all actions from planning and interventions meetings are successfully carried out and monitored
·Collate and produce statistical and other information with regards to safeguarding and child protection
·Plan and deliver safeguarding training within the college including induction and refresher training
·Attend and participate in Child Protection Conferences and Planning and Review meetings, some of which may take place out of normal working hours, working closely with colleagues in external agencies as required
·Contribute to professional assessments of need and risk in respect of parents and carers using the Local Authority procedures for children in need and significant harm
·Maintain confidentiality at all times, and ensure appropriate confidentiality is maintained by all staff during safeguarding processes
·Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for all staff, for learners and their families

Desired qualities:

·Experience of working in the field of safeguarding, with relevant experience and qualifications
·Willingness to participate in further training and development opportunities
·Experience of planning and coordinating meetings in a time-pressured environment
·Significant organisational and administrative skills, supported by a proficiency with ICT
·Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone manner, tact, diplomacy and confidentiality
·Excellent interpersonal skills and solution focused approach to professional relationships
·Ability to consult and negotiate with external agencies to reach the best outcomes for children and young people
·Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines whilst still being polite and reasonable
·The ability to build and maintain relationships with the whole college community
·The ability to work in a demanding environment, meeting tight deadlines by prioritising and delegating as necessary
Strong listening skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations with integrity
·Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate initiative
·A commitment to working in a busy college environment
·Flexible, motivated and committed to high standard of working, with a willingness to take on additional duties
·Good attendance and punctuality
·Adaptability to changing circumstances and new ideas
·Resilient and determined to achieve goals
·Committed to the ethos of the college
·Working with young adults mental health qualification

Salary and days of work

Salary is £28,163 full time

Actual pay for this part time position is £23,094

Start date 5th September 2022

39 weeks per year (term time plus 3 weeks) plus holiday pay

35 hours per week

Permanent position

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £23,094.00 per year

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application deadline: 20/08/2021
Expected start date: 05/09/2022