Safeguarding Officer

Permanent

Full Time

Location: Northwest - predominately Crewe and Northwich

The Safeguarding Officer will provide front-line support across Study Programme sites, ensuring safeguarding and welfare concerns are identified early and responded to appropriately.

The role focuses mainly on low and medium-level safeguarding and welfare concerns, with high-level concerns managed by the DSL, supported by the Safeguarding Officer where required.

You will support learners who may experience barriers to learning, including (but not limited to):

• Learners known to, or previously known to, Early Help or social care
• Learners experiencing mental health or wellbeing needs
• Learners with attendance concerns or missing from learning
• Learners with additional needs, including those with an EHCP
• Learners facing wider personal or social challenges

This is a busy and rewarding role that requires strong organisation, compassion, initiative and attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Provide front-line safeguarding and welfare support to learners across Study Programme sites.
• Respond to safeguarding and welfare concerns in a calm, caring and timely way.
• Manage and support low and medium-level safeguarding concerns, seeking advice from the DSL and escalating promptly where risk increases.
• Work closely with the Programme Manager and Study Programme colleagues to support consistent safeguarding practice.
• Build trusted relationships with learners and provide advice, guidance and reassurance around mental health, wellbeing, safety and self-care.
• Support Early Help referrals and work with Early Help and other external agencies to ensure learners receive appropriate support.
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality safeguarding and welfare records using agreed systems, including CPOMS.
• Promote early intervention, professional curiosity and a positive safeguarding culture.
• Support safeguarding education and awareness activity with learners and colleagues.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice relevant to post-16 education.
• Complete safeguarding training, supervision and CPD as required.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Experience of working directly with young people in an education, training, youth or support setting.
• Experience of supporting young people with mental health, wellbeing and personal safety.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles, legislation and best practice for children and young people.
• Experience of responding to welfare or safeguarding concerns and providing advice, guidance and signposting.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain clear, factual and accurate records.
• Knowledge of GDPR and information sharing principles.
• Level 2 in English and Maths (or willingness to work towards).

Desirable

• Previous safeguarding experience, including Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) experience.
• Experience of supporting Early Help referrals and working with external agencies.
• Experience using CPOMS or similar safeguarding recording systems.
• A safeguarding, youth work or DSL-related qualification (or willingness to work towards).

Job Specific Skills:

• Excellent communication and listening skills, with the ability to build trust with learners and colleagues.
• Calm, compassionate and supportive approach, particularly in sensitive situations.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload.
• High levels of professional curiosity - alert, observant and confident to act when something doesn’t feel right.
• Ability to use initiative and judgement while working within safeguarding procedures.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and reflective practice.