Assistant Director of Safeguarding & Wellbeing (DDSL)

The Thomas Aveling School, Rochester, Kent, ME1 2UW

15 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  May 2026

• Closing date

  1 May 2026 at 10am

• Date listed

  16 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £25,989.00 - £32,061.00 Annually (FTE) Actual salary between £22,926 -£28,283

Assistant Director of Safeguarding & Wellbeing (DDSL) job summary

We are seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and highly professional individual to join our Safeguarding & Wellbeing Team within a vibrant, inclusive secondary school in Medway. This role is central to maintaining a strong safeguarding culture, supporting student mental health and wellbeing, and ensuring that all pupils feel safe, supported, and able to thrive.

The postholder will act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), with responsibility for safeguarding and wellbeing within one of the school’s four houses, working closely with the DSL, Director of Safeguarding & Wellbeing, and wider Children’s Team. The role operates within a distributed leadership model, contributing to shared accountability, sustainable capacity, and consistent safeguarding practice across the school.

You will respond to a wide range of safeguarding and welfare situations throughout the school day, working closely with students, staff, families, and external agencies. You will also play a key role in coordinating and promoting mental health and wellbeing provision and early intervention.

This role reflects best practice from national safeguarding research, statutory guidance, and multi agency working models. We are looking for someone who is adaptable, empathetic, professionally curious, and deeply committed to improving outcomes for children and young people. Experience in safeguarding children and supporting mental health and well-being is highly beneficial.

In return, we will offer you:

A supportive induction programme

Happy, motivated children to teach

A happy and caring community

A Healthy Work-Life Balance and a committed Leadership Team

Care First employee assistance programme

Private health care cover by Benenden

Two-week half term in October

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

For further details on this role and to apply please visit the school’s careers page Our Vacancies | The Thomas Aveling School

Visits to the school are strongly encouraged. For further information and to arrange a school visit, please contact Emma Elliott on 01634 844809 or via email eelliott@thomasaveling.co.uk

We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date where interest and applications received are high, therefore we encourage early applications.

Safeguarding Commitment

Beyond Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All post holders in a regulated activity are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory "Disclosing and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check".

Equality & Inclusivity Statement

At Beyond Schools Trust we strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented communities, including but not limited to those who identify as Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic background.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Beyond Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All post holders in a regulated activity are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory "Disclosing and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check".

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Thomas Aveling School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1212 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Thomas Aveling School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-thomas-aveling-school

School location

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