Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Bridgwater College Academy, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4QY17 days remaining to apply
Start date details
Required from: September 2026
Closing date
9 July 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
22 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (Term Time plus INSET days)
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- BTCT Support Staff Band 8, Points 16 – 18 starting at Point 16. Actual starting Salary: £32,640.76
What skills and experience we're looking for
At Bridgwater College Academy, effective safeguarding extends beyond processes and procedures. It is about building strong relationships with children, families and staff, identifying concerns early and ensuring that support is delivered effectively. The successful candidate will work closely with the Trust Safeguarding Lead, academy leaders, pastoral teams and external agencies to ensure safeguarding practice remains robust, responsive and child-centred.
This is a role within a large all-through academy and forms part of a wider safeguarding team. This role will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Primary Phase with 560 pupils on roll.
We are seeking a committed and highly effective Deputy Safeguarding Lead to provide operational leadership for safeguarding and child protection across the Primary Phase (including online safety).
The successful candidate will lead on day-to-day safeguarding operations, ensuring timely, appropriate and high-quality responses to concerns. This will include responsibility for safeguarding records, chronologies, case management and decision-making. You will deputise for the academy DSL when required, represent the academy at multi-agency forums as required, and contribute to multi-agency working to secure the best outcomes for children. This role offers genuine leadership responsibility and the opportunity to influence safeguarding strategy across the primary phase.
The postholder will be expected to challenge practice, escalate concerns where necessary and influence decision-making in the best interests of children.
You will also play a key role in supporting and advising staff, promoting a strong safeguarding culture, and ensuring all processes align with statutory guidance and best practice.
Who We’re Looking For
We are seeking an experienced and committed safeguarding professional who is passionate about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and able to make a significant impact within a school on a rapid improvement journey. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- A strong commitment to safeguarding and child protection, with the ability to act decisively to secure the best outcomes for pupils, alongside a clear expectation that the postholder will challenge practice, escalate concerns where necessary, and influence decision-making in the best interests of children.
- Proven experience in a safeguarding, pastoral or child protection role, ideally within an educational setting.
- A secure understanding of statutory safeguarding guidance (including KCSIE) and the confidence to apply this in practice.
- The ability to manage complex and sensitive cases with professionalism, resilience and discretion.
- Strong interpersonal skills, enabling them to build effective relationships with pupils, families, staff and external agencies
- High levels of organisation and attention to detail, with a commitment to accurate and timely record-keeping
- The confidence to support, challenge and advise colleagues to ensure consistently strong safeguarding practice across the school and escalate concerns appropriately where required
- A reflective, resilient and values-driven approach, with a relentless focus on improving outcomes for vulnerable children
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training, or a willingness to undertake DSL training immediately upon appointment
This role would particularly suit someone who is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change and play a key role in strengthening safeguarding within a supportive and ambitious team
What the school offers its staff
Our employees benefit from:
- Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme and counselling support. Significantly reduced membership at on-site gyms.
- Free parking.
- TrustEd employee rewards.
- The opportunity to work with colleagues who genuinely care about the communities they serve.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share its commitment. Our mission is that all children achieve. This post is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). A comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all applicants, which will include a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)About Bridgwater College Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 16
- Education phase
- All through school
- School size
- 1576 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Bridgwater College Academy website
- Email address
- recruitment@btc-trust.org
Bridgwater College Academy is a mixed all-through Academy which combines both primary and secondary education for pupils aged 3 to 16. The academy, which is sponsored by Bridgwater and Taunton College, is located in Bridgwater, Somerset, England.
Arranging a visit to Bridgwater College Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@btc-trust.org.
School location
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