Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mount Tamar School, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 2EFThis job expired on 17 July 2025
Start date details
TBC
Closing date
17 July 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
4 July 2025
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £42,337.00 - £47,467.00 Annually (Actual)
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) job summary
Mount Tamar is a specialist special school within the Transforming Futures Trust, serving pupils with diverse complex needs. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our ethos places safeguarding at the heart of all we do.
Mount Tamar has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with about 110 pupils on roll from many different Local Authorities in the South West.
The school caters for young people aged 4 to 16 years who, for a variety of reasons, find it difficult to be successful within mainstream schools as full-time pupils. We specialise in supporting students with social and emotional difficulties, attachment and autism.
We are a friendly and caring community that firmly believes in treating each young person as an individual and providing them with the skills and tools they need to be a success. Mount Tamar School offers a quality-learning environment with all students being supported by a team of experienced trained staff dedicated to sustaining a school, where excellent teaching enables students to develop their abilities to the full.
🛡️ The Role
We are seeking a skilled and experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to take responsibility for safeguarding across the school. The postholder will be an integral part of our Senior Leadership team. This pivotal role will:
- Lead all aspects of safeguarding in line with statutory requirements (KCSIE) and Trust policy
- Contribute to whole-school strategic leadership as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
- Manage and review safeguarding and child protection procedures, ensuring compliance and effectiveness
- Provide training and ongoing support to staff at all levels
- Lead on attendance across the school
- Liaise with external agencies, including social care, police, and health services
- Maintain accurate recording and reporting systems, ensuring timely referrals and secure records transfer between settings
You will work directly with the Head, Trust Safeguarding Lead, and governors to shape the strategic approach to safeguarding across our community.
✅ Essential Skills & Experience
- DSL-level safeguarding training (Designated Lead or equivalent in a non-education setting)
- Educated to a degree level (preferable)
- Deep knowledge of child protection, vulnerable children, and special educational needs safeguarding
- Experience in multi-agency collaboration, including referrals under Children Act and Prevent duty
- Confidence delivering safeguarding CPD and supporting staff
- Excellent communication with students, families, staff, and external partners
- Strong record-keeping and case management skills in accordance with GDPR
🎁 What We Offer
- A dynamic professional environment with a strong culture of safeguarding excellence
- Ongoing professional development and support for well-being
- Membership of either the Teachers’ or Local Government Pension Scheme
- Benefits including Employee Assistance Programme, cycle-to-work scheme, and more
- Access to Trust-wide safeguarding network and training
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
About Mount Tamar School
- School type
- Academy, ages 4 to 16
- School size
- 108 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
School location
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