Operational Safeguarding Manager
Priestley College, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6RD11 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
16 June 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
4 June 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
- £41,129.00 - £43,103.00 Annually (Actual) Point 26 to Point 28 on the SFCA NJC Support Staff Pay Scale (FTE salary £44,204 to 46,326)
Operational Safeguarding Manager job summary
PRIESTLEY COLLEGE - OPERATIONAL SAFEGUARDING MANAGER
Contract Type: Full Time (37 hours per week, Monday to Thursday 8.30-4.30, Friday 8.30-4.00), 42 weeks per year
Salary: £41,129 to £43,103 per annum (Point 26 to Point 28 on the SFCA NJC Support Staff Pay Scale - £44,204 to £46,326 per annum FTE))
Closing Date: Midday, Wednesday 17th June 2026
This is a role for someone who thrives on making a tangible difference to the safety and wellbeing of young people. As Operational Safeguarding Manager, you will take day-to-day leadership of safeguarding practice across the College, ensuring that every student—particularly those who are vulnerable or at risk—feels safe, supported, and able to succeed. This is a critical position for a confident safeguarding professional who can lead with authority, build trust, and drive a culture of safeguarding excellence.
You’ll work closely with the Assistant Principal (Student Services/DSL), Pastoral Heads, the Inclusion Manager (SEND), and the Lead Progress Tutors. You’ll also line manage the Wellbeing Practitioner and College Counsellor, ensuring their work supports the College’s safeguarding priorities. Collaboration is at the heart of this role, and you’ll be part of a dedicated team committed to student welfare.
What you'll be doing
- Leading the College’s operational safeguarding response, including managing day-to-day safeguarding concerns, triaging risks, and escalating issues appropriately.
- Acting as a key source of safeguarding expertise, providing clear guidance and professional challenge to staff at all levels.
- Coordinating multi-agency interventions, attending strategy meetings, and preparing professional reports, referrals, and court documentation.
- Overseeing safeguarding training for all staff, ensuring it is high-quality, up-to-date, and meets statutory requirements.
- Supporting the implementation of the College’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy, working closely with internal teams and external agencies to ensure joined-up support for students.
- Line managing the Wellbeing Practitioner and College Counsellor, ensuring their work aligns with the College’s safeguarding framework.
- Promoting a culture of safeguarding awareness through both formal training and informal guidance, ensuring safeguarding is consistently prioritised and understood by all staff.
- Supporting students on modified timetables, reintegration plans, or behaviour/welfare monitoring, and delivering targeted safeguarding interventions where needed.
- Reporting to the Senior Leadership Team on safeguarding matters, producing detailed reports and ensuring compliance with statutory guidance such as *Keeping Children Safe in Education* and the *Prevent Duty*.
What we're looking for
- Proven experience in safeguarding practice, child protection procedures, and multi-agency working.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, contextual safeguarding, and post-16 pastoral systems.
- Experience delivering safeguarding training and preparing professional reports, referrals, and case documentation.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and de-escalation skills.
- High-level organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Minimum Level 3 qualification in a relevant discipline and safeguarding training (Level 3 or above).
- Ability to build strong, professional relationships with students, staff, and families.
- Confidence to challenge and direct staff at all levels in relation to safeguarding practice.
What we offer
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Full NJC terms and conditions for support staff in sixth form colleges.
- A supportive and inclusive working environment where safeguarding is a core priority.
- Access to TCAT+, our Reward, Recognition and Wellbeing platform, including access to retailer discounts and benefits, car lease scheme, discounted healthcare cash plan, cycle to work scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, and other online resources to support physical, emotional, professional, financial and social wellbeing.
- Access to a comprehensive CPD framework through ‘Education Connect’, our professional development arm, and online resources from the National College’.
- An environment where employee health and wellbeing are actively supported and promoted.
- A supportive and inclusive working environment where safeguarding is a core priority
Safer Recruitment Statement
Our College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK.
Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment. Our Safeguarding Policy and our DBS and Ex-Offenders Policy (incorporating our Policy Statement on the Secure Storage, Handling, Use, Retention and Disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information) can be accessed on the link to our website, as given above.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Priestley College
- School type
- Academies, Does not apply, ages 16 to 19
- Education phase
- Sixth form or college
- School size
- 0 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 16 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Priestley College website
Priestley College is a founder member of The Challenge Academy Trust (TCAT) which currently consists of 9 schools and the College, working together to deliver a cohesive education pathway from primary through to
sixth form.
We are an inclusive college with a consistent record of high achievement. We offer around 70 A-Level and Vocational courses and we are a college of several firsts.
The quality of education we provide in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths was recognised when we became the first dedicated sixth form in the country to receive STEM-assured status.
In September 2020, Priestley was chosen to be among the first tranche of colleges to provide T-Levels. In the same year our rugby academy became the first in the UK to receive ‘dual status’ as both boys and girls were
excelling.
In its most recent OFSTED report the College was praised by inspectors who said ‘teachers ensure students develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their qualifications and in their working life’.
In 2021 Priestley retained its matrix accreditation after an inspection found the quality of advice and guidance it provided met the internationally-recognised standard.
There are now over 2000 students at Priestley with the latest investment a £1.5M technology centre that boasts more than 200 computers. The Crescent Building has also been extended to provide extra café and
study space whilst the Performing Arts facilities have been modernised. More than £15M has been invested in the campus since 1999 on projects including the Learning Resource Centre and an all-weather sports pitch.
Priestley’s growth in numbers has also gone hand in hand with increasing the range and scope of provision as well as significant improvements in quality.
By responding to student demand and national curriculum development, we have been able to broaden the choice by offering new curriculum lines.
Priestley is not a college that stands still. All tutors and staff constantly look for ways to improve in order to make the biggest difference to the highest number of young people.
The College’s goal will always be to inspire, challenge and support its students to ensure they reach their full potential.
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