Safeguarding and Welfare Officer

Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls, Thamesmead, SE28 8RF

16 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2026

• Closing date

  7 December 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  21 November 2025

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: £32,535.00 - £33,987.00 Annually (FTE) APTEC Scale 4 to 5 points 12 - 15 depending on experience -pro rota for term time only = £28,361 to £29,627

Safeguarding and Welfare Officer job summary

PolyMAT is a small but ambitious Multi-Academy Trust with a unique family feel. Our vision is “Success for Everyone”, and we are seeking a dedicated Safeguarding and Welfare Officer to join our Pastoral Team and help us deliver this vision across our schools.

We currently have 3 schools within our Trust:

Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys - a long-established and successful boys’ school

Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls - opened in 2019 and thriving

Bannockburn Primary School - a large, successful primary school that joined us in November 2023

We also have a flourishing co-educational Sixth Form provision. Our culture is built on high standards and our values of Care and Unity, creating an environment where students and staff feel valued and supported.

The Role

We are seeking a motivated and inspiring Safeguarding and Welfare Officer to join our team at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls. You will work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and the pastoral team to ensure the highest standards of student welfare and personal development.

Your role will be pivotal in ensuring that our students are safe, happy, and successful, working collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies where appropriate.

What We’re Looking For

• A professional appearance and attitude
• Confidence in dealing with staff, students, and parents
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships
• High attention to detail and a proactive approach
• Resilience and commitment to our vision of Success for Everyone

As a member of PolyMAT staff, we can offer you:

• Opportunities for career progression
• Access to apprenticeship training
• Excellent professional development
• A contributory pension scheme
• Opportunities to collaborate with outstanding and dynamic teaching professionals
• Access to various discounts for a small monthly fee
• An employee assistance programme
• Season ticket loans
• Excellent catering facilities
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Secure on-site parking
• Free daily coffee for staff

PolyMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offer of employment is subject upon the Academy Trust receiving an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS), which the Academy considers to be satisfactory. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post you are applying for is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and it is therefore an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

In accordance with KCSIE 2025 shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online profile and social media check.

PolyMAT is committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and providing opportunities for people with disabilities. We are an inclusive Trust who strives to provide an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. We aspire to ensure that every member of our community, regardless of circumstances or background, have the opportunity to be the best version of themselves through our vision of ‘Success for Everyone’.

For any potential applicants, we would like to encourage you to inform us of any additional support or adjustments you may need throughout the recruitment process. We have an open approach to support for candidates with disabilities and recognise that reasonable adjustments may be required based on each individuals needs.

Sharing your needs with us ahead of interview, allows us to fully support and ensure you are not disadvantaged during the process. We welcome candidates contacting us at any point should you feel uncomfortable declaring a disability, to reassure you that we are here to support. So, please contact hr@polymat.co.uk if this is the case.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 7 December. Interviews will be scheduled to take place shortly after.

Suitable candidates will be interviewed promptly upon receipt of application. The closing date will be brought forward in the event that the post is filled

If you are passionate about safeguarding and student welfare and want to be part of a Trust that truly values care and unity, we would love to hear from you.

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

All offer of employment is subject upon the Academy Trust receiving an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS), which the Academy considers to be satisfactory. Successful applicants, will be required to complete a DBS Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post you are applying for is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and it is therefore an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

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 Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls

• School type: Free School, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1183 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/woolwich-polytechnic-school-for-girls

PolyMAT is a small and ambitious MAT with a unique family feel . Our vision is ‘Success for Everyone’ and the successful candidate will help deliver this for our schools. We currently have three schools in our Trust: Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys, a long-successful boys’ school, Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls that opened in 2019, and Bannockburn Primary School, a large successful primary that joined the Trust on 1st November 2023. We also have our flourishing Sixth Form provision which is co-educational.

Following the success of our first ever Ofsted inspection at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls, we are looking for dedicated teachers that will join us on our journey in delivering an outstanding education for all our students. By joining us, you will play a vital role in supporting our girls to grow as women whose voices are heard and respected. Through this, we hope that they will become influential mothers, sisters, carers, friends and, ultimately, successful and happy members of society.

As a school community and Trust, we place significant value on our professional working relationships with others. Therefore, we are looking for individuals who will be committed to forming strong relationships with other colleagues and stakeholders so that we can be united in achieving our shared vision and goals.

Our Trust and our schools pride themselves on a culture of high standards delivered through our values of Care and Unity. We provide a rewarding environment where students and staff feel valued and supported.
Working for PolyMAT may also present the unique opportunity for staff to teach across both schools and for candidates to join our recruitment pool for further openings.

School location

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