Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead
Croydon College, Croydon College, College Road, Croydon, CR9 1DX4 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
15 November 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
11 November 2026
Job details
Job role
- Leadership and management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Leadership and management
Working pattern
- Full time: 35 hours per week, Monday to Wednesday
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £55,000 per annum ((inclusive of Outer London Weighting)
Additional allowances
£1954 Outer London Weighting
What skills and experience we're looking for
Creating Great Futures
At Croydon College Group, our staff are passionate and committed to achieving the very best outcomes for our students. We recognise that our people are our greatest asset, and through their expertise, dedication, and commitment, we deliver an outstanding student experience that positively impacts our local community. Our values of being Caring, Collaborative, Courageous and Creative underpin everything we do, ensuring we create an inclusive, supportive and ambitious environment for both students and staff.
We are seeking an exceptional safeguarding professional to join our Student Services leadership team as our Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for providing strategic and operational oversight of safeguarding, wellbeing, Prevent, and student protection across the College Group.
As the College's lead safeguarding professional, you will ensure the highest standards of safeguarding practice, compliance, and culture, while leading a dedicated safeguarding team across both campuses. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding leader to shape and strengthen safeguarding provision within a dynamic and student-centred FE environment.
The Role
Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Student Services, you will act as the College's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), ensuring compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements and providing expert advice to senior leaders, governors, staff and external agencies. You will lead safeguarding strategy, oversee complex and high-risk cases, drive quality assurance and continuous improvement, and promote a culture where students feel safe, supported and empowered to thrive.
Key Responsibilities:
- Operational & System Management: Managing safeguarding records and ensuring full, effective use of our CPOMS system.
- Compliance & Best Practice: Ensuring overall team compliance with regulatory standards, covering both reactive management and proactive safeguarding initiatives.
- Case & Team Leadership: Overseeing incoming disclosures, managing risk assessments, and supporting team members in day-to-day safeguarding operations.
In addition, you will:
- Lead safeguarding, Prevent and contextual safeguarding strategy across the College Group.
- Provide expert oversight and decision-making for complex safeguarding and risk cases.
- Act as the key safeguarding adviser to senior leaders, governors and external partners.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with Children's Social Care, Adult Social Care, CAMHS, Police, Prevent partners and other agencies.
- Lead safeguarding quality assurance, audits, thematic reviews and compliance activity.
- Manage and develop the safeguarding team, ensuring high standards of practice and performance.
- Lead safeguarding training, awareness and culture across the organisation.
- Prepare safeguarding reports, trend analysis and assurance updates for senior leaders and governors.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and highly credible safeguarding leader who brings extensive expertise, sound judgement, and the ability to lead with confidence in a complex educational environment.
Key Requirements:
- Substantial operational experience leading safeguarding within a FE / HE / college setting.
- Advanced proficiency with CPOMS and safeguarding record-keeping.
- Strong knowledge of current statutory guidance and compliance requirements.
You will also demonstrate:
- Significant safeguarding leadership experience within Further Education, education, or a comparable multi-site environment.
- Experience managing complex safeguarding and high-risk cases.
- Experience leading safeguarding teams and driving improvements in practice.
- Expert knowledge of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), safeguarding legislation and regulatory requirements.
- Strong understanding of Prevent, contextual safeguarding, vulnerable adults, mental health and inclusion.
- Excellent leadership, communication, partnership-building and decision-making skills.
- The professional resilience, integrity and commitment required to safeguard and promote the welfare of learners.
What the college offers its staff
Apart from our great location, our wonderful staff and positive culture, we also offer a range of other staff benefits, including generous annual leave and defined benefit pension schemes. We also value staff development and have 7 days a year planned for staff development, including elements of team development, socialisation and staff wellbeing.
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.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on college website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Croydon College
- Organisation type
- FE College, ages 16 to 99
- Education phase
- Sixth form or FE college
- Size
- No information available
- Age range
- 16 to 99
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Croydon College website
- Email address
- HR.Recruitment@croydon.ac.uk
College location
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