Trust Deputy Safeguarding Lead - Salford and the Wirral

The Co Operative Academies Trust, Manchester, M60 0AG

27 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  April 2026

• Closing date

  4 February 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  7 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Skilled Worker visas can be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £56,730 - £60,208

What skills and experience we're looking for

Your Role

At Co-op Academies Trust, safeguarding isn’t just a checklist, it’s the foundation of everything we do. We pride ourselves on making decisions that have the welfare and safety of our pupils at the heart of everything we do. If you are an expert safeguarding practitioner who is ready to shape the safety and wellbeing of an entire region - alongside senior leaders - we have an exciting opportunity for you.

We are looking for two dedicated professionals to join our expanded central safeguarding team. This is a rare opportunity to join our experienced team of professionals comprising a Trust Safeguarding Lead, two established Deputy Leads, and dedicated Safeguarding Support to effectively support academies.

This role will grant you the opportunity to have real strategic impact as you will not just be reacting to cases, but providing high level support - and high challenge - to Headteachers and DSLs to create a safeguarding culture that aligns with the latest statutory guidance, Ofsted expectations and Trust vision.

Your impact in this role will also include:

• Cultural Architect:You will help schools move beyond "policy" to create a truly inclusive ethos where every family feels they belong and every child feels seen.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration:You’ll partner with HR, IT, our Community Team, Governance, Data Protection and Health & Safety to ensure that safeguarding is woven into every fabric of the Trust’s operations.

Being part of the Co-operative Group, we are both guided and driven by the Co-op values which are embedded in everything that we do within our Academy. We strive to demonstrate the following ethical values in everything we do - they are our ‘Ways of Being’:

• Succeed together
• Do what matters most
• Be yourself, always
• Show you care

So, if you have extensive experience as a (Deputy) Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with a deep, working knowledge of current legislation and a proven ability to improve practice in others, we would love to hear from you!

What the school offers its staff

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to recognise the part you play in our success:

Benefits include:

• A Co-op colleague discount card. This gives you a 10% discount in our Co-op Food stores.
• Co-operative flexible benefits (discounted line rental and broadband package, family care advice and cycle to work scheme)
• Discounted gym membership and leisure activities which includes discounts on Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life, Legoland etc), Virgin Experience Days, SuperBreak and many more!
• Co-operative Credit Union: save directly from your salary and receive a competitive dividend. Borrowers can benefit from very competitive interest rates & terms (in comparison with other high street lenders)
• Co-op Funeralcare benefit
• Season ticket and rental deposit loans

And More!

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.

Skilled Worker visas can 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

Co-op Academies Trust as an aware employer is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This commitment to robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures extends to organisations and services linked to the Trust on its behalf. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We value variety and individual differences, and aim to create a culture, environment and practices at all levels which encompass acceptance, respect and inclusion. All our colleagues are expected to demonstrate a commitment to co-operative values and principles.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Salford and the Wirral - Trust Deputy Safeguarding Lead.pdf - 1.11 MB (opens in new tab)

About The Co Operative Academies Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Email address: toni.welborn@coopacademies.co.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-co-operative-academies-trust

Why us?
Co-op Academies Trust is a place where you are part of something bigger, through a leading education and opportunities to serve our community, we are working together to make a better world.

From ages 3-19 Co-op Academies Trust supports students in Primary, Secondary and Special schools across the North of England, giving children the skills and experiences they need to succeed, no matter where they come from.

What makes our Trust unique is that we are sponsored by the Co-op Group. That close relationship means that we benefit from all the business expertise that has seen the Co-op grow to one of the most respected, successful businesses in the country.

Everyone in the Trust honours our fundamental commitment to the Ways of Being Co-op. They are our DNA; they represent our culture and reflect the rationale behind our decision-making. No matter what we do, they are how we do it.

Our ways of being are:

Be Yourself, Always
Show You Care
Do What Matters Most
Succeed Together
In 2025, we have 38 academies as part of the Co-op family, across 4 regions.

Our Values
Being part of the Co-operative Group, we are both guided and driven by the Co-op values which are embedded in everything that we do within our Academy - We strive to demonstrate the following ethical values in everything we do - they are our ‘Ways of Being’:

Succeed together

Do what matters most

Be yourself, always

Show you care

So, if you believe in our values, we would love to hear from you!

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to recognise the part you play in our success:
Benefits include:

You’ll get being a Co-op member, you’ll get a Co-op colleague discount card. This gives you a 10% discount in our Co-op Food stores.
Co-operative flexible benefits (discounted line rental and broadband package, family care advice and cycle to work scheme)
Discounted gym membership and leisure activities which includes discounts on Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life, Legoland etc), Virgin Experience Days, SuperBreak and many more
Co-operative Credit Union: save directly from your salary and receive a competitive dividend. Borrowers can benefit from very competitive interest rates & terms (in comparison with other high street lenders)
Co-op Funeralcare benefit
Season ticket and rental deposit loans
And More!

For more information about the Co-op Academies Trust, please visit: www.coopacademies.co.uk

The Trust is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnerships.

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