Lead DSL and Safeguarding Manager
- Job title: Lead DSL and Safeguarding Manager
- Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
- Salary: Competitive, depending on qualifications, skills and experience
- Department: Safeguarding
- Reporting to: Deputy Head (Pastoral)
- Location: Highgate, London
- Start: 27th of August, or as soon as possible thereafter
- Closing Date: 11 March 2024 at 9:00 am
Highgate created the role of Lead DSL, separate from the Deputy Head (Pastoral) at the start of 2022. This followed a period of unprecedented challenge for schools and young people following the ‘Everyone’s Invited’ movement, during which Highgate engaged with its many stakeholder groups, including statutory agencies. The Governors commissioned an Independent Review, led by The Rt Hon Dame Anne Rafferty DBE PC, a former Lady Justice of Appeal. One significant response to these challenges was the School’s commitment to increasing its provision in the area of safeguarding and child protection, leading to the creation of a new role, Lead DSL and Safeguarding Manager. The successful candidate will answer for these responsibilities to the Deputy Head (Pastoral) and, through them, to the Head and to Governors. It is hoped that the new Lead DSL and Safeguarding Manager will be able to take their role at the end of August 2024 when the current incumbent departs.
THE ROLE
The successful candidate will be responsible for the safeguarding of all pupils in the School, will be the Lead Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and have overall accountability in any matters relating to safeguarding. The appointee will be required to continue to develop the strategy relating to safeguarding, managing its delivery to help create a safe environment for our pupils, and ensuring that all stakeholders are able to and feel comfortable to raise any concerns.
This is an excellent opportunity to join the Senior Team within an award-winning charity. If you are interested in being part of one of this country’s top independent schools, where kindness is at the heart of what we do, then this is an ideal opportunity for you.
We would be interested to receive applications from those either with a background in primary or secondary education and/or with recent, relevant experience within social, health or child protection services. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will have had safeguarding responsibility in a previous role. Given the range of responsibilities involved, it is unlikely that the successful candidate would be given a teaching timetable.
It is likely that we will be in touch soon after the deadline to invite the long list of candidates to a Zoom interview towards the end of week beginning 11 March. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to visit the school for a further interview, presentation and desktop exercise early in the week beginning 18 March.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Policies and Compliance:
- To ensure that the School is compliant with all aspects of relevant Safeguarding legislation, including Working Together to Safeguard Children, Keeping Children Safe in Education and guidance from local Safeguarding Partners including the London Child Protection Protocols
- To oversee Safeguarding and Welfare policy updates, staff training and independent safeguarding audits and Anti-Sexism and Sexual Violence (ASSV) matrix review, working with the Compliance Director and the Director of Inclusion (the School’s sexual violence lead) to ensure best practice across the School
- To monitor and evaluate the impact of all safeguarding policies, procedures and initiatives on the culture of the School
- To take the lead in ensuring that the School is ISI ‘inspection ready’ in relation to our policies and procedures for safeguarding and pastoral care, and their implementation
- To work closely with the HR Manager (Learning and Development) to ensure the Safer Recruitment records are accurate and all staff who are involved within recruitment have completed the necessary training
- To review, amend and contribute to the implementation of the School’s Anti-Sexism and Sexual Violence (ASSV) plan and to lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Child-on-Child Abuse Policy
- To work with the Head of Pupil Health and Wellbeing to ensure the counselling and wellbeing services are aligned to contextual safeguarding issues and safeguarding best practice
- To organise the annual safeguarding audit and ensure all suggestions are taken forward
Operations and Training:
- To oversee and direct effective Safeguarding induction and training for all staff including a three-year strategic cycle of training
- As Lead DSL, to manage allegations and low-level concerns relating to staff including ongoing liaison with the LADO
- To have oversight of attendance, pupils missing from education and the transfer of information to ensure that the School maintains meticulous safeguarding records, with an awareness of specific safeguarding software (eg CPOMS and CPOMS-Staff)
- To oversee pupil information for leavers and joiners
- To fulfil the obligations regarding the PREVENT Duty and be the point of contact for any queries; to help train staff to enable them to protect pupils from radicalization
- To attend any relevant training, which will include Level 3 Safeguarding & Child Protection
- To assist the DH Pastoral in assessing the impact of PSHEE on the effectiveness of and the culture of safeguarding, reviewing all aspects of PSHEE relating to safeguarding regularly
- To have oversight of all pupils with safeguarding concerns and maintain the Serious Pastoral Concern list
- To lead pupil safeguarding training including start of year assemblies (or their equivalent) and termly safeguarding scenarios for tutor time
- To provide supervision for the Principals of Junior School and Pre-Prep in their safeguarding roles
- To manage the team of Deputy DSLs in their Deputy roles, including leading half-termly DSL meetings
- To recruit and manage a part time school social worker, who would liaise with staff and families on safeguarding cases
Communication
- To foster effective working relations with all the Local Authorities/safeguarding partner from where the School draws its pupils, in particular Haringey
- To develop relationships with local police
- To lead the team of DSLs across the School (Support, Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior School staff), chairing regular DSL meetings
- To have direct access to the Chair of the Governors and the Safeguarding Governor to update them on safeguarding issues
- To prepare termly reports for the Governors’ Safeguarding Committee, the Governing Body (including the Governor with specific oversight of Safeguarding and Welfare) on safeguarding matters and serious pastoral issues. These would include a brief termly review of the consistency of decision making. It would also involve attending relevant Governors meetings to update them on the termly reports
- To prepare for and minute the Governors’ Safeguarding Committee Meetings
- To oversee the work of the Head of E-learning and Digital Health, in conjunction with the Director of IT Services and other staff, in developing strategies for keeping pupils safe online (including annual training for all stakeholders)
- To work with individual pupils and groups to ensure that pupils have sufficient opportunities to voice their opinions on issues regarding safeguarding
- To ensure safeguarding information for all stakeholders is up to date (including Hero, ParentPortal and Venn)
- To evaluate and foster communication with parents regarding safeguarding issues, particularly to raise awareness about School and Local Authority procedures and support
These duties and responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive: the Lead DSL and Safeguarding Manager will be expected to undertake any reasonable task or responsibility as required by the Deputy Head (Pastoral).
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications/Experience
Essential:
- Considerable pastoral experience within a School environment and/or recognised professional qualifications relating to safeguarding or social work
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation
- Skills and Abilities
Essential:
- Successful management and leadership experience
- Experience of managing, or the ability to manage, parental enquiries, concerns or anxieties with authority and reassurance
- Experience of liaising with external Safeguarding partners, such as health professionals, social workers and Police
- Ability to lead, to manage (both ‘up’ and ‘down’), to delegate well and to work collaboratively and build teams
- Transferable experience of, or an insightful empathy with, the particular demands on pupils and staff of a busy and ambitious school
- Very effective, clear communication skills, both written and spoken
- Ability to work swiftly and accurately at times or under pressure while retaining an overall ‘bigger picture’
- Knowledge and understanding of and/or an interest in the benefits information technology can bring to efficient working and good learning
- Evidence of a commitment to ongoing professional development
- Personal Attributes
Essential:
- A commitment to co-education in a selective and academically ambitious School
- A personality which inspires respect, affection and trust
- A critical sympathy with the aims and ethos of the School, which combine an inherent Christian tradition with a determination to be a tolerant, inclusive and diverse modern community
- A style of working and a professional intelligence which engender ambition, high standards and critical self-reflection in others
- Reserves of energy, stamina and patience which will allow the post-holder to deal with a large operational portfolio reliably and efficiently
- The highest levels of integrity, emotional intelligence and personal resilience to deal with a range of challenging circumstances faced by pupils, families and staff
- Excellent judgement, particularly when facing challenging or pressurised situations
- An ability to plan strategically and to implement plans effectively
- The ability to make difficult decisions and to mobilise support for these
- Determination to ensure the safety and well-being of each individual child by expecting, and insisting upon, the highest standards of safeguarding and pastoral care
- Ability to model kindness to self and others
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions below do not form part of a contract and are for information only. Should you be offered and accept employment with Highgate School you will receive a contract setting out in full your terms and conditions. All offers of employment are subject to the receipt of references satisfactory to us, proof of eligibility to work in the UK and DBS checks.
CHILD PROTECTION
All members of staff must comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding & Welfare Policy which is found on Venn and Sharepoint. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Policy. A copy of this Policy will accompany all offers of employment.
SALARY
Competitive, depending on qualifications, skills and experience.
HOURS OF WORK
Normal working hours for this role are Monday to Friday 8.15-5.15pm. There is a need to be flexible about hours in order to carry out these duties and responsibilities effectively, such as attending meetings in the evenings and being available during the holidays to respond to emergencies. No additional payment is made in this respect.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD
The period of employment to the end of the third academic term after commencement of employment will be a probationary period and the Head may in their absolute discretion extend this probationary period.
LUNCH PERIOD
The lunch break is unpaid and does not form part of your working hours. A complimentary lunch is available when the Dining Hall is in operation.
HOLIDAYS
This position is term-time only and would share holidays in line with the school’s term dates.
PENSION
If employed as a teacher the School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. If employed as a member of support staff, an AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
LEISURE FACILITIES
Subject always to the needs of pupils and School’s operations, staff are offered free access at stipulated times to the School’s sports facilities.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The need for absolute confidentiality and discretion, both within Highgate and the wider community, must be understood.
DRESS CODE
Teachers and support staff are expected to set an example to pupils and should dress appropriately at all times.
SMOKING
Smoking, including vaping, is not allowed on or immediately outside any School premises (the footprint of the buildings and the grounds) or in areas where smoking might be seen by parents or pupils during working hours.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Highgate takes its obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act seriously and the postholder will be required to comply with all aspects of Highgate’s Health and Safety Policy, particularly in relation to safe working practices. All staff must keep up to date with Highgate’s Health and Safety Policies which are regularly updated and posted on the Staff Intranet.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Highgate is strongly committed to inclusion and is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to create a welcoming, respectful and safe environment for all members of our community, from every ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability/disability, religion and background. We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make any reasonable adjustments, please let us know what you would require when you submit your application.
DATA PROTECTION
Highgate staff are expected to adhere to the Data Protection legislation at all times. Our Privacy Notice is available on the recruitment portal.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 11th March 2024
- Timing of interviews: w/c 11th March 2024
Contact: Please contact the Recruitment Team or Arthur Dabrowski, Acting Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Inclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities. DBS Privacy Policies
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. DBS Code of Practice
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.