Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) - SEN School - Hillingdon - ASAP or January 2027 Start

Are you an experienced and passionate Designated Safeguarding Lead looking for an exciting opportunity within a specialist SEN school in Hillingdon?

Are you committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people with additional needs, ensuring every pupil feels safe, supported and able to thrive?

Are you looking to join a dedicated school team where safeguarding, inclusion and pupil wellbeing are at the heart of everything they do?

Role Details:

• Role: Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• Location: Hillingdon, West London
• Start date: ASAP or January 2027
• Setting: Specialist SEN school
• Contract: Full-time opportunity
• Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience and qualifications

Here at Academics, we are working with a specialist SEN school in Hillingdon that is looking to appoint a dedicated and experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead to join its team as soon as possible or from January 2027.

The successful candidate will play a key role in promoting a strong safeguarding culture, ensuring that pupils are protected from harm and that concerns are identified, recorded and acted upon appropriately. You will work closely with the senior leadership team, teaching staff, support staff, parents and external agencies to ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed consistently and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee safeguarding and child protection procedures across the school.
• Act as the main point of contact for safeguarding concerns, ensuring these are recorded, monitored and escalated appropriately.
• Work closely with the headteacher, senior leaders and staff to maintain a strong culture of safeguarding.
• Liaise with children's social care, local safeguarding partners and other external agencies where necessary.
• Ensure safeguarding records are accurate, confidential and maintained in line with school policies.
• Support staff training and ensure colleagues understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
• Contribute to safeguarding reviews, audits and the ongoing development of school procedures.
• Promote the welfare, safety and wellbeing of pupils, taking account of the additional vulnerabilities some pupils with SEND may experience.

The Ideal Candidate

The school is looking for someone who:

• Has substantial safeguarding experience and a strong understanding of child protection procedures.
• Has experience working with children or young people, ideally within a school or specialist SEN setting.
• Has a thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and referral procedures.
• Can manage sensitive and complex safeguarding concerns with professionalism, discretion and confidence.
• Holds, or is willing and able to complete, the relevant DSL training required for the role.

Salary will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications and relevant experience, and will be in accordance with the client's pay policy.