Safeguarding Officer
6 days ago
Crewe
Safeguarding Officer Permanent Full Time Location: Northwest - predominately Crewe and Northwich The Safeguarding Officer will provide front-line support across Study Programme sites, ensuring safeguarding and welfare concerns are identified early and responded to appropriately. The role focuses mainly on low and medium-level safeguarding and welfare concerns, with high-level concerns managed by the DSL, supported by the Safeguarding Officer where required. You will support learners who may experience barriers to learning, including (but not limited to): • Learners known to, or previously known to, Early Help or social care, • Learners experiencing mental health or wellbeing needs, • Learners with attendance concerns or missing from learning, • Learners with additional needs, including those with an EHCP Key Responsibilities include: • Provide front-line safeguarding and welfare support to learners across Study Programme sites., • Respond to safeguarding and welfare concerns in a calm, caring and timely way., • Manage and support low and medium-level safeguarding concerns, seeking advice from the DSL and escalating promptly where risk increases., • Work closely with the Programme Manager and Study Programme colleagues to support consistent safeguarding practice., • Build trusted relationships with learners and provide advice, guidance and reassurance around mental health, wellbeing, safety and self-care., • Support Early Help referrals and work with Early Help and other external agencies to ensure learners receive appropriate support., • Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality safeguarding and welfare records using agreed systems, including CPOMS., • Promote early intervention, professional curiosity and a positive safeguarding culture., • Support safeguarding education and awareness activity with learners and colleagues., • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice relevant to post-16 education. Essential • Experience of working directly with young people in an education, training, youth or support setting., • Experience of supporting young people with mental health, wellbeing and personal safety., • Understanding of safeguarding principles, legislation and best practice for children and young people., • Experience of responding to welfare or safeguarding concerns and providing advice, guidance and signposting., • Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain clear, factual and accurate records., • Knowledge of GDPR and information sharing principles., • Previous safeguarding experience, including Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) experience., • Experience of supporting Early Help referrals and working with external agencies., • Experience using CPOMS or similar safeguarding recording systems., • Excellent communication and listening skills, with the ability to build trust with learners and colleagues., • Calm, compassionate and supportive approach, particularly in sensitive situations., • Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload., • High levels of professional curiosity - alert, observant and confident to act when something doesn’t feel right., • Ability to use initiative and judgement while working within safeguarding procedures., • Commitment to continuous improvement and reflective practice.