Safeguarding Support Officer

Role Responsibility

Do you have experience of working in a safeguarding role as part of a social care or education setting? Are you committed to safeguarding children and young people? If so, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join the newly formed LADO Education Safeguarding Advisory Service (LESAS) as Safeguarding Support Officer.

You will provide support to the LADO Education Advisors in the service, working closely with schools, colleges, early years’ providers and the wider children’s workforce to offer support and advice on all matters relating to safeguarding children. The role will assist the LADO Education Advisors with the responsibility for managing allegations against professionals, ensuring this is carried out in an effective manner and that systems are in place to promote safe professional practice within the Kent children’s workforce under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 and Working Together statutory guidance.

The successful applicant will play an essential role in developing and delivering training for Designated Safeguarding Leads, managers, and staff working in schools and early years provision, via a variety of approaches including virtual and face to face delivery. You will be a confident trainer with excellent communication skills and be able to deal sensitively with a wide range of safeguarding issues. The post holder will also develop other resources to support effective safeguarding practice in education settings and the wider children’s workforce as part of our commissioned services offer, so you will have opportunities to share and develop your existing safeguarding experience, skills and knowledge.

The post involves liaising with staff within the service and other agencies to triage Ofsted complaints about schools and support the local safeguarding partnership procedures, and may include providing professional challenge, as well as support, to senior leaders. The service facilitates safeguarding reviews in education settings, and the successful applicant will be undertaking reviews of safeguarding practice in early years settings.

The team currently works via a hybrid model, involving office-based work, working remotely from home and attending settings/venues when delivering face to face training. The service has two vacancies available (East Kent and West Kent) and will predominantly involve travel in those areas, however work across Kent and beyond may be required to meet business needs.

This is a demanding role and requires someone who is self-motivated, enthusiastic, adaptable, flexible and able to work under pressure. You will be well supported in developing new areas of expertise and developing a range of transferable skills.

Kent County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.  Appointment is dependent on satisfactory and verifiable references.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Closing date for applications is the 13th October with interviews to commence end of October/early November. We advise candidates to apply early, as this position may close earlier if a substantial number of suitable applications are received.

Contact Details

To discuss this role further, please contact Rebecca Avery, Training and Development Manager, LADO Education Safeguarding Advisory Service: lesasenquiries@kent.gov.uk 

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.