Location
Croydon College Group - Coulsdon Campus, London

Hours
Full Time, Permanent

Salary
£45,000 per annum

About the Role
At Croydon College Group, safeguarding is central to our mission of transforming lives through education. We are seeking an exceptional Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to provide operational leadership of safeguarding across the College Group. This pivotal leadership role involves managing Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs), overseeing complex safeguarding practice, and ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, child protection, vulnerable adult safeguarding, and Prevent compliance.

As DSL, you will lead the College's safeguarding function, ensuring concerns are managed effectively, statutory duties are fulfilled, and students receive timely, appropriate support. You will work closely with the Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead, curriculum leaders, student services teams, and external safeguarding agencies to maintain consistent, robust, and student-centred safeguarding practice.

Your responsibilities will include leading safeguarding quality assurance, managing complex and high-risk cases, overseeing safeguarding data and reporting, and acting as the College's lead practitioner for CPOMS to ensure effective safeguarding record keeping and case management.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding professional with strong leadership skills and a passion for positively impacting the lives of young people and vulnerable adults.

Experience
- Significant safeguarding experience within education, social care, or a related safeguarding environment
- Proven track record managing complex safeguarding and child protection cases
- Experience supervising or managing safeguarding practitioners or teams
- Experience with multi-agency safeguarding working and statutory safeguarding processes
- Advanced proficiency in CPOMS or equivalent safeguarding case management systems
- Strong safeguarding risk assessment, decision-making, and leadership skills

About You
- Confident working in a fast-paced environment making informed safeguarding decisions
- Excellent communication, report-writing, and stakeholder management abilities
- Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Passionate about leading high-performing teams and influencing safeguarding practice

Qualifications
- Previous experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is desirable
- Experience within Further Education is advantageous
- Advanced DSL, Prevent, or Safer Recruitment training preferred
- Knowledge of Ofsted safeguarding expectations within the Further Education sector is beneficial