Location
Croydon and Coulsdon Campuses, London

Hours
Full Time - 35 hours per week

Salary
£55,000 per annum (inclusive of Outer London Weighting)

About the Role
We are seeking an exceptional safeguarding professional to join our Student Services leadership team as Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This pivotal leadership role provides strategic and operational oversight of safeguarding, wellbeing, Prevent, and student protection across the College Group. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Student Services, you will ensure compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements and provide expert advice to senior leaders, governors, staff, and external agencies. You will lead safeguarding strategy, oversee complex and high-risk cases, drive quality assurance and continuous improvement, and promote a culture where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Key responsibilities include managing safeguarding records and the CPOMS system, ensuring team compliance with regulatory standards, overseeing disclosures and risk assessments, leading safeguarding, Prevent and contextual safeguarding strategy, providing expert oversight for complex cases, acting as the key safeguarding adviser to senior leaders and external partners, developing strong relationships with social care and other agencies, leading quality assurance and audits, managing and developing the safeguarding team, delivering safeguarding training and awareness, and preparing reports and assurance updates for senior leaders and governors.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding leader to shape and strengthen safeguarding provision within a dynamic and student-centred further education environment.

Experience
- Substantial operational experience leading safeguarding within a Further Education, Higher Education, or college setting.
- Advanced proficiency with CPOMS and safeguarding record-keeping.
- Significant experience managing complex safeguarding and high-risk cases.
- Experience leading safeguarding teams and driving improvements in practice.

About You
- Highly credible safeguarding leader with extensive expertise and sound judgement.
- Strong knowledge of current statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), safeguarding legislation, and regulatory requirements.
- Expert understanding of Prevent, contextual safeguarding, vulnerable adults, mental health, and inclusion.
- Excellent leadership, communication, partnership-building, and decision-making skills.
- Professional resilience, integrity, and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners.

Qualifications
Relevant safeguarding qualifications and experience in education or comparable multi-site environments are expected, alongside a commitment to continuous professional development.