Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Wilds Lodge School - Rutland
Actual salary: £33,000 | FTE: £38,475
Permanent and Full time (term time)
To start as soon as possible

We are excited to offer this unique opportunity to join our wonderful school and work with our exceptional learners who experience a range of needs including SEMH and ASD.

Job role
The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) will assist the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in all matters of safeguarding and child protection across the school. The DDSL will engage with vulnerable students, families, and external agencies in order to formulate a package of support to remove barriers to learning and improve outcomes. This will include taking part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings, contributing to the assessment of children. The DDSL will advise and support other members of staff on child welfare and child protection matters, and may liaise with relevant agencies such as the local authority and police. The DDSL will report directly to the DSL who will retain lead responsibility for the work of the deputy and will ensure it is completed to the highest standard. Safeguarding practice is ever evolving and you need to be prepared to regularly update your training and keep up to date with Keeping Children Safe in Education KCSIE so you can confidently carry out your responsibilities and be aware of expected practice.

To be successful, you will:
● Hold a minimum of GCSE grade C Maths and English or equivalent
● Have experience in a school or other relevant organisation
● Have experience of managing safeguarding in a school or other relevant organisation, including:
o Building relationships with children and their parents, particularly the most vulnerable
o Working and communicating effectively with relevant agencies
o Implementing and encouraging good safeguarding practice throughout a large team of people
● Have experience working and communicating effectively with relevant agencies
● Have expert knowledge of legislation and guidance on safeguarding and working with young people, including knowledge of the responsibilities of schools and other agencies
● Full clean driving licence (business insurance will be required)

About Wilds Lodge
Wilds Lodge School is an independent 38 week specialist boarding and day provision for boys and girls (girls are accepted as day learners only) for learners aged between 5 and 19 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, set in Empingham, Rutland. All the learners at the school have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It was established in 2007 and aims to place an equal emphasis on the educational, social and psychological development of our learners. The key to the success of the school is a strong ethos, developed by a highly experienced and capable staff, and the strength of the relationships between the staff and the learners.

We are a friendly school where staff are supportive of each other inside and outside of the classroom. We pride ourselves in ensuring all members of staff including our support staff have access to regular training. All our members of staff attend regular training on child protection; mental health and multi-agency working. All staff access a wide range of training on areas of SEN such as Autism, attachment and ADHD.

Benefits include:
● Free onsite parking
● Free refreshments and meals whilst on duty
● Company events
● Gym membership
● Access to an employee assistance programme
● Group life cover 2 x salary from day 1
● Excellent CPD packages, paid induction training and opportunities for part funding of further training
● Opportunity of promotion and career progression
● Enhanced sick pay
● 3 days off paid for dependants sickness
● Enhanced paid family friendly leave

Our learners are incredibly important to us; if you have the energy and enthusiasm to make a real difference to the lives of our learners, we would love to hear from you. Visits to the school are welcome and encouraged.

How to apply:
For more information, to arrange a visit and a full application pack, please contact Mike Sherwin on the below details:

E:
T: (phone number removed)

Closing date for applications: 9am Wednesday 7th October 2026
Interview Date: Monday 12th October 2026

Strong applications may be considered upon receipt

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The following is expected of all staff:
All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check

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