Trust Safeguarding Lead

Forward Education Trust is a growing Multi Academy Trust established in 2017 serving special schools across the West Midlands area.  An exciting opportunity has arisen to support the Trust during a period of organisational change and continued growth. We now have 6 schools in Birmingham and Sandwell, with a new school due to open in Solihull in September 2023.

Our Safeguarding Lead will join our Central Team at Forward Education Trust. This post will be key in developing our services to our schools over the coming months and will work closely with the Headteachers and our Deputy CEO, who is our Education Director and Trust DSL.

The successful candidate will continue to develop and implement the Trust’s safeguarding strategy to ensure that all our pupils and staff work within a compliant and robust culture of safeguarding in liaison with the Deputy CEO.  They will lead on the development of Trust policy and practice, ensuring that safeguarding continues to be effective and that there is clear evidence of a “culture of vigilance” present every day, in every school.  The aim is to provide support for Head Teachers, central Trust staff and designated safeguarding leads within the Trust if they are concerned about a child protection or safeguarding issue and to have development oversight, including training programmes for key staff responsible for safeguarding, in conjunction with the Workforce Development Manager.

This is a pivotal development role for our Trust, and we are looking to appoint a well-qualified candidate who aspires to outstanding safeguarding standards.  This is an active and visible role requiring excellent relationship skills. Working with the Trust Executive Team, the post holder will be expected to positively contribute to strategic direction. In return we will provide them with a competitive salary, supportive executive team and ongoing professional development.

As this is a role directly working with schools and across the Central team, the postholder will be expected to work mainly office/school based, but some flexibility on working hours and a positive approach to hybrid working can be discussed with suitable candidates.  A laptop and mobile phone will be provided.  The postholder is expected to have access to their own car, with business insurance.

Forward Education Trust is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest quality staff. To do this, we have an Employee Value Proposition offering a range of benefits to help our staff on a personal and professional level, which includes:

Closing Date: Tuesday 13^th September 2022 at 9am

Interview Date: Week Commencing 19^th September 2022

To apply, please complete an application form and submit via https://www.fet.ac/vacancies/  or by emailing it to recruitment@fet.ac

Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form.

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date. Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date

Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  The successful candidate must promote this ethos.  Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post. This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

Applications

To apply, please complete an application form and email it to recruitment@fet.ac

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date. Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date.

Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form.

If you do not hear from the school within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. The successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

 Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos.