Deputy DSL – PRIDE Academy

Salary: Grade 6/S01 actual salary £25,833.69 - £29,399.31 (£30,169 – 34,333 FTE Salary) per annum inclusive of London Weighting Allowance

Location:  PRIDE Academy, West Drayton, UB7 8AB

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, term time only

The PRIDE Academy is a secondary special school for students with social, emotional and mental health needs in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It currently offers 60 places to pupils aged 11-16 who thrive on the varied curriculum that has an emphasis on practical skills and enrichment opportunities. 

The PRIDE Academy moved into its brand new purpose-built school in April 2022 and will expand its intake to include a Sixth Form enabling 110 pupils aged 11 to 19 to be educated on site. The new Free School offers extensive facilities including specialist science labs, well-equipped art and design and technology rooms in a bright and spacious building, as well as an indoor sports hall and an outdoor multi use games area.

Staff at The PRIDE Academy have an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of young people and ensure they will leave school with the skills they need and academic outcomes that reflect the best of their abilities. To find out more about us visit theprideacademy.co.uk

. This role is ideal for individuals who want to work within education, health and social care.

Key objective of the role:

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead will support the DSL’s legal responsibility for dealing with safeguarding issues, providing advice and support to staff, liaising with families, the Local Authority, and working with a range of other agencies.

Areas of responsibility:

Policy and procedure:

• Act as a champion of the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures by supporting the DSL to ensure all stakeholders have access to and are able to understand them.
• Induct new members of staff on the direction of the DSL with regard to the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Work with the DSL to ensure the school safeguarding policy is updated and reviewed annually and communicated to all.

Reporting concerns:

• Recognise how to identify signs of abuse and when to make a referral
• Respond appropriately to disclosures or concerns relating to the well-being of a student and maintain records on ‘My Concern’.
• Refer allegations or cases of suspected abuse to the relevant investigating agencies, ensuring they have access to the most relevant up to date information
• Liaise with the DSL, SLT and Principal to inform them of any issues and ongoing investigations
• Ensure that relevant, detailed and accurate written records of referrals/concerns are kept and that these are stored securely
• When students move school, ensure their safeguarding file is sent to the new establishment immediately and securely
• Refer cases to the Local Authority Prevent Officer where there is a radicalisation concern as required

Multi Agency working:

• Under the advice of the DSL, ensure that students who subject to abuse are supported appropriately and sensitively and that all actions for the school from planning and intervention meetings are carried out and monitored
• Attend and contribute effectively to Child In Need meetings, Child Protection conferences, planning and review meetings as required
• Liaise and coordinate with colleagues and outside organisations to refer to Early Help as soon as a problem emerges.
• Ensure that actions for the school resulting from meetings are SMART and that they are carried out in a co-ordinated way.

Training:

• Support the DSL to ensure all staff have a safeguarding induction on their first day and receive frequent updates so that they are able to recognise and report any concerns immediately
• Attend relevant training every 2 years and on an annual basis attend forums/roadshows to reinforce and enhance Safeguarding knowledge and practice
• Represent the school at forums and disseminate the information to colleagues as appropriate

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

PRIDE Academy is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Shahena Tarapdar via email starapdar@theprideacademy.co.uk

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact starapdar@theprideacademy.co.uk

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role. Failure to show evidence will result in your application not being shortlisted for interview.

Please note that CV applications will not be considered.

Closing Date: 30th December 2022

Interviews will take place on: 4th January 2023

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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