Safeguarding Officer (Stay Safe Officer)

About the Role

We are looking for a new Safeguarding Officer (known as Stay Safe Officer) to join us at Leeds City College and work across a number of our excellent campuses. Based within the Student Life team, you will work closely with the curriculum-based departments to ensure arrangements are in place and maintained to effectively safeguard our students and vulnerable adults.

The wider Student Life team is responsible for the personal development, behaviour and attitude of all our Further Education students. We directly deliver services to students- safeguarding, mental health, and wellbeing are at the centre of what we do. 

As this role is based in the Central Stay Safe Team, we are looking for someone who can take a restorative approach and put student welfare and safeguarding into everything they do! Students and staff feel welcome, safe and secure at all of our campuses. Our arrangements for safeguarding are effective and our safeguarding officers swiftly take appropriate actions to mitigate safeguarding risks.

The personal development programmes they devise and put in place have been judged as outstanding in our latest Ofsted Inspection. You will add to this reputation and drive our culture of vigilance, support, and safeguarding going forward.

All our campuses are easily accessible via public transport.

What You Will Do

• Manage a caseload of students where there is a safeguarding concern.
• Build effective and supportive relationships with vulnerable learners.
• Record all work accurately and in a timely manner on the CPOMS system.
• Provide supervision to designated safeguarding officers in curriculum departments.
• Monitor and review support for vulnerable students providing, expertise and information as required.
• Plan and deliver staff training on a range of different safeguarding topics.
• Monitor the recording and reporting of safeguarding referrals on campus, using appropriate client record and MIS systems, ensuring processes are followed.
• Act as a point of contact for external agencies and attend external meetings as required.
• Lead and contribute to cross college campaigns on a range of different safeguarding topics working closely with curriculum teams, the marketing team and student union.

About You

• Level 2 Safeguarding trained.
• A recognised qualification in at least one area of expertise in safeguarding, health and care to a minimum of NVQ 3 or equivalent, or substantial experience.
• Recent experience working as a designated safeguarding officer.
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups in an educational setting.
• Up to date knowledge and experience of a range of safeguarding issues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, a good listener who is non-judgemental and able to be adaptable to the needs of staff and students.

Benefits

There are plenty of benefits available to our staff members, here are just a few:

• Annual leave entitlement - If you work full time, you'll get at least 27 days holiday plus bank holidays and up to 5 discretionary closure days at Christmas (pro rata for part time staff).
• Support Staff 27 days (increasing to 32 days after 5 years service)
• Academic 37 days
• Senior Management 37 days
• Generous Pension schemes
• Teachers’ Pension Scheme 
• Local Government Pension Scheme 
• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes such as TOTUM card (formerly NUS card). 
• Travel and commuting - discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities -  including staff development days
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities - this will vary depending on role requirements

About Us

Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships regionally. 

We provide a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life changing. Leeds City College’s values put students first and are at the heart of everything the college does.

We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. You’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. We offer a wide range of job vacancies, and our large size means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

Join us on the journey to being the best that we can collectively be for our students, apprentices, staff and our stakeholders.