Designated Safeguarding Lead & Family Welfare Officer
Location: Medway
School Type: Specialist SEN Provision
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: £26,421 - £33,945
Start Date: September 2025 (or earlier by negotiation)

The Role

Vision for Education is working in partnership with a well-established SEN school in Medway to recruit an experienced and passionate Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Family Welfare Officer. This vital role is at the heart of the school’s commitment to ensuring the safety, well-being, and inclusion of all its pupils—many of whom have complex social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, ASD, or learning difficulties.

As DSL and Family Welfare Officer, you will work closely with school leaders, external agencies, pupils, and families to maintain the highest standards of safeguarding and to provide proactive family support interventions.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring all child protection policies and procedures are implemented and followed
• Manage safeguarding concerns, liaising with social services and external professionals
• Lead on Early Help assessments and support plans
• Build strong relationships with parents, carers, and multi-agency teams
• Provide practical and emotional support to families facing barriers to engagement
• Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date safeguarding records
• Promote a safeguarding culture across the whole school

The School

This specialist SEN provision supports children aged 5–16 with a range of additional needs. The school prides itself on creating a nurturing and structured environment where pupils thrive through a holistic and inclusive approach. Safeguarding is embedded into the school’s ethos, and your role will be central to this.

Requirements

• Essential:
• Recent experience as a DSL or Deputy DSL in a school or similar setting
• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
• Experience supporting vulnerable families and managing complex safeguarding cases
• Knowledge of SEN, SEMH, and trauma-informed approaches

Vision for Education is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. We take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff we register will undertake thorough interviewing and referencing checks and hold, or be prepared to undergo, an Enhanced DBS check that must be registered on the Update Service.

About Vision for Education

Vision for Education is a market-leading education recruitment and supply agency committed to the learning and development of young people. With branches across the country, we are an employer of choice for high-quality primary, secondary and SEND teaching and support staff.

Salary is dependent on experience, training or qualifications. The minimum experience, training or qualifications required for this position are:

• Have relevant experience of working with children, young people or vulnerable adults

What Vision for Education offer

As a valued employee of Vision for Education, you will receive:

• Excellent daily rates paid weekly by our in-house Payroll team using the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system.
• Guaranteed pay scheme (subject to availability and qualifying criteria).
• Pension contributions (subject to a qualifying period).
• Full compliance with AWR (Agency Workers’ Regulations), to make sure you get the pay and working conditions you are entitled to.
• FREE training to help with your professional development such as Team Teach training, online webinars and safeguarding and child protection updates.
• Generous refer a friend or colleague bonus scheme.
• Access to a dedicated consultant, who will provide ongoing support.

Vision for Education do not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, colour, religion, disability or sexual orientation, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

How to apply

Apply via this website with an up-to-date CV and contact details. For more information, or an informal chat about the role, please call the Kent team on 01622 584 900 or email [email protected].

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