Start Date:                                     1^st September 2026 or as soon as possible

Reports to:                                     Child Protection Officer

Purpose of the Role

To support the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in ensuring the effective implementation of safeguarding and child protection systems across the academy. The post holder will lead on early help provision, coordinate support for vulnerable students and families, and contribute to a strong safeguarding culture that prioritises student welfare and wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding and Child Protection (Support Role)

·        Support the DSL in delivering safeguarding and child protection procedures in line with statutory guidance (KCSIE, Working Together to Safeguard Children).

·        Act as a point of contact for safeguarding concerns as part of the Safeguarding team.

·        Ensure safeguarding concerns are recorded accurately, promptly, and appropriately on CPOMS (or equivalent system).

·        Support quality assurance of safeguarding records, including accuracy of categories, chronology, and actions.

·        Escalate concerns to the DSL promptly and appropriately.

·        Support liaison with external agencies, including social care and Early Help services where directed.

·        Promote a culture of vigilance, listening, and professional curiosity among staff.

Early Help Leadership

·        Lead on the identification, coordination, and oversight of Early Help provision across the academy.

·        Act as the academy’s Early Help Lead Professional where appropriate.

·        Complete and coordinate Early Help Assessments (EHAs) and lead Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings.

·        Work proactively with students and families to address emerging needs before escalation.

·        Monitor the effectiveness of early help interventions and adapt support as required.

·        Develop and maintain strong relationships with external partners to ensure timely and effective support.

Support for Students and Families

·        Provide targeted pastoral and safeguarding support for vulnerable students.

·        Conduct home visits where concerns require further investigation or support (in line with safeguarding procedures).

·        Work with families to improve engagement with school, attendance, and wellbeing.

·        Deliver or coordinate interventions for students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

·        Facilitate restorative conversations and support behaviour improvement processes.

Day-to-Day Safeguarding Practice

·        Ensure referrals are made promptly to appropriate agencies where risk of harm is identified (under DSL direction where necessary).

·        Attend multi-agency meetings including Child in Need, Child Protection, Early Help, and other relevant forums.

·        Contribute to attendance, reintegration, and inclusion planning for vulnerable students.

·        Maintain accurate, confidential, and high-quality safeguarding records.

·        Support the early identification of risks and barriers to learning.

Staff Support and Culture

·        Provide guidance and advice to staff on safeguarding concerns and early help processes.

·        Support the DSL in embedding safeguarding practice across the school.

·        Promote a culture where students feel safe, listened to, and supported.

Training and Development

·        Undertake and maintain up-to-date safeguarding training (including Prevent, FGM, online safety, and local safeguarding procedures).

·        Support the delivery of safeguarding training and briefings to staff where appropriate.

·        Engage in regular supervision and reflective practice.

Contribution to Wider Pastoral Systems

·        Contribute to safeguarding reporting and monitoring (e.g. trends, patterns, case reviews).

·        Support inclusion strategies and multi-agency working.

·        Contribute to internal meetings relating to behaviour, attendance, and safeguarding.

General Responsibilities

·        Maintain confidentiality and adhere to data protection requirements at all times.

·        Model professional standards and safeguarding best practice.

·        Undertake any additional duties appropriate to the role as directed by the SLT team.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Experience

·        Experience of working with children and families in a school or safeguarding context.

Knowledge and Understanding

·        Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection guidance (KCSIE, Working Together).

·        Knowledge of Early Help processes and thresholds.

·        Understanding of risk factors affecting young people (e.g. neglect, exploitation, attendance).

Skills

·        Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (with students, families, staff, and external agencies).

·        Ability to manage sensitive situations with professionalism and emotional intelligence.

·        Strong organisational skills and attention to detail in record-keeping.

·        Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Personal Qualities

·        Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

·        Resilience and ability to manage emotionally demanding situations.

·        High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.

·        Proactive, solution-focused approach.

Desirable Criteria

·        Safeguarding or DDSL training (or willingness to undertake).

·        Experience completing Early Help Assessments and leading TAF meetings.

·        Experience using CPOMS (or similar safeguarding systems).

·        Relevant qualification (e.g. safeguarding, counselling, youth work, social care).

What can we offer?_

·        The opportunity to save money across hundreds of major retailers

·        Employee Referral Scheme

·        Bespoke career pathways for every member of staff

·        Competitive salary

·        5 INSET days per year +3 additional planning days each term, dedicated to development and planning.

·        The benefits of working in a successful multi-academy trust and full access to ongoing CPD

·        Cycle to Work Scheme

At The Lowry Academy we have high expectations and believe every single child can achieve their potential. Our staff are very professional, and we are relentlessly ensuring those high standards are maintained so teachers can teach, and students can learn. We prepare children for future success and ask students to live our values of Aspiration, Respect, Confidence, Creativity and Resilience.

To maintain this strong culture, we have non-negotiable expectations:

·        All students arrive on time for their lessons. Students must arrive on time to be admitted to the lesson.

·        All students are expected to have full equipment for every lesson.

·        All students must think hard and work hard in lessons. Students are not allowed to opt out of their learning.

·        The school has a straightforward approach to disruption to lessons. We follow a warn remove policy where any student who disrupts learning, having been previously warned and given the opportunity to correct their behaviour, including opting out of work, is removed from the lesson.

We are not just about academic success; we work hard to ensure that we role model the right behaviours and provide opportunities for our pupils to develop the skills and understanding required to both be personally successful in the future workplace but also have a positive impact on the world. Our aim is to prepare our students for adulthood and to be good citizens with high ambitions and the courage to exceed in their future. If you are passionate and share the same desire about changing the lives of students, we would like to hear from you.

We welcome visits to our academy so that you can experience the unique ethos of The Lowry Academy for yourself. If you would like to visit the academy, please contact HR, on or via email to Human.Resources@lowryacademy.org.uk

Why Us?

We are a caring yet ambitious academy at the heart of our local community. Our mission is to provide every student with the opportunity to strive for academic excellence while developing the interpersonal skills needed to make a positive contribution to society. We take pride in our calm, supportive environment, built on respectful relationships between staff and students. With a clear focus on delivering excellent academic standards for all, high-quality teaching and learning sit firmly at the centre of everything we do.

By joining The Lowry Academy, you also become part of United Learning, a successful Multi-Academy Trust. United Learning schools work closely together, achieving more collectively than any single school could alone. Our subject specialists, Group-wide intranet, shared curriculum, and online learning portal enable us to collaborate effectively, streamline processes, and support staff in managing workload to promote a healthy work-life balance.

As a Group, we are committed to rewarding and developing our staff. This includes strong career pathways, competitive pay, excellent benefits, and the deep professional satisfaction that comes from helping young people succeed. We invest in staff wellbeing through generous INSET provision—at least eight days per year, with three dedicated solely to planning—and through a Trust-wide wellbeing programme. This commitment reflects our ethos: bringing out the best in everyone.

The Lowry Academy is committed to creating the best place to work, where all staff can reach their full potential. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation. We look forward to receiving your application.

Suitable candidates will be interviewed on receipt of application, and The Lowry Academy reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made.

The Lowry is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students. This responsibility necessitates a child protection policy and robust procedures. Each student’s welfare is of paramount importance. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be read on our website.

CLOSING DATE  Midnight 22nd June 2026

INTERVIEWS  Likely Week commencing 28th June 2026