Trust Operational Safeguarding Lead – Harbour Learning Trust

Are you a specialist in safeguarding looking to lead practice across a diverse Trust?

Do you thrive on building high-standard procedures that protect children and support school leaders?

If you are a resilient, ethically sound, and collaborative professional, then you could be the person we are looking for! At Harbour Learning Trust, our success is built on a philosophy of care, inclusion, and high standards. We are a values-driven community where kindness, empathy, and ambition are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in providing an education that prepares every child to be a successful global citizen, and we are looking for a dedicated Trust Operational Safeguarding Lead to help us deliver on that vision.

You will be part of a supportive team that prioritises continuous professional development and a strong team ethos, working closely with the Head of HR & Safeguarding to share best practice and ensure consistent, sound advice throughout the Trust.

The Role

• Location: Harbour Learning Trust, Grimsby

• Salary Scale: PO1, point 30-34, £40,777 - £45,091 FTE

£19,592 - £21,665 Actual salary 

• Contract Type: Permanent - 20 hours per week - Term time plus 10 days

• Reports to: Head of HR & Safeguarding

• Closing Date: 1st June 2026

• Start Date: ASAP

As the Trust Operational Safeguarding Lead, you will hold responsibility for trust-wide operational safeguarding and child protection practice. You will act as a source of specialist expertise, ensuring our approach continuously adapts to support the vision and strategy of the Trust while remaining in strict accordance with statutory guidance.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Drive the development, implementation, and compliance of safeguarding across the trust, including policy development and senior-level advocacy.

• Quality Assurance & Audit: Complete annual safeguarding audits in each school and quality assure the work of academy safeguarding teams to ensure statutory compliance.

• Digital Strategy: Act as the Trust-wide ‘Super User’ for safeguarding software (e.g., CPOMS), auditing digital chronologies and ensuring consistent incident categorisation.

• Training & Development: Design and deliver specialist safeguarding training to all DSLs, chairing the Professional Learning Community to develop best-practice materials.

• Expert Advice: Provide a specialist response service to schools, offering coaching, mentoring, and bespoke support in the absence of a DSL.

• Data & Reporting: Analyse safeguarding data to provide timely, accurate reports to the Head of HR & Safeguarding, Trust Board and relevant committees.

The Person: What We Are Looking For

We are seeking an experienced practitioner who is organised, approachable, and committed to driving up standards of safeguarding service.

Essential Requirements:

• Qualifications: Educated to degree level (or equivalent) with GCSE Grade C or equivalent in English and Maths; Safeguarding Level 3 or higher.

• Expertise: Significant experience as a DSL in an educational environment with detailed understanding of KCSIE and "Working Together to Safeguard Children."

• Technical Skills: Significant experience managing electronic recording systems (e.g., CPOMS) and using data to produce high-level analytical reports.

• Casework: Proven experience handling complex, high-risk cases and referring and challenging external agencies.

• Values: High integrity with an ethically sound approach and a deep commitment to the Harbour Learning Trust's DANCE values.

About Our Trust

We are proud to have the highest performing primary and secondary schools in our area and we are honored to have been shortlisted for the TES Inclusive Trust of the Year Award for the second year running. Most importantly, we are proud that we are improving the life chances for our children and giving them the tools and the values to lead happy and successful lives.

Our Vision is to empower and inspire children, adults and communities to be ambitious, healthy and kind, dedicated to making our world a better place. The work we do is underpinned by our DANCE values (Delight, Ambition, Nurture, Community, Empowerment) and our magnificent seven behaviours.

Our Fantastic Five Values 

D - Harbour children deserve joyful (delight)schools that ignite creativity and learning through play. We invest in colleagues to ensure success and promote lifelong well-being for everyone.

A - We recruit the best colleagues and nurture talent in safe environments, inspiring our children to strive for excellence (ambition). By learning from the best, we improve and give back to our communities.

N - Harbour schools are rooted in care, valuing respect and empathy (nurture). We create supportive environments where children and colleagues thrive, preparing them for the future.

C - We promote pride, inclusion, and civic responsibility, celebrating diversity and community. Colleagues will experience belonging through collaboration, well-being, and continuous development.

E - Success comes when colleagues are empowered to innovate, take risks, and learn from failure. At Harbour, we encourage creativity and collaboration, helping both children and colleagues achieve their goals. 

 Our Magnificent Seven Behaviours

• We will act with integrity, honesty and transparency in all that we do

• We will trust our fellow professionals and value their skills and knowledge

• We will work collaboratively and encourage others to do the same

• We will work inclusively, building and celebrating inclusive and diverse communities

• We will be kind to ourselves and in all our dealings with others, acting with

• compassion and empathy

• We will communicate regularly and with clarity with our stakeholders and with each other, welcoming and reflecting on constructive feedback from others

• We will be aspirational for all, wanting the best for ourselves and for everyone

Come and join our happy, values-led trust that truly believes in “success and happiness for all.”

Harbour Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks and enhanced DBS.

If you would like to hear more about the role please do not hesitate to contact Katrina Noon, Head of HR & Safeguarding.