The successful candidate will deliver high-quality support services to vulnerable learners facing crises related to their safety and wellbeing. This includes close collaboration with Curriculum and Inclusion Teams, as well as external agencies, to address a wide range of safeguarding and wellbeing concerns.
They will play a key role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, helping to ensure they are able to engage with and progress in their education
Key facts
- Part-time 0.4FTE, permanent
14.8 hours per week (with temporary uplift to 0.6 FTE until 06.01.2026) - Salary
£27,292 - £29,643 FTE (actual £10,916 - £11,857 based on 0.4 FTE) - Closing date
Midnight Sunday 21st September 2025
Unlocking Potential - Transforming Lives - Creating Bright Futures
We are currently recruiting for a Safeguarding Officer at Kendal College. The successful candidate will provide high quality service support for learners experiencing crisis related to their safety and wellbeing. This includes mental health, wellbeing, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and social factors such as exploitation, abuse, housing or family breakdown.
They will be required to engage the full range of statutory, professional and voluntary services external to the College, to support the ongoing needs of individual learners, liaising with both Curriculum and Inclusion Teams to ensure that a joined-up approach is adopted. This spans safeguarding and wellbeing concerns.
They will provide and coordinate ongoing support for vulnerable learners through close working with external agencies relevant to individual learners, and colleagues within the College which aims to allow them to progress with their education.
Responsibility for contributing to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Job Overview
- Provide front line services to learners using evidence-based practice, including 1:1 mentoring, drop in support, referral / signposting, information, advice and guidance, advocacy, and mediation.
- Initiate Early Help referrals, and support the DSL in regard to the College’s ongoing involvement with Safeguarding Hubs, and other external services.
- Support the admissions and transition process to identify vulnerable learners through the application and interview stages; including Looked After Children, Care Leavers, those declaring a history of complex mental health difficulties, and learners under 16 years old.
- Lead awareness raising of colleague’s responsibilities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe with support from other Safeguarding Team members and the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Follow up any Safeguarding referrals made through liaison with local authorities, the Police, Safeguarding Hubs.
- Promote inclusion and participation and promote behaviour which demonstrates respect for others.
- Use IT systems effectively to support detailed record keeping and communication relating to individual learners.
- Work flexibly to support students according to the needs of the College.
See the Job Description for full details.
Why choose us?
We are a Further Education college that consistently punches above its weight on the national stage. Under the leadership of our Principal, Jason Turton, we are embarking on a series of bold steps to grow the college and remain an excellent education provider for Cumbria and the Northwest. Our students are focused on their learning, achieve high levels of attainment, and consistently give us high satisfaction ratings. We recognise the wellbeing of its staff as a priority, as well as ensuring that excellent work is appropriately recognised and that a healthy work-life balance is maintained.
What we offer
- Great career progression opportunities
- A generous holiday entitlement
- Excellent pension schemes for all staff
- Seven efficiency days per year (pro rata) and your hard-earned holiday allocation
- A college committed to helping every student reach their full potential, irrespective of their ability
- Excellent CPD opportunities to grow and develop
- Employee Assistant Programme
- A comprehensive staff awards, rewards, and wellbeing scheme
- Membership options to other discounting/saving providers
- A full range of hairdressing and beauty therapy treatments
- Discounts in the college restaurant
- Enhanced maternity pay
- Enhanced absence pay
- Cycle to work scheme
- Blue Light card eligibility
- Free will writing
- Discounted eye tests and winter flu vaccine
- Access to discounted gym membership
Our vision
We will provide outstanding education and training opportunities that are responsive to the needs of our students and our community. All our actions will help develop our students to deliver positive economic and sustainable environmental change both now and in the future.
Our values
- Excellence & Ambition
- Respect & Honesty
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Loyalty & Commitment
- A Positive Environment
What we're looking for
Qualifications
| Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|
| Educated to Level 4 or above | Counselling qualification |
| English, Maths, and Science at Level 2 (GCSE A* to C or equivalent) | Safeguarding qualification at Level 3 or above |
| IT qualification or proven competence | A relevant qualification which could be in Social Work, Mental Health, Working with disability / learning difficulties or similar. |
Experience
| Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|
| Experience of working with vulnerable young people | Experience or knowledge of working in Social work, residential care, educational and/or Mental health setting. |
| Experience of providing advocacy | Experience of Safeguarding work. |
| Experience of providing emotional support | Significant experience of working with individuals with additional needs in an educational setting. |
| Experience of facilitating groups, delivering presentations and/or training. | Experience or knowledge of managing a caseload. |
| Experience or knowledge of producing risk assessments / behaviour plans for individuals. |
Knowledge & Skills
| Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|
| A working knowledge of legislation concerning Child Protection procedures and practice. | Current basic knowledge of benefits / welfare rights or willingness to learn |
| Understanding the need to maintain confidentiality and conform to information sharing protocols. | Extensive knowledge of child protection procedures, practice and law. |
| Ability to develop and maintain strong and positive relationships whilst maintaining clear role , ethical and professional boundaries. | |
| Demonstrate an understanding of the implications for learning of the most common mental health / SEND difficulties. | |
| Capacity to work reliably as a team member and to work flexibly according to the needs of learners and the college. | |
| Ability to demonstrate a calm and patient disposition. | |
| Recognising when challenging behaviour should be referred to the DSL or other Senior management. |
Applications without the essential requirements will not usually be considered for appointment.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners and expect all staff to share this commitment. Employment at the college is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check via the Disclosure and Barring Service, and any post in regulated activity will also be subject to an additional barred list check. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we will conduct online searches about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal obligation to meet safeguarding duties per KCSIE.
Right to work
You may need to obtain permission to work in the UK if you don't already have the unrestricted right to work in any role. There are various types of visas, which include the right to work. You can check if you need a UK visa using the government's online tool and find information about UK visa routes and the eligibility criteria that must be met for each route. All staff must prove their right to work in the UK before they attend an interview.
Equality & diversity
We are committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel they belong and are connected to others in our community. We strive to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable facilities or treatment (either directly or indirectly) in recruitment or employment on grounds of age, disability, gender/gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation (the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010).
GDPR
All adults employed by the college are responsible for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.
Armed Forces Covenant
We are committed to supporting veterans' integration into civilian life after their loyal service to the Armed Forces. We welcome applications from veterans, and those who meet the essential criteria will be automatically invited for an interview.
Please note CVs cannot be accepted without a completed application form.
