Director of Safeguarding
Posted 6 hours 30 minutes ago by TCES
Permanent
Full Time
Executive Jobs
London, Merton, United Kingdom, SW19 4EE
Job Description
At TCES, safeguarding is not a discrete function. It is expressed through inclusion practice, attendance systems, complaints handling, staff conduct, and family engagement. This role intentionally brings these elements together to ensure safeguarding is coherent, proactive and system-wide.
Safeguarding children and promoting their well-being runs through the heart of our practice as part of the TCES Pillars of Excellence. It is an attitude of mind, a belief system and a way of thinking that places the well-being of our pupils at the forefront of every action.
Policies and systems, such as safer recruitment, behaviour management, child protection and whistleblowing procedures arise out of this belief and are used to promote and sustain it. They are not an end in themselves but are essential tools to support a culture of safeguarding running through the company and to help maintain a company-wide commitment to best practice and legal requirements.
Ultimately, it is our belief that a commitment to safeguarding children and promoting their well-being works to the equal safety and well-being of all staff and other adults whose aim is to promote good education outcomes and future life experiences for young people.
As the company strategic lead on all aspects of safeguarding, the Director of Safeguarding oversees the effective provision of organisational safeguarding arrangements, breaking down and quality assuring all elements of a holistic, compliant and forward-thinking organisation which puts the safeguarding of its pupils and staff at the centre.
At TCES, our safeguarding practices encompass risk assessing, safer recruitment practices, effective staff induction, thematic training, contextualising risks, environments and backgrounds in order to proactively support young people and their families
As Company Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), they provide guidance and direction to school, service and company senior leaders, especially in effective and appropriate multi-agency working. Their oversight of the Assistant Heads of Inclusion (i.e. school-based DSLs) ensures consistent implementation of UK legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, building on the foundations that pupil attendance and stakeholder engagement have a positive impact on the welfare of vulnerable young people.
As a qualified social worker, with prior experience in a senior or executive social work role and extensive experience specific to the education sector, they will support our social workers to maintain social work practice and ethics, focussing on statutory safeguarding processes in schools as outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025. This supervision allows for full embedding and continuous development of the TCES Families and Schools working Together programme (FAST), actively engaging parents/carers in all elements of their child's school life.
The role is designed to operate through strong professional relationships with schools and services, combining support, challenge and oversight to strengthen safeguarding practice rather than displace local leadership
The Complete Education Solution (TCES) is a long-established provider of therapeutic education, supporting neurodiverse children and young people up and down the UK. Our multi-disciplinary teams work together to provide child-centric support, engaging with clinical, educational and social work experts, as well as partnering with our pupils' families.
Starting Salary: £77,232 to £90,240 per annum (TCES Salary Band 2).
Location: TCES Central Services, Wimbledon (with up to 2 days working from home) and travel required to all TCES sites across London.
Contract: Permanent, Full-time.
The Complete Education Solution (TCES)
TCES is an independent social enterprise, providing specialist therapeutic education based in London supporting exceptional neurodiverse children and young people aged 7 to 19 who have special educational needs and disabilities typically associated with autism, social emotional and mental health needs and associated disorders. Most of them will have experienced multiple placement breakdowns and significant trauma, often resulting in behaviour that challenges. On average pupils will have been excluded from other provisions up to three times before reaching us and had significant periods out of education.
TCES pupils learn at one of our two secondary schools, at our Nurture Primary school, through our Create in the Community Outreach service or within our National Online School all supporting highly complex and vulnerable pupils, with highly differentiated and personalised holistic therapeutic education programmes developed for each pupil focusing on development milestones. When they are ready, we aim for pupils to step down from Create into one of our main school, our Sixth Form, or into mainstream provisions.
Essential requirements to be successful in the role are:
TCES pupils learn at one of our two secondary schools, at our Nurture Primary, through our Create in the Community service or within our National Online School; our Create services support our most complex and vulnerable pupils, with highly differentiated and personalised holistic therapeutic education programmes developed for each pupil focusing on development milestones. When they are ready, we aim for pupils to step down from Create into one of our main school, our Sixth Form, or into mainstream provisions.
To apply:
Please apply by completing an application form. All Shortlisted candidates will need to complete a formal application form and self-disclosure form as per safer recruitment practices in Education.
TCES is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment . click apply for full job details
Safeguarding children and promoting their well-being runs through the heart of our practice as part of the TCES Pillars of Excellence. It is an attitude of mind, a belief system and a way of thinking that places the well-being of our pupils at the forefront of every action.
Policies and systems, such as safer recruitment, behaviour management, child protection and whistleblowing procedures arise out of this belief and are used to promote and sustain it. They are not an end in themselves but are essential tools to support a culture of safeguarding running through the company and to help maintain a company-wide commitment to best practice and legal requirements.
Ultimately, it is our belief that a commitment to safeguarding children and promoting their well-being works to the equal safety and well-being of all staff and other adults whose aim is to promote good education outcomes and future life experiences for young people.
As the company strategic lead on all aspects of safeguarding, the Director of Safeguarding oversees the effective provision of organisational safeguarding arrangements, breaking down and quality assuring all elements of a holistic, compliant and forward-thinking organisation which puts the safeguarding of its pupils and staff at the centre.
At TCES, our safeguarding practices encompass risk assessing, safer recruitment practices, effective staff induction, thematic training, contextualising risks, environments and backgrounds in order to proactively support young people and their families
As Company Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), they provide guidance and direction to school, service and company senior leaders, especially in effective and appropriate multi-agency working. Their oversight of the Assistant Heads of Inclusion (i.e. school-based DSLs) ensures consistent implementation of UK legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, building on the foundations that pupil attendance and stakeholder engagement have a positive impact on the welfare of vulnerable young people.
As a qualified social worker, with prior experience in a senior or executive social work role and extensive experience specific to the education sector, they will support our social workers to maintain social work practice and ethics, focussing on statutory safeguarding processes in schools as outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025. This supervision allows for full embedding and continuous development of the TCES Families and Schools working Together programme (FAST), actively engaging parents/carers in all elements of their child's school life.
The role is designed to operate through strong professional relationships with schools and services, combining support, challenge and oversight to strengthen safeguarding practice rather than displace local leadership
The Complete Education Solution (TCES) is a long-established provider of therapeutic education, supporting neurodiverse children and young people up and down the UK. Our multi-disciplinary teams work together to provide child-centric support, engaging with clinical, educational and social work experts, as well as partnering with our pupils' families.
Starting Salary: £77,232 to £90,240 per annum (TCES Salary Band 2).
Location: TCES Central Services, Wimbledon (with up to 2 days working from home) and travel required to all TCES sites across London.
Contract: Permanent, Full-time.
The Complete Education Solution (TCES)
TCES is an independent social enterprise, providing specialist therapeutic education based in London supporting exceptional neurodiverse children and young people aged 7 to 19 who have special educational needs and disabilities typically associated with autism, social emotional and mental health needs and associated disorders. Most of them will have experienced multiple placement breakdowns and significant trauma, often resulting in behaviour that challenges. On average pupils will have been excluded from other provisions up to three times before reaching us and had significant periods out of education.
TCES pupils learn at one of our two secondary schools, at our Nurture Primary school, through our Create in the Community Outreach service or within our National Online School all supporting highly complex and vulnerable pupils, with highly differentiated and personalised holistic therapeutic education programmes developed for each pupil focusing on development milestones. When they are ready, we aim for pupils to step down from Create into one of our main school, our Sixth Form, or into mainstream provisions.
Essential requirements to be successful in the role are:
- A champion of social work with similar values to ours: Expect the very best from each other; Develop a strong work ethic; Respect and appreciate all difference; Include everyone and exclude no one; Listen to and involve everyone; Never give up on each other!
- Resilient and robust, role modelling outstanding professionalism.
- Be a Qualified Social Worker (with current SWE registration) with senior service management or executive level experience within paediatric social work, MASH Teams, therapeutic or mental health sectors, or as a LADO or Trust-wide Director of Safeguarding.
- Experience of driving high quality safeguarding strategies and initiatives to support best practice with vulnerable and complex groups.
- Proven understanding of safeguarding in education, with a track record of ensuring consistency in all aspects of compliance with legislation, including Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 & Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
- Experience supporting families and carer networks to provide appropriate and safe environments for neurodiverse young people, especially in improving attendance & engagement.
- Proactive and innovative, mentoring team members in other disciplines, whilst also with the ability to work flexibly and independently.
- Experience of coaching staff to improve their practice.
- Competitive remuneration and terms, as well as 38 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays).
- An opportunity to make a real difference and join a leading provider of specialist education, directly contributing towards positive outcomes for pupils with SEMH and ASC.
- A staff team who works tirelessly in the best interests of our young people, with a range of expertise in clinical, inclusion and education.
- A Governing Board and Directorship with executive experience in variety of sectors, as well as a plan for growth over the next 5 years, supporting more children over a greater area.
- Excellent CPD opportunities with all staff provided an individual Learning & Development Plan to support career development, including education qualifications at all levels (QTS / QTLS / NPQs) and options to take progressive Ofqual registered Level 3 - 5 qualifications in Therapeutic Education.
- Comprehensive induction process, including all pupil-facing staff supported in receiving the Level 3 Award in Therapeutic Education and Group Process.
- Regular half termly staff wellbeing days.
- A range of employee support and wellbeing benefits including our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), counselling and contributions towards medical costs and an exclusive rewards platform.
- Gym & Active Fitness discounts.
- Private pension and health schemes.
TCES pupils learn at one of our two secondary schools, at our Nurture Primary, through our Create in the Community service or within our National Online School; our Create services support our most complex and vulnerable pupils, with highly differentiated and personalised holistic therapeutic education programmes developed for each pupil focusing on development milestones. When they are ready, we aim for pupils to step down from Create into one of our main school, our Sixth Form, or into mainstream provisions.
To apply:
Please apply by completing an application form. All Shortlisted candidates will need to complete a formal application form and self-disclosure form as per safer recruitment practices in Education.
TCES is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment . click apply for full job details