Designated Safeguarding Lead

Job Title: Designated Safeguarding Lead Actual Annual Salary: £35,975 - £38,381 Based on hours and working weeks Full Time Equivalent Salary: £40,958 - £43,697 (CLF Grade F) Based on 37 hours per week, all year round. Contract Type: Permanent Hours: Full-Time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday / Term Time Only plus INSET days + 1 additional week Provisional Start Date: October 2026 A rewarding opportunity to lead safeguarding practice and make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people: We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to take strategic and operational responsibility for safeguarding and child protection within the academy. This pivotal role will lead on the development and implementation of safeguarding policies, procedures, and training, ensuring full compliance with statutory requirements and that safeguarding is embedded at the heart of the academy’s culture. The successful candidate will work closely with senior leadership, staff, external agencies, and families to promote the welfare of children and ensure effective multi-agency collaboration. You will play a critical role in supporting vulnerable students, managing safeguarding concerns, and providing expert advice, training, and guidance to staff. With extensive experience of safeguarding in education and multi-agency working, you will demonstrate strong knowledge of current safeguarding legislation, child protection practices, and issues such as SEMH, trauma, and ACEs. You will be a confident communicator with excellent organisational, analytical, and interpersonal skills, capable of building strong relationships, influencing practice, and driving continuous improvement to achieve positive outcomes for all students. About you: You will have: • Proven safeguarding experience working with children or young people, ideally within education. • Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance (e.g. KCSIE), including child protection and support for vulnerable pupils. • Advanced safeguarding/child protection training and experience of multi-agency working. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and provide advice and training. • Strong organisational and analytical skills, with experience of handling sensitive cases and maintaining accurate records. • A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and improving outcomes for children, with resilience and the ability to manage competing priorities. Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application. About Bristol Brunel Academy: Bristol Brunel Academy is a forward-thinking academy based in Speedwell, Bristol, which is rated 'Good' by Ofsted. We are consistently over-subscribed in every year group and have a positive and growing reputation within our community. The academy celebrates diversity and serves a vibrant multi-cultural in-take, which reflects our local community. Bristol Brunel's leadership and staff are passionate about the development of equality, diversity and inclusion and want this to be reflected throughout the academy, including within the staff team. Our students are proud to attend Bristol Brunel, are excited to learn and are real ambassadors for our community. All of our students benefit from a hugely positive and supportive learning environment and contemporary facilities. Why work at CLF? We are a diverse and inclusive community of 37 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others. We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters. Over 49% of the students who attend Bristol Brunel Academy are from global majority groups, so we particularly encourage applicants from those groups in order to represent the students we serve, as well as wider underrepresented groups including gender, transgender, age disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered. What we can offer you: • Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). • Generous annual leave. • A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities. • Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme. • Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs. • A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay. • Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more! Recruitment timeline: Closing Date: 13 September 2026 @11.59pm Short-listing: 14 September 2026 Interviews: To be confirmed We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment. As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form. We are unable to offer sponsorship with this role. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.    As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.