We are seeking a committed, experienced and passionate Assistant Head Teacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to join our specialist SEN school, supporting pupils through an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Verbal Behaviour (VB) approach. You must be enthusiastic about improving the lives of pupil’s with Autism and their families and be committed to learning and developing your own skills and abilities.
This is a key leadership role, combining strategic school improvement responsibilities with the operational leadership of safeguarding. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the highest standards of education, behaviour support, and pupil welfare. In addition, as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), to take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the school in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and local safeguarding partnership procedures.
Assistant Head Teacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead will use, develop and share knowledge and understanding of ABA/VB approaches and methodology within all teaching opportunities and ensure that personal knowledge of ABA/VB is kept up to date and share expertise with staff.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
Build positive and respectful relationships across the school community
Create a culture where pupils experience a positive and enriching school life
Uphold educational standards in order to prepare pupils from all backgrounds for their next phase of education and life
Encourage high standards of behaviour from pupils, built on rules and routines that are understood by staff and pupils and clearly demonstrated by all adults in school
Use consistent and fair approaches to managing behaviour, in line with the school’s behaviour policy
Make sure the school works effectively with parents, carers and professionals to identify additional needs, and provide support and adaptation where appropriate Make sure the school fulfils statutory duties regarding the SEND Code of Practice.
Use valid, reliable and proportionate approaches to assessing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the curriculum
Lead, model, and promote high-quality teaching and learning across the school
Support curriculum development and assessment practices
Monitor and evaluate standards of teaching and pupil progress in designated areas
Establish and oversee systems, processes and policies so the school can operate efficiently
Ensure staff and pupils’ safety and welfare through effective approaches to safeguarding, as part of duty of care
Ensure rigorous approaches to identifying, managing and mitigating risk
Identify problems and barriers to school effectiveness, and develop strategies for school improvement that are realistic, timely and suited to the school’s context
Performance manage middle leaders, including carrying out appraisals and holding staff to account for their performance
Manage staff well with due attention to workload
Ensure staff have access to appropriate, high-standard professional development opportunities
Seek training and continuing professional development to meet their own needs
Work with the board of trustees as appropriate
Ensure the school effectively and efficiently operates within the regulatory frameworks and meets all statutory duties
Take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including online safety, in accordance with KCSIE and school policies
Manage referrals to children’s social care, the Channel programme, and other relevant agencies
Liaise with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and other safeguarding partners as appropriate
Maintain accurate, confidential, and secure safeguarding records and ensure effective information sharing with staff and external agencies
Lead, train, and support the safeguarding team, including Deputy DSLs
Provide staff training and updates on safeguarding matters and ensure all staff understand their safeguarding duties
Advise and support staff on child welfare and safeguarding concerns
Ensure safeguarding is embedded in the school’s culture, curriculum, and policies
Act as a Mental Health and Well Being Senior Lead across the school, managing the team of mental health leads and ensuring wellbeing of staff and pupils at all times is the highest priority
Oversee transition opportunities to post 16 provision
Undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the Headteacher
Take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including online safety, in accordance with KCSIE and school policies
Manage referrals to children’s social care, the Channel programme, and other relevant agencies
Liaise with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and other safeguarding partners as appropriate
Maintain accurate, confidential, and secure safeguarding records and ensure effective information sharing with staff and external agencies
Lead, train, and support the safeguarding team, including Deputy DSLs
Provide staff training and updates on safeguarding matters and ensure all staff understand their safeguarding duties
Advise and support staff on child welfare and safeguarding concerns
Ensure safeguarding is embedded in the school’s culture, curriculum, and policies
Report regularly to the Headteacher and Governors on safeguarding matters
Act as a Mental Health and Well Being Senior Lead across the school, managing the team of mental health leads and ensuring wellbeing of staff and pupils at all times is the highest priority
Oversee work-related learning opportunities
Uphold the ethos, values, and policies of the school
Engage in professional learning and keep up to date with statutory safeguarding guidance
Undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the Headteacher
Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Assistant Head Teacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead will carry out. The post holder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
Work Location: In person
The school reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the published end date should it receive sufficient applications to warrant earlier shortlisting.
Snowflake school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.