Job title: Education Safeguarding Team Support Officer

Salary: C1

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House, Leeds

As an Education Safeguarding Team Support Officer, you’ll thrive on providing first line administration support for the Team Manager and the wider team of Child Protection Training and Support Officers. This will enable the team to continue to provide high quality support for our education settings across the city, thus ensuring children are kept safe and are able to achieve positive outcomes.

It’s not about being in the background, you will be an integral and essential part of a highly successful, established team within children’s services.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About you

As an Education Safeguarding Team Support Officer, you will bring to the role:

· An enthusiasm to support the team in all administration tasks in relation to the service provided to education settings.

· An ability to manage diary bookings and liaise with other teams within the directorate to support the Team Manager.

· An ability to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

· An ability to work using own initiative and to act with confidence.

· An ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

About the role

The role of Education Safeguarding Team Support Officer is an opportunity for you to be able to provide excellent quality administration support for the Team Manager and wider team. This will involve attending regular meetings with other officers, working closely with colleagues at Leeds for Learning to ensure that the team resource and training areas on the platform are up to date, attend training so you can gain an understanding of the work of the Training and Support Officers, and provide essential support for the Team Manager in relation to responding to Ofsted complaints.

As our next Education Safeguarding Team Support Officer, you will be part of a well-established, professional and high-profile team within the children and families directorate, providing support for the team to enable them to continue to provide an excellent quality package of training, auditing and consultation service for our education settings.

The role is integral to our Education Safeguarding Team, and you will be a vital part of ensuring the training packages we deliver are up to date and accessible through the Leeds for Learning platform.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Deborah Jobson, Education Safeguarding Team Manager. Call 0113 3789685 or email Deborah.jobson@leeds.gov.uk .

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2022. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Leeds City Council Job Description

Directorate Children and Families

Service Area Learning Improvement

Job Title Education Safeguarding Team Support Officer

Grade C1

Conditions Of service NJC Terms and Conditions

Responsible To Education Safeguarding Team Manager

Responsible For N/A

Special Conditions this post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

Job Purpose: To support the Education Safeguarding Team to provide safeguarding training support for schools and services as directed by the Education Safeguarding Team Manager in order that they are able to ensure that their safeguarding arrangements are secure and in keeping with national guidance/legislation Keeping Children Safe in Education and local LSCP protocols.

Responsibilities

Work with the education safeguarding team manager in developing the capacity and capability of employees so that the children and families’ service is customer focused and continually improves its restorative culture and service.

Provide first line support for the Child Protection Training and Support Officers

Lead responsibility for managing the Education Safeguarding Team resource and training areas on the Leeds for Learning Platform to ensure schools and services have access to relevant and up to date information which supports safeguarding and compliance with national guidance/legislation and local LSCP protocols.

Support the Education Safeguarding Team Manager in the preparation of reports for a range of audiences

Support the Education Safeguarding Team Manager in setting and monitoring financial targets by attending Business Development Network Meetings and liaising with Leeds for Leaning colleagues and central admin staff as required and providing analysis of traded income progress for senior leadership.

Support the Education Safeguarding Training and support officers to prepare and deliver training, audits, advice, and guidance to the Education sector.

To aid training development and to support delivery of specified courses

Undertake standalone single central record & HR file audits

Support the delivery of a quality advice and support service to the Education Safeguarding Team, schools and services in relation to the Leeds for Learning platform

Select data from several sources to support the work of the Education Safeguarding Team including analysis of financial targets and progress

Manage diary bookings for the Education Safeguarding Team under the supervision of the Team Manager

Produce reports and complete the required documentation for multi-agency meetings on behalf of the Education Safeguarding Team

Support the Team Manager in the investigation and response to Ofsted complaints

Support and liaise closely with the Education Administration Team and Leeds for Learning Team regarding central and ad hoc training

Produce newsletter and bulletins and upload to the Leeds for Learning platform

Conduct preliminary fact finding to support the school safeguarding audit process

Minute take at meetings as required

Liaise with the Team Manager and wider team in order to prioritise work and meet conflicting deadlines

Support colleagues to help improve work organization and effectiveness

Ensure that statutory, corporate and service standards are followed, and performance is recorded, monitored and reported.

Maintain effective relationships with staff at all levels within the directorate, other council directorates, elected members, external agencies and the general public

Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade

P articipate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills

Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.

To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.

Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person

Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.

Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications: GCSE Maths and English,

Person Specification

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Essential Requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

Able to manage, motivate, support and co-ordinate team members.

Able to support the development of a customer focussed service - to monitor, evaluate and improve customer

care

Able to analyse and present complex information

Able to liaise effectively with a wide range of people both within and external to children and families’ services and Leeds City Council

Able to use a range of computer applications

Able to employ excellent organisational and interpersonal skills

Able to manage conflicting priorities and work to tight deadlines

Able to work within a team effectively

Able to work using own initiative, be self-motivating, adaptable and flexible and to plan and work purposefully using own initiative and with the minimum of supervision.

Able to act with confidence and independence to challenge poor practice from schools and other professionals diplomatically.

Able to influence others/personal effectiveness

Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

Able to manage personal learning and development

Knowledge Required

Statutory guidance as detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education, Local Authority Child Protection Procedures, local process as outlined by the LSCP Best Practice Guidance, school systems to support the safeguarding of children and young people

Knowledge and understanding of statutory training requirements in relation to child protection and safeguarding

Knowledge and understanding of the children and families service and Leeds City Council

An in depth understanding of school child protection and safeguarding processes

Experience Required

Working in a safeguarding / administration environment

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.

Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equality & Diversity Policies.

Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.

Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development

Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

Desirable Requirements: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Knowledge Required

Competent in the use of information technology, including word processing and databases

Experience Required

Of working within a multi-disciplinary team

Job Description Content Prepared / Reviewed by:

Name Designation Date

Job Evaluation Undertaken JE Ref

Job description attached