Job Description

Safeguarding Officer

Salary:

26,690 to 27,577

Hours

: 37 hours per week, during term time plus 10 days.

Start Date:

This is a permanent role starting January 2026.


Outwood Academy Grange has an exciting opportunity for a Safeguarding Officer to join our team. The successful candidate will be a highly self-motivated individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who will play a key role in the ongoing health and welfare of students and staff. You will have experience of working with children and/or families within a safeguarding and child protection environment. A committed team worker, you will carry a caseload and work on your own initiative. Time management skills are essential given the variety of this challenging yet rewarding role. Previous experience of working with children and families and with other agencies and recent experience of social services work in child protection is essential.


This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly motivated and driven individual, you must possess the skills and determination to make a significant difference to the lives of our students. The purpose of this post is to fulfil our responsibility in the safeguarding of our students and enhance the life chances of our students. The successful candidate will possess emotional resilience and the ability to communicate effectively with visitors, staff and students and will be welcoming to all, whilst operating in line with our safeguarding procedures.


The working pattern for this role is Monday to Thursday, 8:00am until 4:00pm and Fridays 8:00am until 3:30pm.


Outwood Grange Academy is a good rated, 11-18 academy based in the cathedral city of Wakefield, near Leeds from where the successful Outwood Grange Family was born; a Trust that has supported 43 schools across phases in the North of England. We have nurtured a school community that is welcoming and friendly, where students and staff can make excellent progress together, with a focus on creating a culture of success, a positive climate for learning, and increased attainment, achievement and social and emotional development. We are also proud to have been awarded Gold Status by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health Award.


Full training and support will be provided to the successful candidate.


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If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role please contact the HR Team on at hr@grange.outwood.com.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - WHAT DO WE OFFER AS AN EMPLOYER?

Outwood Grange Academies Trust supports colleagues by funding an extensive range of accredited training courses and apprenticeship opportunities up to Masters level. We also offer:



Your starting salary with annual increments plus inflation linked increases. The starting salary within the grade advertised will be dependent upon your experience. You will also receive:



A comprehensive induction and training process Automatic enrolment into an increasingly rare and valuable defined Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution rates Flexible family friendly policies from day one Enhanced occupational benefits available (such as maternity, adoption and parental leave) with no qualifying period Holidays: A minimum of 25 days plus bank holidays (this increases with length of service) A range of working patterns are available dependant upon the role Automatic enrolment into our Employee Assistance Programme which gives you and your family members free access to:



Specialist information on a wide range of work-life issues Emotional support and counselling for a wide range of personal and work issues Legal guidance Financial guidance and debt counselling Child and dependent care support and advice Support for managers We are also a wellbeing employer with a dedicated wellbeing strategy and menopause policy along with menopause champions based in our academies. Other benefits include:
Free onsite parking Employee discounts such as competitively priced Synergy Car Leasing Access to various discount sites Outwood Grange Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.



We reserve the right to close advertisements early. Advertisements will therefore close at 12 noon, either on the advertised closing date, or the day the decision has been taken to close the advertisement early.



Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) is an education charity and not-for-profit sponsor of primary, junior and secondary academies. We are a dynamic organisation, recognised nationally as one of the highest performing family of schools in the North of England, and we currently sponsor over 40 schools.



Our educational blueprint has been developed through leading and supporting schools over many years.



We have used this successful blueprint to sponsor academies and have a transformational effect on children's life chances within very quick timescales.



We feel strongly that academies should enhance the education provision of the community they serve, in addition to driving up standards and playing a central role in regeneration. This is because we believe that improving the life chances of young people is essential to developing a strong local and national economy.



We are now comprised of over 40 schools who work together to ensure that all children, irrespective of their starting point, receive an excellent education. We pride ourselves on meeting the needs of children in our care, including the most vulnerable or challenging.