Head of Safeguarding

We are seeking a highly experienced and credible Head of Safeguarding to provide strategic leadership and expert guidance across Ark Schools and Ark. Working at the heart of our network, you will partner closely with central teams, Principals, and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) to shape safeguarding policy, practice, and culture. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring schools are equipped to deliver the highest standards of safeguarding, while fostering a proactive and consistent approach across the network.

This is a highly influential role with exposure to a wide range of stakeholders, including board members, senior leaders, governors, school staff, and central office colleagues. You will provide strategic oversight of safeguarding across the network, using data, research, and emerging best practice to drive continuous improvement and inform decision-making. You'll also lead the production of insightful safeguarding reports and analysis, helping to shape network-wide strategy and priorities.

Alongside this strategic responsibility, you will remain closely connected to frontline practice, acting as a trusted adviser on complex safeguarding matters, providing day-to-day guidance, and supporting schools and central colleagues to respond effectively when challenges arise.

• Lead safeguarding compliance across the network, ensuring schools meet statutory requirements and maintain strong safeguarding cultures.
• Act as the network Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), providing expert advice, guidance, and support on safeguarding matters.
• Oversee safeguarding policies, training, and resources, ensuring alignment with current legislation, KCSIE guidance, and best practice.
• Manage safeguarding audits, assurance processes, and reporting, providing insights and recommendations to senior leaders, committees, and trustees.
• Drive the network's safeguarding strategy through the effective use of data, research, and sector best practice.
• Develop safeguarding capability across the organisation by leading DSL networks, delivering training, sharing best practice, and supporting professional development and wellbeing.
• Provide specialist support on complex safeguarding cases and work collaboratively with schools, HR, and central teams to promote safer recruitment and effective safeguarding practice.

• Our flexible working model offers the best of both worlds, balancing in person collaboration, either in our state of the art West London office or through visits to our schools, with the flexibility of remote working.
• In addition to flexible working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad.
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays.
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to.
• Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year.
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke…