Pastoral Manager and DSL

About the role

As Pastoral Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead, you will play a central role in promoting the welfare, safety, attendance, behaviour and emotional wellbeing of all pupils across the school.

You will lead the operational management of safeguarding procedures, behaviour systems and pastoral support, ensuring that pupils receive effective, responsive and compassionate support tailored to their individual needs. Working closely with the Deputy Headteacher, SLT and wider pastoral team, you will contribute to a culture of high expectations, inclusion, relational practice and positive outcomes for all pupils.

The successful candidate will act as the school’s operational DSL and will maintain accurate safeguarding systems, coordinate interventions, liaise with external agencies and support staff in implementing effective safeguarding and behaviour practices.

• Lead the operational management of safeguarding across the school.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead in accordance with statutory guidance and school policies.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and timely safeguarding records and systems.
• Manage safeguarding referrals and liaise with children’s services, external agencies and professional stakeholders.
• Chair safeguarding, behaviour and multi‑agency meetings where appropriate.
• Support the Deputy Headteacher in implementing safeguarding, behaviour and attendance strategies across the school.
• Promote a culture of vigilance, safety and safeguarding throughout the school community.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are responded to effectively, proportionately and in a timely manner.
• Monitor safeguarding trends and analyse safeguarding, attendance and behaviour data to identify priorities and patterns.
• Lead operational behaviour systems and support staff in implementing consistent relational and restorative approaches.
• Co‑ordinate pastoral interventions and positive behaviour support plans for pupils.
• Support pupils experiencing emotional dysregulation, anxiety or barriers to learning.
• Work closely with the Positive Behaviour Support Lead and Attendance Support Worker to ensure joined‑up pastoral provision.
• Provide support and guidance to families regarding safeguarding, attendance, wellbeing and behaviour matters.
• Liaise effectively with parents/carers, social workers, CAMHS, local authorities and external professionals.
• Support the development and implementation of individual risk assessments and behaviour support strategies.
• Promote pupil wellbeing, engagement, attendance and positive relationships across the school.
• Contribute to staff training relating to safeguarding, behaviour, wellbeing and relational practice.
• Ensure the school remains compliant with statutory safeguarding responsibilities and best practice guidance.

The Lion Works School is a specialist setting that meets the needs of secondary‑age students who are all individuals, have a range of interests, have talents and also have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition or a need that presents similarly.

We are looking to appoint an experienced, compassionate and highly organised Pastoral Manager with Designated Safeguarding Lead responsibility to support the operational leadership of safeguarding, behaviour and attendance across the school.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and developing school and become a key member of the wider pastoral team. The successful candidate will work closely with the Deputy Headteacher, who has strategic oversight of safeguarding, behaviour and attendance, to ensure that all pupils are safe, supported and able to thrive both emotionally and academically.

The successful candidate will lead and coordinate pastoral systems across the school, working collaboratively with families, external agencies and staff to ensure consistently high standards of safeguarding, behaviour support and pupil wellbeing.

The Lion Works School will seek to ensure that all existing and potential employees and students are given equal opportunities for employment and education. It is committed to the elimination of unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of sex, age,…