Army - Designated Safeguarding Lead & Special Education Needs Coordinator Admin Assistant

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, with responsibility for an annual budget of over £10bn, the Army is a major part of the Ministry of Defence and one of its largest operating centres who employ around 12,000 Civil Servants located at over 300 locations supporting the 110K regular and reserve soldiers across the Army. This Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.

The Army Foundation College trains all Junior Soldiers (JS) under the age of 18 and prepares them for their subsequent Phase 2 Training, an exciting and challenging course programme, which includes military skills, education, adventure training and life skills. We employ a large work force comprising military staff, civil servants, and contractors, all working together to create an exciting and diverse work environment.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Army Foundation College is seeking an enthusiastic, highly organised and proactive Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) /Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) Administrative Assistant to support the College’s vital welfare, safeguarding and Specific Learning Differences (SpLD) provision. This is a key role within a busy, high‑profile environment, providing essential administrative coordination for both the DSL and SENCO. You will help ensure statutory safeguarding obligations are met and that effective, timely support is delivered to both Permanent Staff and Junior Soldiers.Main role responsibilities:

• Ensure that the Army Foundation College complies with statutory Government and Defence regulations for safeguarding and Specific Learning Differences.
• Track safeguarding allegations at the Army Foundation College, referring all cases of any JS to the relevant authority, ensuring that a response is received, recorded and actions tracked.
• Provide oversight on local authority referrals via tracking incoming and outgoing local authority referrals.
• Deliver assurance and responsibility as CPOMS lead reporting to the DSL/SENCo
• Supporting the SENCo to triage, screen and provide interventions for JS with specific learning differences in a timely manner.
• Support the SENCo/DSL in collecting data in order to analyse Army Foundation College trends in safeguarding, Js backgrounds and Specific Learning Difficulties.
• Attend meetings as directed by the SENCo/DSL to note take & carry forward actions in their absence.

Person specification

Essential Skills Required:

• Able to communicate clearly, sensitively, and professionally with staff, Junior Soldiers, and external agencies, especially when dealing with safeguarding matters.
• Accurate recording, tracking, and managing safeguarding and SEN information requires a high level of precision and careful data handling.
• Managing highly confidential safeguarding and personal data, it is essential to act with discretion, professionalism, and sound ethical judgement at all times.
• Work efficiently in a fast‑paced environment, with multiple priorities, referrals, and administrative responsibilities, you need to manage your workload effectively
• Positive team approach working closely with the DSL, SENCo, permanent staff, and external professionals requires collaboration, cooperation
• Safeguarding needs and priorities can change quickly, so the ability to adjust and respond flexibly is essential.

Desirable Skills:

• Previous Designated Safeguard Lead experience Highly Desirable
• Previous Specific Learning Differences experience Highly Desirable
• Awareness of mental health issues
• Awareness of Local Authority Designated Officer & Referral process

Qualifications

NVQ Advice and Guidance Support, or equivalent NVQ 3
Advanced care of Trainees
GCSE English and Maths at Level 4 (or equivalent)
Designated Safeguard Officer qualification

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviour - Communicating & Influencing
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Communicating & Influencing.

Your Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality service will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviour - Communicating & Influencing
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Vivienne Lord
• Email : Vivienne.lord100@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20240307-Army Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)