Safeguarding Our Schools Team Manager

Are you a passionate and experienced safeguarding leader dedicated to ensuring the welfare of children and young people within educational settings?

Bracknell Forest Council is seeking an Education Safeguarding Team Manager to provide strategic leadership and expert advice.

This high-profile role involves advising senior leaders and the Bracknell-Forest Safeguarding Board (BFSB) on safeguarding matters, ensuring schools implement robust policies, and fostering a borough-wide culture of best practice in keeping children safe in education.

About you…

You will bring a deep understanding of what it takes to keep children and young people safe and supported, along with a genuine commitment to best practice whilst effectively managing the Safeguarding Team and collaborating with school leaders, headteachers, governors, and multi-agency partners to promote and enable safeguarding, helping children reach their full potential.

You must have significant experience managing staff in safeguarding or child protection roles, a breadth of experience working within school settings, and an in-depth knowledge of statutory guidance like 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' and 'Working Together'. Essential skills include safeguarding supervision, undertaking audits, developing and delivering training, data analysis, and excellent communication and negotiation skills.

You will demonstrate the confidence and professionalism to effectively challenge schools on their safeguarding arrangements, always keeping children’s safety at the heart of everything you do.

About the team…

You will be leading the dedicated Education Safeguarding Team, which includes an Education Safeguarding Officer and Administrator. This team sits within the Education & Learning section, under the Strategic Lead for SEN Specialist Support Services, as part of the wider People Directorate. You will work collaboratively within the council and with external partners to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding for children in Bracknell Forest.

Key responsibilities… 

• Effectively line manage the Education Safeguarding Team, overseeing performance management and professional development.  
• Provide expert safeguarding leadership and advice to the education service, ensuring schools are competent and confident in their safeguarding duties and have robust arrangements in place.  
• Represent education services and provide strategic advice at senior multi-agency safeguarding meetings (e.g., LSCB, MAPPA, MARAC) and contribute to relevant subgroups.  
• Monitor and audit safeguarding arrangements, policies, and procedures within schools, providing support and challenge to ensure compliance and best practice.  
• Design, deliver, and evaluate safeguarding training for school staff, and provide direct advisory support, networking, and supervision for Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Our benefits…

• 28 days* increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. 
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility).
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks. 
• Local government pension scheme.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. 
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities. 
• A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing. 
• Sports and Social Club.
• Staff dental and health plans. 
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership. 
• Supermarket discount. 

*(pro rata for part time)

Our values

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you. 

Our support...

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.  

Interview date 

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question? 

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Oliver May, Strategic Lead SEN Specialist Support Services: 01344 354213

 

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.