How to Become a School Safeguarding Officer
The Role of a School Safeguarding Officer
Every organisation that regularly works with children must have a designated Safeguarding Officer to ensure there is someone whose primary responsibility is safeguarding and child protection. While all staff members in an organisation share the responsibility of ensuring the children in their care are safe and well-cared for, the Safeguarding Officer has additional duties. They oversee the safety and well-being of children involved with the organisation, ensuring that legal requirements are met and that appropriate actions are taken when needed.
- Write safeguarding reports in a non-judgemental way
- Write care plans and arrange proper support for vulnerable children
- Carry out safeguarding risk assessments
- Record keeping and ensuring your records are accurate and secure
- Work closely with teachers and parents to solve attendance issues
- Monitor progress
- Handle sensitive information
- Follow safeguarding protocol
School Safeguarding Officer
Skills & Requirements
The best way to build the skill set required to become a Safeguarding Officer is by completing a Safeguarding Officer training course.
Not only will this training provide you with a certified qualification that you can showcase to potential employers, but it will also give you the opportunity to thoroughly explore the role of a Safeguarding Officer, helping you determine if it’s a career path you’d like to pursue.
- The Ability to be Sensitive and Understanding
- Active Listening Skills
- The Ability to Work Well Under Pressure
- Excellent People Skills
- The Ability to Stay Calm and Focussed
- Counselling Skills
School Safeguarding Officer Salary
The average safeguarding officer salary in the United Kingdom is £27,892 per year or £14.30 per hour.
Entry level positions start at £24,026 per year while most experienced workers make up to £37,953 per year.
School Safeguarding Officer
Working Hours
As a School Safeguarding Officer, you’ll usually work 37-40 hours a week subject to term times.
Some staff work all year round while some take term holidays.
The summer term stretches from the end of the Easter break to mid-July.
It includes a half term week long holiday in late May.
This is usually the busiest time, with later students sitting their GCSE’s.
The academic school year starts in early September, with the term stretching till Christmas.
The winter term is a half term holiday, usually a week long at the end of October.
Most schools have a 2 week end of term holiday stretching over New Year and Christmas.
This is the spring term and stretches from early January to Easter.
Easter usually falls on a different weekend each year, so the end of term two-week break can be either early April or late March.
This term also included a week-long half term break, usually in mid-February.
School Safeguarding Officer Career Progression
With experience, you could become a lead officer, co-ordinating the work of your organisation’s child protection team. You could also work for safeguarding partnerships between local authorities, schools, health bodies, charities and social services. With further training and experience, you could become a children’s services inspector or a self-employed consultant, delivering training and advising organisations on child protection policies and regulations.
- Education Welfare Officer
- Child Protection Officer
- SEN Teaching Assistant
- Youth Worker
- Social Worker