Trust Safeguarding Lead

Job Description

Trust Safeguarding Lead
Salary:£45,091 - £48,226 (Scale 10)
Contract:Full Time, 37 hours per week, Full Year
Location:CLP Offices, Chelmsford, with regular travel across Trust academies
Reporting to:Director of Standards & School Improvement
Start Date:ASAP
Closing Date:Friday 14th August 2026 , 12 noon

Lead Safeguarding. Shape Culture. Change Lives.
The Chelmsford Learning Partnership (CLP) is a successful and ambitious multi-academy trust serving communities across Essex. United by our belief thatwe are stronger together, we work collaboratively to provide exceptional educational opportunities while ensuring every child is safe, supported and able to thrive.

We are seeking an outstandingTrust Safeguarding Leadto provide strategic leadership, expert guidance and operational oversight of safeguarding across our family of schools.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding professional to influence practice at Trust level, working alongside Headteachers, Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), senior leaders and external agencies to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection are embedded across all academies.

About the Role
As the Trust's safeguarding expert, you will lead the development of a strong, proactive and compliant safeguarding culture, ensuring that safeguarding remains at the heart of everything we do.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading and shaping the Trust-wide safeguarding strategy and agenda.
Providing expert advice, guidance and professional challenge to DSLs and safeguarding teams across all academies.
Ensuring compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Ofsted expectations.
Leading the Trust's response to changes in safeguarding legislation, policy and guidance.
Delivering high-quality safeguarding training and professional development.
Analysing safeguarding data, trends and vulnerability indicators to identify emerging risks and drive improvement.
Leading Trust-wide safeguarding audits, quality assurance activities and reviews.
Supporting Headteachers with complex safeguarding matters, including low-level concerns and LADO referrals.
Managing and developing safeguarding systems and processes across the Trust.
Building effective partnerships with local authorities, safeguarding partnerships, health services and other external agencies.
Supporting schools before and during Ofsted inspections.
Chairing and developing the Trust Safeguarding Group to share best practice and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.
About You
You will be a highly credible safeguarding professional with substantial experience of safeguarding and child protection practice involving children and young people.

You will bring:

Significant safeguarding experience within education or a related sector.
A thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice.
Experience of supporting vulnerable children, young people and families with complex needs.
Excellent communication, leadership and influencing skills.
Experience of delivering training and supporting professional development.
Strong analytical skills and confidence in using data to drive improvement.
Experience of working effectively with multi-agency partners.
The ability to work strategically whilst responding confidently to operational safeguarding matters.
A commitment to achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people.
Experience of leading safeguarding improvement across multiple settings will be highly advantageous.

Why Join CLP?
At CLP, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and central to our values. This role offers the opportunity to:

Make a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of children and young people.
Influence safeguarding practice across a growing and successful Trust.
Work alongside dedicated school and Trust leaders committed to excellence.
Shape strategy, drive improvement and champion best practice.
Be part of a collaborative organisation that values professional development, wellbeing and innovation.
If you are passionate about safeguarding and have the expertise, vision and determination to help every child feel safe, valued and supported, we would love to hear from you.

Further Information
For further information and details of how to apply, please visit:www.clptrust.comor emailhr@clptrust.com.

Please note:Whilst there is a published closing date for this vacancy, we reserve the right to close the advert early should sufficient applications be received. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged.
The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is committed within its schools to:
The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety, and the spiritual and cultural development of children and young people;
Promoting equality of opportunity and community cohesion where the diversity of different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued;
The fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs
As an equal opportunities employer, The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join The Chelmsford Learning Partnership.

In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on an application form, CVs will not be accepted.  This appointment will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory references. In line with recommended practice the school will conduct searches for information on shortlisted candidates which is publicly available on-line. The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is an equal opportunities employer.

Information about the School

The Chelmsford Learning Partnership (CLP) is an emerging multi-academy trust based in Springfield, Chelmsford. The trust was formerly known as The Boswells Academy Trust but changed name in late 2017 to reflect the growth of the trust beyond one school. There are currently 8 schools across Essex in the CLP multi academy trust.

The schools in the CLP are: Barnes Farm Primary School, Lakelands Primary School, Perryfields Infant School, Roding Valley High School, Rettendon Primary School, Runwell Community Primary School, The Beaulieu Park School, The Boswells School, The Tyrrells Primary School, William de Ferrers School and Woodville Primary School.

The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is committed within its schools to: • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety, and the spiritual and cultural development of children and young people; • Promoting equality of opportunity and community cohesion where the diversity of different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued; • The fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs and expects all staff, volunteers and other workers to share in this commitment.

In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on an application form, CVs will not be accepted. This appointment will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory references. The Chelmsford Learning Partnership is an equal opportunities employer