Pastoral and Safeguarding Worker

Safeguarding and Pastoral Welfare Officer

Secondary School Safeguarding, Behaviour and Student Welfare Lead

Responsible for the strategic oversight and day-to-day management of safeguarding, student welfare, pastoral support, behaviour management, and house systems across a large secondary school. Working closely with senior leaders, external agencies, parents, and students to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding, attendance, wellbeing, and educational inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

• Acted as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), managing safeguarding concerns, referrals, risk assessments, and child protection procedures in line with statutory guidance and school policies.
• Led and coordinated all pastoral and welfare support across the school's house system, ensuring effective intervention and support for vulnerable students.
• Managed student behaviour and conduct processes, including investigations, restorative practices, behaviour support plans, exclusions, and reintegration programmes.
• Oversaw attendance, punctuality, and student engagement initiatives, implementing targeted interventions to improve outcomes for at-risk pupils.
• Worked collaboratively with local authorities, social care teams, Early Help services, health professionals, police, and other multi-agency partners to safeguard and support young people.
• Coordinated and monitored Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ensuring statutory requirements were met and students received appropriate educational, social, and emotional support.
• Chaired and participated in annual reviews, Team Around the Family meetings, child protection conferences, CIN meetings, and professional strategy discussions.
• Maintained accurate safeguarding, welfare, and behaviour records using school management and safeguarding systems, ensuring compliance with data protection and statutory reporting requirements.
• Provided guidance and support to teaching staff on safeguarding procedures, behaviour management strategies, student welfare concerns, and pastoral interventions.
• Developed individual support plans, risk assessments, and transition programmes for students with additional needs, social, emotional, and mental health difficulties.
• Managed complex cases involving attendance concerns, mental health challenges, family support needs, child protection matters, and educational inclusion.
• Established strong partnerships with parents and carers, providing advice, support, and signposting to relevant services and agencies.
• Monitored and evaluated safeguarding, welfare, behaviour, and attendance data to identify trends and implement targeted improvement strategies.
• Supported the school's commitment to student wellbeing, equality, inclusion, and positive educational outcomes through proactive pastoral leadership.

Key Achievements

• Successfully coordinated multi-agency support for vulnerable students, improving attendance, engagement, welfare outcomes, and educational progress.
• Developed effective behaviour and pastoral intervention programmes that reduced incidents and promoted positive student conduct.
• Ensured compliance with safeguarding legislation, SEND requirements, EHCP processes, and local authority procedures.
• Strengthened communication between school, families, and external agencies, resulting in enhanced support and improved student outcomes.