Designated safeguarding lead (DSL)

Designated safeguarding lead

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Contract Type: Permanent, full-time, Term time only

Hours: 40 Hours per week

Actual annual salary: Up to £34,361.52

Start Date: January 2026 (or as soon as possible after)

Aurora Vincent House School

We have recently opened as a new SEND Secondary School in the heart of Horsham, West Sussex for young autistic people aged 11-16. Most of our students are coming to us from mainstream education to have access to an adapted National Curriculum delivered in small classes with a focus on meeting their sensory needs and support for their emotional wellbeing. 

The Role:

This is a fulltime role committed to safeguarding our vulnerable students. You will be integral to building an effective safeguarding culture where all staff are confident and proficient in all aspects of safeguarding concerns. You will be supported by a wider safeguarding team and an SLT who prioritise child protection and safeguarding. As well as DSLs/DDSLs we also welcome applicants whose safeguarding experience has come from roles other than in school.

This is an exciting opportunity within senior leadership where you would be integral to setting up a unique SEND provision and building a bespoke curriculum with the support of Aurora. You would be part of a larger pastoral team too where you would lead on family liaison. You would support and monitor tutor group teams to ensure effective communication with home and you would have dedicated time to train staff.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of Vincent House School when required. Please see below for the full job description:

Job Description - Designated safeguarding lead

Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate:  

• An excellent understanding of safeguarding
• Tenacity, integrity, resourcefulness, resilience and a growth mindset
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a range of disciplines
• Commitment to understanding the dynamics between neurodivergence and safeguarding
• Previous successful support of neurodivergent students
• Experience of supporting families

It is also preferable for candidates to have experience:

• of working in an education provision
• supporting students with high anxiety or experiencing mental health difficulties

It is desirable for candidates to have:

• L3 in working with children and young people
• Qualifications in behavioural approaches, psychology or social work

Candidates must:

• be fully committed to ensuring an outstanding safeguarding culture
• have excellent communication skills for working with families
• have a passion to work in SEND and willingness to keep learning
• be committed to becoming a neuro-informed and neuro-affirmative practitioner

We offer:

• A supportive senior leadership team fully committed to Safeguarding with other DSLs in support.
• The chance to work with, and learn from, an onsite clinical team including a Clinical Psychologist. There are also opportunities to be involved in research that will support our students and the wider neurodivergent community in terms of safeguarding, education and mental health.
• Opportunities to work collaboratively with others schools, forums, local initiatives and a wide range of external agencies.
• A rare opportunity to be part of a team creating a new school and culture that will change the lives of many young people and their families within the community
• It is an exciting time to be part of Aurora and this is a unique career opportunity to make your mark on our growing services

What we Offer:

You will also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Free onsite parking
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease and bike to work schemes
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Private 24 hour GP Service
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more

How to Apply: 

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details.  If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at liz.hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be paused or taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled or we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.