Safeguarding Officer – Interim Provision Service

Do you want to help safeguard vulnerable children and young people who are currently outside of a traditional school setting? If you do, this is an opportunity to play a key role in strengthening safeguarding oversight within East Sussex County Council’s Interim Provision Service.

The Interim Provision Service coordinates education and support for children and young people who do not currently have an appropriate school placement. Provision is delivered through a distributed model, including IPS centres, tutors and commissioned alternative providers.

As Safeguarding Officer, you will provide dedicated operational safeguarding oversight across the service. You will help ensure safeguarding information is gathered, reviewed, recorded and acted upon consistently, and that safeguarding risk is monitored and escalated appropriately.

You will work closely with IPS managers, schools, providers, Brokerage, Social Care, Early Help, health professionals and other partner services. The role will include oversight of vulnerable pupil monitoring, welfare checks, attendance as a safeguarding indicator, provider safeguarding concerns, training compliance, and safeguarding audit activity.

This is a newly created post, developed in response to the significant growth of the service and the increasing safeguarding responsibilities associated with children and young people who are not currently accessing education through a mainstream school placement.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have knowledge of safeguarding and child protection practice within education or children’s services
• Have experience of safeguarding systems, recording, escalation and monitoring
• Understand safeguarding responsibilities in alternative provision or non-school contexts
• Can analyse safeguarding information and identify patterns, risks and concerns
• Communicate clearly and confidently with professionals, providers and partner agencies

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

To apply for this role, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above and upload your CV and a Supporting Statement. We will be using your Supporting Statement to shortlist so please explain how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification, drawing on relevant work experience, education, training, volunteering or personal interests.

You should give particular attention to your experience of safeguarding practice, multi-agency working, working with vulnerable children and young people, and using systems or processes to monitor, record and escalate concerns.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI.

Interviews will take place in person at County Hall in Lewes. Interviews are expected to take place on 25 June 2026.

If you are unavailable on this date, please let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date to interview you.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

This is a rare opportunity to shape and strengthen safeguarding practice in a growing service supporting some of the county’s most vulnerable children and young people. You will help build systems, processes and assurance arrangements that make a direct difference to children’s safety, wellbeing and access to education.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

Vocational training through apprenticeships is available to our staff, ranging from entry level to degree level qualifications. You can talk to the hiring manager and the apprenticeship team about what qualifications would be relevant to you and this job role, and whether apprenticeship training can be supported.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Hamish Gale ([email protected])

For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!

“I’ve worked with the council for over 10 years, and I stay here because I find it really rewarding. I know that I’m making a difference.” - Joe, Information Analyst

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record. Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.