Aspiring Designated Safeguarding Lead Course

This 3-part course will give you insight into the operational and strategic roles of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The course is aimed at existing Deputy DSLs or pastoral leaders from both the primary and secondary phases who are interested in finding out more about the role of the DSL and are considering pursuing this as a career path. Suitable for teaching and non-teaching staff.

These sessions will focus primarily on the practical challenges and opportunities of being a DSL, making reference to elements of two key documents:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• Working Together to Safeguard Children

Sessions will support participants in deepening their understanding of the breadth and scope of the work of an effective DSL.

SESSION OVERVIEW & COURSE DATES

(Sessions online via Google Meet; Tuesdays from 3.30pm – 4.45pm)

Session 1 – Tues 20th April 2027

• The role of the DSL – what exactly do they do?
• Personal attributes required to do the job
• Safeguarding and Child protection – is there a difference?

Session 2 – Tues 27th April 2027

• Providing Early Help
• Principles of working with External Agencies
• Insight into the Safeguarding Partnership

Session 3 – Tuesday 4th May 2027

• Managing pupil safeguarding files
• Understanding the range and purpose of professionals meetings

There will be opportunities for discussion throughout each session.

Please note – This is a 3-part course and participants are encouraged to attend all three sessions to gain the full benefit.

Facilitation:

This course will be facilitated by experienced colleagues from the River Learning Trust.

Barb Timms is a secondary teacher and former Deputy Head with over 30 years’ experience, specialising in pastoral care, safeguarding and supporting vulnerable children.

Kim Young has over 20 years’ experience supporting vulnerable students and ensures DSLs and pastoral staff have the guidance needed for excellent safeguarding.

*This 3-part series is funded for colleagues working in River Learning Trust schools.
For OTSA Partner Schools, the cost is £66.90 per person. For non-partners, the cost is £128.93 per person (Eventbrite fees are included).

Most schools and trusts run their own CPD programmes. This programme is being run by River Learning Trust with places offered to colleagues in other schools in partnership with OTSA. Do you have any spare places on school or trust led events/programmes that you would open up to colleagues in other schools? If so, please get in touch (info@otsa.org.uk).

Payment

Payment is required at the time of booking by credit card, debit card or Paypal. Unless otherwise stated, a ticket gives admission to one person at face-to-face and online events. In the event that you share an online event link with other people who then attend the event, including sharing your screen, or you arrive at a venue without a ticket and we are able to admit you, we will invoice you or your organisation for additional tickets retrospectively.

Refunds

No refunds will be given with less than 30 days notice.

In the event of a refund request, please note that the Eventbrite booking fee of 6.95% plus 0.59p per ticket is not refundable.

To keep our event fees as low as possible, we are not able to issue invoices for payment by cheque or bank transfer and we are not able to reserve places without payment.

We strongly recommend that you take out ‘event ticket insurance’ which may cover the cost of your fee should you be unable to attend the event.