Designated safeguarding lead (DSL): model job description

Download our model job description and person specification for a DSL and adapt it to meet your school's needs.

Last reviewed on 6 February 2024See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 32031
Contents
  1. Model job description and person specification
  2. Requirements
  3. Get more support with The Key Safeguarding

Model job description and person specification

Download and adapt it to reflect the role in your school.

It's based on the requirements in the statutory safeguarding guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (which we look at in the next section).

KeyDoc: model job description and person specification – designated safeguarding lead DOC, 142.0 KB
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Make sure your job advert complies with safeguarding guidance and equality law

You're not required to advertise this position internally or externally, but it's good practice to do so. Find out what you need to include in your job advert for maintained schools and academies to help you recruit safely.

Requirements

Every school should have a designated safeguarding lead (DSL), as set out in paragraph 8 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

Take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems in place) Support staff to carry out their safeguarding duties Liaise closely with