Safeguarding Lead

About the School

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a leading GEMS international school in the UAE.

The school provides a high-quality international education to a diverse student community and is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and aspirational environment in which every student can thrive.

As part of GEMS Education, the school benefits from the scale and expertise of one of the world’s leading private education providers, while maintaining a strong individual school culture centred around student wellbeing, academic excellence and continuous improvement.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly committed Designated Safeguarding Lead to join our school and play a key role in ensuring the safety, wellbeing and protection of all students.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership for safeguarding and child protection across the school, working closely with the Principal, Senior Leadership Team, pastoral teams, teachers, families and relevant external agencies.

This is primarily a safeguarding leadership position; however, the successful candidate will retain a reduced teaching timetable and therefore must also be a qualified and experienced teacher.

We are looking for someone with strong professional judgement, excellent interpersonal skills and the confidence to manage sensitive and complex safeguarding matters with discretion, compassion and rigour.

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding & Child Protection

• Lead safeguarding and child protection practice across the school, ensuring the highest standards of student safety and wellbeing.
• Act as the school’s key point of contact for safeguarding and child protection concerns.
• Manage safeguarding referrals, disclosures and concerns appropriately, ensuring timely action, accurate documentation and appropriate escalation.
• Maintain confidential and comprehensive safeguarding records in line with school, GEMS and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team on complex safeguarding and child protection matters.
• Liaise effectively with parents, external agencies and relevant authorities where required.
• Ensure safeguarding policies, procedures and practices remain current, effective and consistently implemented across the school.
• Identify emerging safeguarding trends, risks and areas requiring intervention or additional support.
• Promote a strong culture of safeguarding in which all members of the school community understand that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Training & School Culture

• Deliver and coordinate safeguarding and child protection training for teaching and non-teaching staff.
• Ensure new staff receive appropriate safeguarding induction and understand reporting procedure.
• Provide ongoing guidance and support to colleagues in identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns.
• Support the development of a proactive whole-school culture centred around student safety, wellbeing and protection.
• Keep up to date with developments in safeguarding practice and relevant UAE regulatory requirements.

Teaching & Wider School Contribution

• Undertake a reduced teaching timetable appropriate to the successful candidate’s subject specialism and experience.
• Deliver high-quality teaching and learning in line with the school’s curriculum and expectations.
• Build positive and trusted relationships with students, colleagues and families.
• Contribute to the wider pastoral and professional life of the school.