Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) - Private Mental Health Clinic

Our client requires an experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) ideally with experience working with in an acute Mental Health setting.

Private Clinic in Hertfordshire

Reports To

Clinic Director / Managing Director / Clinical Lead

Role Purpose

To lead and oversee all safeguarding activities at Potters Bar Clinic, ensuring that children, young people, vulnerable adults, and families receiving care are properly protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm. The DSL will act as the primary point of contact for all safeguarding concerns internally and externally, ensure compliance with statutory requirements, coordinate staff training, develop safeguarding policy, and foster a culture of vigilance and safety throughout the clinic.

Key Responsibilities

• Safeguarding Strategy & Policy
• Develop, implement, maintain and review the clinic's safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Ensure that the safeguarding policy is up-to-date with relevant legislation, national guidance (e.g. Working Together to Safeguard Children, Safeguarding Adults), and local statutory procedures.
• Ensure policies are accessible and understood by all staff.
• Point of Contact & Case Management
• Act as the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns or disclosures.
• Receive, assess, record, and manage safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate action is taken.
• Make referrals to statutory agencies (social services, police etc.) when required, and liaise with external bodies.
• Follow-up and monitor outcomes of referrals / investigations.
• Training, Support & Culture Building
• Ensure that all staff (clinical, non-clinical, temporary) receive appropriate safeguarding training/refreshers.
• Provide guidance, advice and support to staff about safeguarding issues, using professional judgement to escalate where necessary.
• Promote a culture of safeguarding awareness - encouraging staff to raise concerns, practise professional curiosity, understanding risk.
• Record-Keeping & Documentation
• Maintain accurate, confidential and secure records of all safeguarding concerns, referrals, actions, outcomes.
• Keep logs of training, incidents, case reviews.
• Ensure data protection and confidentiality requirements are met.
• Monitoring, Audit & Review
• Monitor safeguarding performance: audit compliance, identify trends or recurring issues.
• Undertake regular reviews of safeguarding practices, policies, outcomes.
• Produce reports to senior leadership / governance about safeguarding activities, training, quality improvement needs.
• Compliance & External Liaison
• Ensure the clinic fulfils all statutory and regulatory obligations related to safeguarding (e.g. CQC, national guidance).
• Liaise with Local Safeguarding Children Partnership / Safeguarding Adults Board, Local Authority, police, health services, etc.
• Act as the clinic's lead in multi-agency safeguarding meetings or case conferences, as required.
• Quality Assurance & Professional Development
• Keep up to date with developments in safeguarding legislation, guidance, best practice.
• Attend relevant training, network meetings, or external safeguarding fora.
• Provide or source continued professional development in safeguarding for self and staff.
• Safer Recruitment & Staff Vetting
• Ensure the clinic has robust safer recruitment practices in place (DBS checks, references, etc.).
• Advise or participate in recruitment panels when safeguarding risk considerations are relevant

Apply now.

Key Skills Required:

• Extensive DSL experience
• Fully Compliant
• Available to start asap

In return we will offer you:

Excellent rates of pay

Access to exclusive vacancies

Support and expert advice from an approachable, dedicated and friendly team

Experienced and dedicated compliance consultants

Flexible hours to meet your needs, part or full time

Recommend a Friend bonus scheme

Recommend your friends to The Locum Agency and in return we will pay you £150 per recommendation, once they have worked 150 hours.

Please apply now if you would like to be considered for this position.