Role-specific guidance for the school or college DSL. KCSiE 2025 expectations, record-keeping, multi-agency referrals, and how to hold the line on safeguarding conversations.
As a Designated Safeguarding Lead, you sit at the centre of your setting's safeguarding system. Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 places you first in line for any concern about a child, with statutory responsibility for records, referrals, and liaison with the local authority. This guide is written for the realities of the role: holding difficult conversations, deciding when a concern crosses the threshold, and using systems such as CPOMS or MyConcern in a way that stands up to inspection. It is not a substitute for your annual DSL training, but a practical companion you can return to between cases.
Under KCSiE 2025, the DSL has lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring standards). When a referral is mishandled, when a child goes missing from education (CME), or when an allegation against a staff member is delayed, it is the DSL's record and reasoning that will be scrutinised. A confident, well-resourced DSL means earlier referrals, fewer missed children, and better outcomes.
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