# What is a designated safeguarding lead (DSL)? Source page: https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/dsl Last updated: 2026-10-20 Publisher: Pupil Protect (Glacier Labs Ltd) > A designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is the senior member of staff who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection in a school or college, including online safety. Keeping children safe in education says every school should have one, appointed from the leadership team. They should be trained at least every two years, refresh their knowledge at least once a year, and they or a deputy should be available during school hours in term time. ## The role in one line The designated safeguarding lead takes **lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection** in the school or college. Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) says this includes online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems in place, and that it should be written into the role holder's job description. KCSIE is statutory guidance. Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it. The current version is KCSIE 2026, which came into force on 1 September 2026. In it, the role of the DSL is set out in **Annex B**. In KCSIE 2025 and earlier, the same annex was Annex C. ## Who can be the DSL Governing bodies and proprietors should appoint "an appropriate senior member of staff, from the school or college leadership team" to the role. KCSIE says: - the DSL should have the status, authority, skills and experience to carry out the role - the role carries a significant level of responsibility, so the DSL should be given the extra time, funding, training, resources and support they need - it is not appropriate for the proprietor of a school to be the DSL - where a school has a sole proprietor, steps should be taken so the DSL can carry out the role with enough independence, particularly when dealing with allegations ## What the DSL does Annex B groups the DSL's work into a few areas. ### Managing referrals The DSL is expected to refer cases: - of suspected abuse and neglect to local authority children's social care, and support staff who make referrals - to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation concern - to the Disclosure and Barring Service where a person is dismissed or leaves because of risk or harm to a child - to the police where a crime may have been committed ### Working with others The DSL is the main source of support, advice and expertise on safeguarding for all staff, and the point of contact with the local safeguarding partners. They keep the headteacher informed, especially about section 47 enquiries and police investigations. They liaise with the case manager and the local authority designated officer (LADO) when a concern is about a member of staff. They also work with the SENCO, the senior mental health lead, pastoral staff and IT staff. KCSIE also gives the DSL a lead role in **promoting the educational outcomes** of children who have or have had a social worker: knowing who they are, understanding their progress, and helping teachers support them. ### Child protection files The DSL is responsible for making sure child protection files are kept up to date, stored securely and only seen by those who need to see them. When a child moves school, the DSL should make sure the file is transferred separately from the main pupil file, within 5 days for an in-year transfer or within the first 5 days of the start of a new term, and that receipt is confirmed. ### Raising awareness The DSL should make sure all staff can find and understand the child protection policy, that the policy is reviewed at least once a year, and that it is available publicly so parents know referrals may be made. ## Deputy DSLs Each school decides whether to have one or more deputy DSLs. KCSIE says any deputy should be **trained to the same standard** as the DSL, and the role should be explicit in their job description. The DSL can delegate activities to trained deputies, but "the ultimate lead responsibility for child protection" stays with the DSL and should not be delegated. ## Training: every two years, refreshed every year KCSIE sets two timescales for the DSL and any deputies: 1. **Formal training updated at least every two years.** This should give them a good understanding of their own role, the assessment process for Family Help and statutory intervention, how child protection conferences work, information sharing, the Prevent duty, online safety and the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities. The DSL and deputies should also undertake Prevent awareness training. 2. **Knowledge and skills refreshed at least once a year.** This might be through e-bulletins, meeting other DSLs, or "simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments". KCSIE does not use the term "Level 3". It is a common name for DSL training courses, but the guidance sets out what the training should cover rather than naming a level. ## Being available During term time, the DSL or a deputy should always be available during school or college hours for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns. KCSIE says this would generally be in person, but that each school, working with its DSL, decides what "available" means and whether phone or video calls are acceptable in exceptional circumstances. Schools also arrange cover for out-of-hours and out-of-term activities. KCSIE 2026 adds that schools should put **cover arrangements** in place for when the DSL is away through illness, leave or other reasons. It gives a confidential shared mailbox, or an equivalent system, as an example of a way to make sure concerns are received and acted on without delay. If, exceptionally, neither the DSL nor a deputy is available, KCSIE says this should not delay action. Staff should speak to a member of the senior leadership team or take advice from children's social care, and tell the DSL as soon as they can. ## Questions **Does every school have to have a designated safeguarding lead?** Yes. Keeping children safe in education says every school and college should have a designated safeguarding lead, and that governing bodies and proprietors should appoint an appropriate senior member of staff from the leadership team to the role. **Does the DSL have to be on the senior leadership team?** Keeping children safe in education says the DSL should be an appropriate senior member of staff from the school or college leadership team, with the status and authority to carry out the role. It also says it is not appropriate for the proprietor of a school to be the DSL. **How often does DSL training need to be done?** The DSL and any deputies should have formal training that is updated at least every two years. On top of that, they should refresh their knowledge and skills at regular intervals and at least once a year, for example through e-bulletins, meeting other DSLs or reading about new developments. **Can a deputy DSL do everything the DSL does?** The DSL can delegate activities to deputies who are trained to the same standard, but the lead responsibility for child protection stays with the DSL and should not be delegated. **Does the DSL have to be on site all the time?** During term time the DSL or a deputy should always be available during school or college hours for staff to discuss concerns. This is usually expected to be in person, but each school decides with its DSL what available means and whether phone or video calls are acceptable in exceptional circumstances. ## Sources - [Keeping children safe in education 2026 (DfE, statutory guidance, in force from 1 September 2026): Annex B, Role of the designated safeguarding lead, and Part two, paragraphs 127 to 131](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ac3c09c11ed58342ad8e4ac/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2026.pdf) - [Keeping children safe in education: GOV.UK page listing the current version](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2) - [Working together to safeguard children 2026 (DfE, statutory guidance)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2) ## Related - [DSL training dates](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/tools/dsl-training-dates): Work out when your DSL team's training and annual refresh are due. - [Safeguarding and DSL jobs](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/jobs/role/safeguarding): DSL, deputy DSL and safeguarding roles in schools in England. - [How to become a DSL](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/guides/how-to-become-a-dsl) ## In Pupil Protect Pupil Protect Staff keeps your staff training records. Its reports show when each member of the DSL team last trained and when their refresh is due, two years on. [See how Staff tracks training](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/staff)