A deputy designated safeguarding lead (deputy DSL) is a trained member of staff who shares the day-to-day safeguarding work in a school or college and covers the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) role when the DSL is not available. Under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, in force since 1 September 2026, deputies should be trained to the same standard as the DSL and the role should be written into their job description. The DSL can delegate activities to a deputy, but the lead responsibility for child protection stays with the DSL and should not be delegated.
At a glance: Nexis CPD offers a £9 CPD-accredited online Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children) course — 100% online, with an instantly emailed, employer-verifiable certificate. Any three courses cost £18, and teams of 5 or more pay £6 a course place.
General information, not legal advice — if a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Always follow your setting’s child protection policy and your local safeguarding partnership’s procedures. This guide covers England unless we say otherwise.
What is a deputy designated safeguarding lead?
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 is the statutory guidance that schools and colleges in England must have regard to. It deals with deputies in two places. Paragraph 130 says “Any deputy (or deputies) should be trained to the same standard as the designated safeguarding lead.” Annex B, “Role of the designated safeguarding lead” (it was Annex C in the 2025 edition), adds that “the role should be explicit in their job description” and sets the limit on what a deputy can take on:
“Whilst the activities of the designated safeguarding lead can be delegated to appropriately trained deputies, the ultimate lead responsibility for child protection, as set out above, remains with the designated safeguarding lead, this lead responsibility should not be delegated.”
In practice, a deputy DSL is a second, fully trained safeguarding expert in the building. KCSIE repeatedly says “the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy)”, and paragraph 9 says the DSL “(and any deputies)” are “most likely to have a complete safeguarding picture within education”. The DSL keeps overall accountability.
This guide is about the deputy. For the DSL role itself, read our guide to the designated safeguarding lead; for how KCSIE is organised, see KCSIE explained.
Does every school need a deputy DSL?
Not by law. KCSIE leaves the decision to the school: “It is a matter for individual schools and colleges as to whether they choose to have one or more deputy designated safeguarding leads.” Every school and college should have a DSL (paragraph 8), but a deputy is optional.
The availability rules make a deputy close to essential for most settings, though. Annex B says that during term time the DSL “(or a deputy) should always be available (during school or college hours) for staff in the school or college to discuss any safeguarding concerns”. One person cannot meet that alone.
KCSIE 2026 also adds a new expectation, at paragraph 129 and in Annex B: schools “should implement robust cover arrangements for periods when the designated safeguarding lead is unavailable due to illness, leave, or other circumstances”. It suggests “a confidential shared mailbox or equivalent system to ensure that safeguarding concerns are received, monitored, and acted upon without delay”. A shared inbox helps, but it does not replace a trained person who can make a decision.
How many deputies you need depends on size, sites and opening hours. A small primary may have one, often the headteacher. A large secondary, split-site school or college may have one per site or key stage.
What does a deputy DSL do day to day?
Annex B lists the DSL’s activities: managing referrals, working with others, managing the child protection file, raising awareness and supporting staff. Because these can be delegated, a deputy’s week usually includes:
- Taking concerns from staff. Paragraph 59 tells all staff to “speak to the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy)” if they have a concern. The deputy listens, checks existing records and makes sure nothing waits.
- Deciding next steps. Paragraph 60 sets out the options: support inside the school, a Family Help assessment, or a referral to statutory services. Deputies usually take routine decisions and discuss complex cases with the DSL.
- Making referrals. To children’s social care, to the police where a crime may have been committed, to the Channel programme for radicalisation concerns and to the Disclosure and Barring Service where required, telling the DSL promptly.
- Keeping records. Writing up concerns, decisions and actions in the child protection file.
- Multi-agency work. Attending strategy discussions, child protection conferences and Family Help meetings, or supporting colleagues to attend.
- Talking to parents and carers. Annex B asks the DSL to “promote supportive engagement with parents and/or carers”; deputies often have these conversations, unless doing so would put the child at risk.
- Supporting staff. Helping colleagues through referrals and delivering parts of staff training.
- Specific issues. Leading the response to reports of child-on-child sexual violence or harassment (paragraph 553 says “the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy) should lead the school or college’s response”), Prevent concerns, children missing education and female genital mutilation.
- Cover. Being the named contact when the DSL is off site or on leave.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children) course works through these tasks, from thresholds and referrals to allegations against staff and record keeping, so it suits a new deputy as well as a DSL. For how schools respond to concerns between pupils, see what child-on-child abuse is; for support below the statutory threshold, see early help in safeguarding.
What is the difference between a DSL and a deputy DSL?
Most of the daily work is the same. The differences are about accountability, seniority and who has the final say.
| Area | Designated safeguarding lead | Deputy DSL |
|---|---|---|
| Is the role required? | Yes, in every school and college | No, the school decides (paragraph 130) |
| Seniority | “An appropriate senior member of staff, from the school or college leadership team” (paragraph 127) | Not specified; the role must be explicit in the job description |
| Lead responsibility for child protection | Holds it, and should not delegate it | Carries out delegated activities |
| Training | Updated at least every two years, plus Prevent awareness training | Same standard as the DSL |
| Knowledge refresh | At least annually | At least annually |
| Taking staff concerns | Yes | Yes |
| Referrals to social care, police, Channel | Yes | Yes, keeping the DSL informed |
| Child protection files | Responsible for ensuring they are kept up to date | Adds records, follows the DSL’s system |
| Online safety, filtering and monitoring | Lead responsibility; supports the annual review | Supports, as delegated |
| Availability | The DSL or a deputy during term-time school hours | Provides the cover that makes this possible |
What responsibilities can’t be delegated to a deputy DSL?
KCSIE says the “lead responsibility for child protection” should not be delegated. Paragraph 127 describes it as “lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems and processes in place)”. In practice, this means the DSL remains accountable for:
- The overall safeguarding picture. Knowing which cases are open and whether actions are being completed.
- The child protection files. Annex B says “the designated safeguarding lead is responsible for ensuring that child protection files are kept up to date”, and that files are transferred to a new school within five days of an in-year transfer, or within the first five days of a new term.
- Online safety and filtering and monitoring. Paragraph 173 says the yearly review of filtering and monitoring should be “carried out by the SLT member responsible for filtering and monitoring, with the support of the school’s designated safeguarding lead and IT support”.
- Liaison with the head and governors. Informing the headteacher about section 47 enquiries and police investigations, and working with governors on the annual child protection policy review.
- Quality of decisions. Checking the deputy’s decisions, especially where a referral was not made, and making sure the rationale is recorded.
Delegation is expected. What should not happen is a DSL who no longer knows what is happening because the deputies do all the work.
Who should be a deputy DSL?
KCSIE sets two conditions for deputies: training to the same standard as the DSL, and the role written into their job description. It does not say a deputy must be a senior leader or a teacher, so weigh these practical points:
- Authority. A deputy may have to challenge a colleague or call children’s social care without parental consent. Someone with standing finds that easier, which is why many schools choose a deputy head, assistant head or head of year.
- Availability. A deputy with a full teaching timetable cannot leave a lesson to take a disclosure. Pastoral leads and learning mentors are often more reachable.
- Working patterns. Plan cover around part-time days, so the DSL and deputy are not both away on the same day. On a split site, put a trained deputy on each site.
- Capacity. A SENCO or senior mental health lead brings useful knowledge, but piling roles on one person makes cover fragile.
- Independence. Paragraph 127 says it is “not appropriate for the proprietor to be the designated safeguarding lead”. Where a school has a sole proprietor, footnote 31 says steps should be taken so the DSL can act “with sufficient independence”, which may include written confirmation that the role involves contacting the local authority designated officer (LADO). Apply the same thinking to deputies.
Whoever is chosen, paragraph 124 says information about “the role and identity of the designated safeguarding lead (and deputies)” should be given to all staff at induction. If staff cannot name the deputy, the deputy cannot help them.
What training does a deputy DSL need?
The same as the DSL. Annex B says the DSL “(and any deputies) should undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role” and that “this training should be updated at least every two years”. They should also complete Prevent awareness training, which our guide to Prevent training requirements covers.
KCSIE lists what that training should cover, including the assessment process for Family Help and statutory intervention, child protection conferences, the lasting impact of trauma, the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and young carers, information sharing, and online safety.
On top of formal training, knowledge should be refreshed “at regular intervals, as required, and at least annually”. KCSIE suggests this “might be via e-bulletins, meeting other designated safeguarding leads, or simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments”. Keep a record of each refresh with your certificates.
Who provides the training? KCSIE does not name a provider. It says staff training should be “in line with any advice from local safeguarding partners” (paragraph 153), and that DSLs and deputies should “make themselves aware of and follow their local arrangements” (paragraph 136). Many local partnerships and local authorities run DSL courses and expect DSLs and deputies to attend, because they cover local thresholds and referral routes that no national course can. Check what yours expects.
An online course is useful alongside that: it builds underpinning knowledge, gives a new deputy a structured start and leaves a dated CPD record. But it does not, by itself, make anyone a DSL or deputy; the governing body or proprietor appoints them. Our guide to safeguarding training requirements explains where levels 1, 2 and 3 come from, and CPD requirements for teachers covers recording it.
How should a DSL and deputy DSL share information and hand over?
Most failures between a DSL and a deputy are communication failures, such as a concern logged on Friday that nobody reads until Tuesday. A few habits prevent most of them:
- One recording system. Use a single secure system, paper or electronic, so both of you see the same chronology.
- A weekly safeguarding meeting. Go through open cases, new concerns and referrals awaiting an outcome.
- A clear duty rota. Staff should know who is on duty each day, including on trips.
- Handover notes. Before leave, the DSL briefs the deputy on live cases; the deputy briefs back on return.
- Agreed escalation. Write down which decisions a deputy takes alone and which they discuss with the DSL first.
KCSIE 2026 is specific about records. Annex B says “Safeguarding records should be clear, factual, and distinguish between observed concerns, professional opinion, and historic information.” Records should include “a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern”, “details of how the concern was followed up and resolved”, and “a note of any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome”. DSLs and deputies should be able to keep “detailed, accurate, secure written records of all concerns, discussions and decisions made including the rationale for those decisions”, including when a referral was not made.
On information sharing, paragraph 63 is clear: “Data protection laws do not prevent the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children safe”. Separately, from 30 September 2026 a new statutory duty to share information relevant to safeguarding came into force: section 16LA of the Children Act 2004, inserted by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. KCSIE 2026 was written before that date and does not mention it, so ask your local safeguarding partners how it applies to your school and watch for updated Department for Education guidance.
Does a deputy DSL work with the local safeguarding partners?
Yes. The safeguarding partners are the local authority, the integrated care board and the police. They publish local arrangements and the threshold document that tells you when to refer. Paragraph 136 says senior leaders, “especially their designated safeguarding leads and deputies, should make themselves aware of and follow their local arrangements.” Schools named as relevant agencies are under a statutory duty to co-operate with those arrangements (paragraph 135).
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 says most local arrangements include “practitioner forums involving designated safeguarding leads” and education sub-groups. Deputies should join those mailing lists and forums; that is how you hear about local changes.
Deputies also work with the local authority designated officer (LADO) when a concern involves staff. For meetings with parents after a report of child-on-child sexual violence, paragraph 642 says “the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy) would generally attend”.
How can schools support a deputy DSL?
Annex B says the DSL role “carries a significant level of responsibility” and needs “the additional time, funding, training, resources and support they need to carry out the role effectively”. That wording is about the DSL, but deputies do the same work and need the same things. In practice that means:
- Protected time for safeguarding, not just “whenever you are free”.
- Cover for lessons when a deputy has to take a disclosure or attend a conference.
- A quiet room for difficult conversations.
- Access to the recording system and to the DSL.
- A budget for training and local partnership courses.
Safeguarding work takes an emotional toll: deputies hear distressing disclosures and make decisions that affect families. KCSIE 2026 does not set a formal supervision requirement for school DSLs or deputies, but many local authorities offer group supervision or DSL networks. A regular debrief with the DSL and access to an employee assistance programme both help.
Is the deputy DSL role different in early years, colleges and out-of-school settings?
Early years. The EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers, effective from 1 September 2026, says at paragraph 3.4 that “in every setting, a practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children”, and calls that person the designated safeguarding lead. Paragraph 3.32 says the DSL “must attend a training course consistent with the criteria set out in Annex C”, and Annex C says that training should take account of advice from the local safeguarding partners or local authority. The EYFS does not mention a deputy DSL. The “named deputy” it refers to (paragraph 3.45) is the manager’s deputy, which is a different role. Paragraph 3.35 requires “appropriate arrangements” for the supervision of staff. Many nurseries still train a second person to DSL level for cover. See our guide to early years training requirements.
Further education and sixth-form colleges. KCSIE applies to colleges in the same way as schools, including Annex B. Colleges often have several deputies across campuses and evening provision. Adult learners bring in adult safeguarding under the Care Act 2014. Our guide to safeguarding adults explains the difference.
Clubs, tuition and community activities. The Department for Education’s out-of-school settings safeguarding guidance, updated in February 2026, asks providers to “designate an adult (which could be yourself) to have lead responsibility for safeguarding children while they’re in your care”. It does not mention deputies, but it does ask you to give parents “a named individual (such as the DSL or another named member of staff)” for concerns, and it points to KCSIE as “best practice”.
What should a new deputy DSL do in their first term?
- Check that the role is written into your job description and that you have protected time for it.
- Read Part one, Part two, Part five and Annex B of KCSIE 2026, and your school’s child protection policy.
- Book DSL training to the same standard as your DSL, plus Prevent awareness training, and record the date it falls due again.
- Find your local safeguarding partnership’s website, threshold document, referral form and the LADO contact details.
- Get access to the recording system and read the chronologies of children currently open to social care or Family Help.
- Agree with the DSL which decisions you take alone and which you discuss first, and write it down.
- Set up a weekly safeguarding meeting and a duty rota that staff can see.
- Ask the DSL to take you through the filtering and monitoring arrangements and the last annual review.
- Join the local DSL network or forum and sign up for safeguarding bulletins.
- Agree how you will debrief after difficult cases.
Which courses help a deputy DSL?
Three Nexis CPD courses fit this guide. Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children) covers the statutory framework, the DSL’s role and accountability, thresholds, working with children’s social care, allegations and the LADO, information sharing and record keeping. Safeguarding Children (Advanced) Level 2 suits the wider staff team who bring concerns to the DSL and deputies. Child Online Safety Awareness covers grooming, cyberbullying, image sharing and reporting routes. Together they cost £18, because any three courses trigger the pay-for-2-get-3 offer.
These are awareness-level CPD courses. An online course does not make anyone a designated safeguarding lead or deputy by itself. The governing body or proprietor appoints them, and your local safeguarding partnership may also expect its own DSL training.
£9 per course. CPD accredited, 100% online, verifiable e-certificate. Pay for 2, get 3 — any 3 courses for £18. Start with Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children).
Training a team? From 5 staff, Nexis CPD course places cost £6 each. You pay once by card, then get your own portal to add staff, choose their courses and track who has finished. Fewer than five staff? Every course is £9, with any three for £18. See team pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a deputy DSL?
A deputy designated safeguarding lead is a member of staff trained to the same standard as the DSL who shares safeguarding work and covers when the DSL is unavailable. KCSIE 2026 says the DSL’s activities can be delegated to deputies, but the lead responsibility for child protection stays with the DSL.
Does a school have to have a deputy DSL?
No. KCSIE 2026 leaves it to each school or college. However, the DSL or a deputy should always be available during term-time school hours, so most schools appoint at least one.
Can a deputy DSL make a referral to children’s social care?
Yes. KCSIE allows the DSL’s activities, including referrals, to be delegated to appropriately trained deputies. The deputy should record the decision and its rationale and keep the DSL informed.
How often does a deputy DSL need training?
Deputies should be trained to the same standard as the DSL. That training should be updated at least every two years, with Prevent awareness training, and their knowledge should be refreshed at least annually, for example through bulletins, briefings or local DSL networks.
Can a teaching assistant be a deputy DSL?
KCSIE does not say a deputy must be a teacher or a senior leader. It says deputies should be trained to the same standard as the DSL and that the role should be explicit in their job description. They also need the time and authority to do it.
Does an online course make me a deputy DSL?
No. Your governing body or proprietor appoints you to the role. An online CPD course builds knowledge and gives you a certificate for your training record, but your local safeguarding partnership may also expect you to attend its own DSL training.
This article is general information about the deputy designated safeguarding lead role in England, not legal advice. It reflects Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, the EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers (September 2026), the out-of-school settings safeguarding guidance (February 2026) and section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 as we found them on 22 October 2026. Always follow your setting’s child protection policy and your local safeguarding partnership’s procedures. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Nexis CPD courses are CPD-accredited awareness training, not regulated qualifications.