Early Intervention and Safeguarding Lead

University of Surrey; Guildford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Surrey is seeking an experienced and clinically confident Early Intervention, Complex Case and Safeguarding Lead to join our Wellbeing and Disability Department.

This pivotal role provides independent clinical coordination for students with severe mental health needs and safeguarding concerns, coordinating with campuses, services and external agencies to ensure timely, proportionate support.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in mental health, safeguarding, social work, nursing, counselling, psychology or a related field.
• Significant experience with severe, enduring or complex mental health conditions.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, duties and best practice relating to children, young people and adults at risk.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate early intervention and safeguarding for high-risk student cases.
• Act as independent clinical coordinator and provide evidence-based decisions.
• Be primary contact for escalated cases across university processes.
• Collaborate with Wellbeing and Disability, and external agencies.
• Provide safeguarding advice and strengthen arrangements for apprenticeships.
• Prepare for Ofsted activities where relevant.

Skills

Mental health expertise

Safeguarding

Risk assessment

Complex case coordination

Stakeholder management

Independent decision-making

Communication skills

Meeting facilitation

Education

Professional qualification in mental health or related field

Equivalent experience

Job description

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research.

We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.

Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.

The role

The University of Surrey is seeking an experienced and clinically confident Early Intervention, Complex Case and Safeguarding Lead to join our Wellbeing and Disability Department.

This is a pivotal role focused on ensuring early, proactive and proportionate support for students presenting with severe and enduring mental health conditions, complex wellbeing needs, and safeguarding concerns. Sitting alongside, but distinct from, our mental health practitioners and counsellors, you will act as an independent clinical coordinator, providing expert oversight, case coordination and evidence-based decision-making in high-risk and complex situations.

You will be the primary point of contact for escalated student cases that are progressing, or may progress, through University processes such as Support to Study, Fitness to Practise, student Code of Conduct and related procedures. Working closely with colleagues across Wellbeing and Disability, the Office for Student Complaints, Appeals and Regulations, Campus Safety, academic departments and external agencies, you will help ensure students receive the right support at the right time.

The role will also act as a key source of safeguarding advice and coordination for internal and external stakeholders. This will include responding to safeguarding enquiries, supporting and strengthening safeguarding arrangements for apprenticeships, and contributing to preparation for Ofsted activity where relevant. You will help ensure that safeguarding practice is clear, consistent and embedded across relevant areas of the University, with appropriate links between student wellbeing, institutional procedures, external agencies and regulatory expectations.

About you

You will bring:

• A relevant professional qualification and/or substantial equivalent experience in mental health, safeguarding, social work, nursing, counselling, psychology, occupational therapy or a related field.
• Significant experience of working with individuals experiencing severe, enduring or complex mental health conditions.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, duties and good practice relating to children, young people and adults at risk.
• Experience of risk assessment, risk management and complex case coordination in a multi-agency or multidisciplinary setting.
• The ability to make independent, evidence-based decisions and provide clear recommendations within policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to advise colleagues at all levels.
• Experience of chairing meetings, coordinating action plans and maintaining accurate, confidential and defensible records.
• A strong commitment to student wellbeing, inclusion, professional boundaries and trauma-informed practice.

Experience of working in higher education, NHS mental health services, social care, safeguarding partnerships, crisis response or a comparable complex environment would be highly advantageous.

This role is subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Further details

Job Description