Head of Safeguarding

CRA GROUP RECRUITMENT AND PAYROLL LTD; Woldingham; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Surrey seeks a Head of Safeguarding to provide strategic leadership in Adults Wellbeing and Health Partnerships. You will manage compliance with safeguarding legislation and lead integrated responses across health and social care. The ideal candidate will have extensive senior leadership experience in Adult Safeguarding, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. This role offers a 3-month contract providing an opportunity to influence crucial safeguarding frameworks.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience within Adult Safeguarding or Adult Social Care.
• Expert knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and statutory guidance.
• Proven experience working with Safeguarding Adults Boards and multi-agency partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and expert advice on Adult Safeguarding.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and guidance.
• Lead partnerships across health and social care for integrated safeguarding.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Knowledge of safeguarding legislation

Experience with multi-agency partnerships

Understanding of commissioning

Service transformation experience

Analytical skills

Negotiation ability

Commitment to equity and inclusion

Confident communication

Job description

Job Description

3 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary

• The Head of Safeguarding is a senior strategic leadership role within Adults Wellbeing and Health Partnerships at Surrey County Council.
• The postholder will act as the Council’s lead expert for Adult Safeguarding, providing professional leadership, strategic direction, and assurance that safeguarding practice across Adult Social Care is fully compliant with statutory duties, national guidance, and best practice.
• The role will lead transformation, quality assurance, and partnership working across health, commissioning, and social care to ensure effective safeguarding arrangements that protect residents and promote independence, prevention, and equity.

Key Duties / Accountabilities (Sample)

• Provide strategic leadership and expert advice on Adult Safeguarding across Surrey County Council.
• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and regulatory requirements.
• Act as the strategic lead for safeguarding quality assurance frameworks across commissioned adult social care providers.
• Work in partnership with health, police, voluntary sector, and other statutory agencies to deliver integrated safeguarding responses.
• Lead and contribute to the Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB), including chairing sub-groups and supporting delivery of the strategic plan.
• Identify safeguarding risks, weak practice, and performance issues, and implement improvement strategies.
• Lead safeguarding performance management, data analysis, and benchmarking against regional and national comparators.
• Maintain and oversee safeguarding risk registers and escalation protocols.
• Provide professional leadership to managers and staff, developing safeguarding capability and standards of practice.
• Lead major programmes, reviews, and transformational change initiatives.
• Embed learning from safeguarding reviews into commissioning cycles and contract monitoring.
• Champion co-production and lived experience in safeguarding design and delivery.
• Promote equity, inclusion, and culturally competent safeguarding practice.
• Represent the Council in internal and external safeguarding forums and partnerships.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring value for money and accountability.

Skills / Experience

• Extensive senior leadership experience within Adult Safeguarding or Adult Social Care.
• Expert knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and statutory guidance.
• Proven experience working with Safeguarding Adults Boards and multi‑agency partnerships.
• Strong understanding of commissioning, contract monitoring, and provider quality assurance.
• Experience leading service transformation and large-scale change programmes.
• Demonstrable ability to manage complex safeguarding risk and serious incidents.
• Experience of managing large multidisciplinary teams and senior managers.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using performance data and quality metrics.
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and provide professional challenge at senior level.
• Experience embedding learning from safeguarding reviews into operational practice.
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and co‑production.
• Confident communicator with experience presenting to boards and senior stakeholders.

Additional Information

• The closing date : 31/12/2025.
• Location : Surrey.

Requirements

• Extensive senior leadership experience within Adult Safeguarding or Adult Social Care.
• Expert knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and statutory guidance.
• Proven experience working with Safeguarding Adults Boards and multi‑agency partnerships.
• Strong understanding of commissioning, contract monitoring, and provider quality assurance.
• Experience leading service transformation and large-scale change programmes.
• Demonstrable ability to manage complex safeguarding risk and serious incidents.
• Experience of managing large multidisciplinary teams and senior managers.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using performance data and quality metrics.
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and provide professional challenge at senior level.
• Experience embedding learning from safeguarding reviews into operational practice.
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and co‑production.
• Confident communicator with experience presenting to boards and senior stakeholders.