Practitioner - Safeguarding & Support

Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Stoke-on-Trent is seeking a Multi-Agency Quality Assurance and Audit professional to ensure children and families receive the highest standard of protection and support. The candidate will lead multi-agency audits, develop quality assurance frameworks, and promote effective practice across the partnership. Offering up to 41 days of annual leave and flexible working options, this role is crucial for fostering collaboration and accountability in safeguarding efforts.

Benefits

Up to 41 days annual leave

Flexible and hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Access to lifestyle benefits

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of statutory guidance including Working Together 2023.
• Experience in preparing for inspections such as Ofsted or JTAI.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multi-agency audits and evaluations to assess safeguarding effectiveness.
• Lead on the development and implementation of quality assurance frameworks.
• Monitor safeguarding performance data and produce analytical reports.

Skills

Proven experience in safeguarding children within a multi‑agency context

Strong understanding of statutory guidance including Working Together 2023

Excellent communication skills

Ability to analyse data

Experience in quality assurance

Education

Relevant qualification in social work, education, health, or related field

Job description

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants. In today's safeguarding landscape, collaboration is not optional, it is essential. The Multi-Agency Quality Assurance and Audit role is pivotal in ensuring that children and families receive the highest standard of protection and support. By working together across agencies, we strengthen accountability, share expertise, and drive continuous improvement in practice. This role offers the opportunity to influence outcomes through rigorous audit, constructive challenge, and partnership working, because safeguarding is most effective when we act together. The candidate will work within a small team to ensure that the Multi-Agency Partnership are delivering children's safeguarding within Stoke-on-Trent in-line with the Working Together 2023 statutory guidance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multi-agency audits and evaluations to assess safeguarding effectiveness.
• Lead on the development and implementation of quality assurance frameworks.
• Support inspection readiness, including evidence collation and briefing documentation.
• Monitor safeguarding performance data and produce analytical reports.
• Facilitate learning from case reviews and inspections.
• Promote trauma‑informed and child‑centred practice across the partnership.
• Engage with frontline staff to identify training needs and support continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with statutory guidance and local safeguarding protocols.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in safeguarding children within a multi‑agency context.
• Strong understanding of statutory guidance including Working Together 2023.
• Experience in quality assurance, performance monitoring, or audit.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to analyse data and produce clear, actionable reports.
• Experience in preparing for inspections such as Ofsted or JTAI.
• Relevant qualification in social work, education, health, or related field.

About Stoke‑on‑Trent

Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council is a unitary authority employing approximately 4,600 staff who deliver 700 services to more than 260,000 residents. Our city comprises six towns: Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall. We have undergone significant changes over the last few years. New ways of working have already transformed many service areas and we are determined to continue to develop more innovative approaches to maximise the benefits of transformation.

Our city, although the 13th largest in the UK, is rapidly outstripping many parts of the country with economic growth and recovery. Stoke‑on‑Trent is a city with a strong sense of civic pride – we've been voted the kindest city in the UK – and a place where you'll receive a hugely warm welcome. We have a rich and diverse culture, steeped in our prestigious industrial heritage as the celebrated ‘world capital of ceramics’. We firmly believe that Stoke‑on‑Trent’s best years are ahead of us, and are committed to raise aspirations and match them with high‑quality education and health provision, as well as improved opportunities to secure fulfilling and well‑paid work. Through uniting social and economic opportunities, we maximise the full power of the council as a secure and steadfast institution.

Benefits and Working Conditions

We recognise and reward the dedication of our social work professionals with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Up to 41 days annual leave (including 8 bank holidays)
• Option to buy extra annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working for a healthy work‑life balance
• High‑quality reflective supervision for continued professional development
• Health and wellbeing support for you and your family
• Access to staff equality and diversity networks, creating a supportive and inclusive work environment
• Access to lifestyle benefits offering a wide range of discounts such as family days out, travel, retail and many more

When you work for Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council you’ll be helping to improve the lives and wellbeing of our residents. We’ll provide you with support, learning opportunities and flexible working options, as well as a competitive salary, generous holidays, an excellent defined local authority benefit pension scheme, annual leave purchase scheme, cycle to work schemes and many other lifestyle benefits.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Vibrancy and diversity are two of Stoke‑on‑Trent’s greatest assets. We are committed to creating a culture which is truly inclusive, where all staff feel valued, listened to, supported and able to do their work to the best of their abilities at all times. Our approach to Equality and Diversity is an invitation to all our communities to work with and for us so we can continue to improve how we deliver services residents need. Our employee networks are inclusive, open forums for colleagues with similar lived experiences. They allow staff to meet, support and mentor one another, while also being a voice for under‑represented groups to advise and support the organisation when developing policies and services.