Safeguarding Children Lead

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is seeking a Safeguarding Children Lead to oversee defined safeguarding practice areas and provide clinical leadership to frontline staff. The role entails supervising colleagues, advising on safeguarding across the trust, and supporting the MASH team across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

You will drive Think Family implementation, contribute to annual reporting and audits, and deputise for Named Nurses when required, while operating in an

Qualifications

• First level Registered Nurse.
• Relevant degree.
• Evidence of further training or education in safeguarding children.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of safeguarding practice areas as defined by the Named Nurse and Head of Safeguarding.
• Provide leadership across the Trust on safeguarding children and on identifying adults at risk.
• Embed the Think Family approach, working with the adult safeguarding team on adults at risk within families.
• Give safeguarding advice, support and reflective supervision to frontline health staff, one-to-one or in groups.
• Support the safeguarding team in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough MASH, including information sharing.
• Provide safeguarding advice within the single point of access.
• Provide clinical leadership and professional support to staff, deputising for the Named Nurses where needed.
• Contribute to the safeguarding training programme, learning needs analysis and audit programme.
• Contribute to Statutory Safeguarding Reviews and PSIRF processes, and implement their recommendations.
• Represent the safeguarding team on multi-agency sub-groups and meetings.
• Contribute to the Safeguarding Annual Report, Quality KPI data and Section 11 self-assessments.
• Work alongside Band 7 colleagues as part of the locality leadership team

Skills

Clinical leadership

Reflective supervision

Information sharing

Think Family approach

Multi-agency collaboration

Advising frontline staff

Education

RN qualification

Relevant degree

Safeguarding training

Job description

This Safeguarding Children Lead post sits within the Healthy Child Programme at East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust, in the locality leadership team. The work centres on leading defined areas of safeguarding practice, advising and supervising frontline health staff, and supporting the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. It is a Band 7 office-based role with travel across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, suited to an autonomous practitioner. Current NMC registration as a specialist community public health practitioner is required.

What the job involves

• Lead development of defined areas of safeguarding practice, as set by the Named Nurse and Head of Safeguarding
• Provide leadership across the Trust on safeguarding children and on identifying adults at risk
• Embed the Think Family approach, working with the adult safeguarding team on adults at risk within families
• Give safeguarding advice, support and reflective supervision to frontline health staff, one-to-one or in groups
• Support the safeguarding team in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough MASH, including information sharing
• Provide safeguarding advice within the single point of access
• Provide clinical leadership and professional support to staff, deputising for the Named Nurses where needed
• Contribute to the safeguarding training programme, learning needs analysis and audit programme
• Contribute to Statutory Safeguarding Reviews and PSIRF processes, and implement their recommendations
• Represent the safeguarding team on multi-agency sub-groups and meetings
• Contribute to the Safeguarding Annual Report, Quality KPI data and Section 11 self-assessments
• Work alongside Band 7 colleagues as part of the locality leadership team

Qualifications

• First level Registered Nurse
• Relevant degree
• Evidence of further training or education in safeguarding children

Registration & licences

• Current NMC registration as a Specialist Community Public Health Practitioner in school nursing or health visiting

Experience

• Relevant post-qualification experience in a specialist practitioner role
• Experience of working autonomously with children and young people
• Relevant experience of safeguarding children and working with families
• Good understanding of the Think Family model and of identifying adults at risk
• Good understanding of legislation and national guidance driving safeguarding policy and practice
• Knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable families and multi-agencies

Skills & knowledge

• Competent in assessing suspected abuse and neglect
• Ability to identify and manage safeguarding concerns within current practice
• Ability to stay child focused and facilitate the Think Family approach with health practitioners
• Ability to advise other agencies on the health needs of people
• Professional curiosity and ability to manage appropriate professional challenge
• Working knowledge of Working Together 2026

Nice to have

• NSPCC or other Trust-accredited safeguarding supervision training, or other relevant training
• Recognised professional teaching qualification
• Experience of working in a MASH or multi-agency setting
• Experience of providing clinical supervision and mentoring
• Experience of managing clinical audit
• Awareness of patient and public involvement in service development
• IT skills
• Supervision skills, including individual and group facilitation

What's offered

• Culture that prioritises staff engagement and development
• Access to emotional support when dealing with safeguarding issues