Safeguarding Investigator

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool; Budock Water; Remote; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Discounted childcare

Wellbeing resources

Employee appreciation weeks

Annual gala award evening

Job summary

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool is seeking a Safeguarding Investigator to lead investigations across a range of complexity, ensuring child safety and robust documentation. You will work with nursery leadership, HR, Legal and external agencies to identify risks, make timely decisions and capture learning to strengthen safeguarding practices.

The role requires handling sensitive information with care, and aligning with safeguarding, legal and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience leading safeguarding investigations and handling high-risk cases.
• Ability to assess risk and manage cases end-to-end.
• Proven ability to document investigations clearly and concisely.
• Strong communication with senior leaders, HR, Legal and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end safeguarding investigations across varying complexity.
• Ensure timely referrals to LADO, services, Police or Ofsted as needed.
• Maintain thorough records, evidence and rationale for findings.
• Provide updates to stakeholders on progress and risks.
• Support learning and continuous improvement from cases.

Skills

Investigation management

Risk assessment

Record keeping

Stakeholder comms

Regulatory awareness

Job description

Full Time / 37.50 hours per week / Monday to Friday

Remote with ad hoc travel to our nurseries and our offices in Northampton and London

Salary From £43k per annum

Closing Date for this role: 31/10/26 or sooner if right candidate is hired

Purpose Of Role

The Safeguarding Investigator is responsible for leading and delivering safeguarding investigations across a range of complexity, from low-level concerns through to complex, high-risk and sensitive cases. Applying professional curiosity, sound judgement and robust risk assessment, and working closely with operational leaders, HR, Legal, Regulatory Specialists and external agencies, the role ensures safeguarding concerns are investigated thoroughly and effectively, risks to children are identified and managed, and learning is captured to strengthen safeguarding practice across the organisation. All investigations will be thoroughly documented, with clear records of evidence, findings, decisions, and the rationale underpinning outcomes.

What We Can Offer You

• Our benefits include, but are not limited to;
• Flexible working and holiday entitlements
• Discounted childcare
• Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks
• Annual gala award evening
• Fantastic range of discounts on high street retailers, grocery stores, cinema tickets, holidays and more
• Wide range of wellbeing resources, supporting our teams for the ups and downs of daily life

Why Bright Horizons?

Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 270+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Concerns are identified and acted upon promptly.
• Appropriate referrals are made to the LADO, Children’s Services, Police and/or Ofsted where required.
• Risk to children has been assessed and mitigated at all stages of the investigation.
• Consideration is given to the Voice of the child throughout the process
• Evidence of any bias and the impact on the Safeguarding Culture is identified and followed up
• Accurate records and decision-making rationales are maintained.
• Leaders maintain oversight of the concern and took appropriate action.
• Learning is identified and used to improve practice

Key Accountabilities

• Assess, monitor and manage actual or potential risks to children throughout the investigation process, ensuring appropriate safeguarding measures are implemented, reviewed and escalated where necessary.
• Ensure the child's welfare, lived experience and voice are central to investigation planning, decision-making and recommendations.
• Ensure investigation findings, conclusions and recommendations are proportionate, evidence-based and supported by clearly documented rationale.
• Handle sensitive information in accordance with data protection legislation, confidentiality requirements and information-sharing protocols.
• Lead and manage the end-to-end delivery of safeguarding investigations, ensuring all cases are handled thoroughly, consistently and within defined timelines.
• Conduct a wide range of safeguarding investigations using professional curiosity to ensure all relevant lines of enquiry are explored.
• Conduct safeguarding investigations with an understanding of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) process, ensuring that investigation findings, emerging concerns and any subsequent allegations are evaluated promptly and escalated to the LADO where thresholds are met or further consultation is required.
• Apply defined internal/external thresholds and criteria to determine appropriate investigation approach
• Produce clear, accurate and evidence-based investigation reports, findings and recommendations.
• Maintain comprehensive, structured and compliant case records and documentation.
• Ensure all investigations are conducted in line with safeguarding, legal and regulatory requirements
• Participate in quality assurance activity across safeguarding investigations, providing robust scrutiny of practice, decision-making and record keeping ensuring investigations are thorough, evidence-based, compliant and child-focused.
• Work closely with the Head of Investigations on more complex or high-risk cases, escalating where appropriate
• Support coordination of cases requiring regulatory notifications, ensuring clear and accurate information
• Identify themes or learning from cases and contribute to continuous improvement and share with wider safeguarding team.
• Provide clear updates and reporting on investigation progress, risks and outcomes to stakeholders
• Collaborate with Operations, HR and Legal to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to safeguarding cases

Essential Experience

• Experience conducting safeguarding investigations or managing complex casework
• Strong understanding of safeguarding processes and principles
• Ability to assess risk and manage cases effectively
• Experience producing clear and accurate case documentation
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills

Desirable Experience

• Experience within early years, education, childcare, healthcare or other safeguarding-focused environments
• Experience working with regulatory bodies, Local Authorities or inspection frameworks
• Knowledge of employment processes relating to investigations (e.g. disciplinaries)

Qualifications

• Safeguarding or investigation-related training or accreditation – Desirable

Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Good judgement and decision-making skills
• Professional and calm handling of sensitive issues
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Organised and able to manage multiple cases
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned with HEART principles, acting with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability and Respect

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.