Safeguarding Senior Practitioner

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England is seeking a Safeguarding Senior Practitioner to join the Central Adult Safeguarding Team. This role involves leading complex safeguarding enquiries, supporting staff with casework, and ensuring quality service delivery. Applicants should have significant experience in adult safeguarding and knowledge of relevant legislation. This position offers flexible working arrangements and a competitive salary package.

Benefits

Up to 29 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme membership

Travel and health benefits

Qualifications

• Significant experience in adult safeguarding, ideally within a statutory setting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting staff with complex casework.
• Understanding the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex safeguarding enquiries involving high levels of risk.
• Promote a high-performance culture within the team.
• Ensure staff are fully engaged with systems transformation.

Skills

Adult safeguarding experience

Complex casework support

Understanding of Care Act 2014

Decision-making skills

Creative problem-solving

Education

Evidence of 2 years continued professional development

Job description

Overview

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Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Landmark House, Ipswich, IP1 5PF - Hybrid
• Salary: £43,723 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Secondment - 8 months

We are looking for a passionate Safeguarding Senior Practitioner to join our Central Adult Safeguarding Team. You'll support a skilled team tackling complex safeguarding enquiries, making sure people are always at the heart of what we do. You'll champion multi-agency collaboration, drive evidence-based practice, and lead continuous improvement to deliver timely, effective and person-centred support. If you're committed to protecting adults at risk, this is the role for you!

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Safeguarding Senior Practitioner in the Central Adult Safeguarding Team, you will:

• lead and manage complex safeguarding enquiries involving high levels of risk and with legal implications
• undertake or support in the undertaking of Video Recorded Interviews with the police
• promote a high-performance culture within the team that is flexible, innovative, responsive to changing priorities and empowers people to deliver excellence, best value and continuous improvement for the people of Suffolk
• have a clear focus on adults, families, carers and community needs, in the context of demand reduction, ensuring preventative and long-term sustainable solutions which enable people to live long and fulfilling lives by maximising their independence
• ensure staff are fully engaged with systems transformation, working effectively with the system transformation team to ensure that all system changes, information, technology and digital are implemented and embedded
• assist the Team manager with operational leadership, deputise when required, provide professional guidance and foster a culture that models the ASPIRE values while promoting best practice
• identify learning and development needs, and facilitate learning through methods, such as coaching, mentoring and creating tools and guides
• implement practice improvements from audits and monitor impact through reporting and evaluation.

You will need

We're looking for someone who:

• has significant experience in adult safeguarding, ideally within a statutory setting
• demonstrated experience supporting staff with complex casework, chairing meetings and meeting statutory responsibilities
• understand the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation and guidance
• is committed to promoting dignity, respect and empowerment for adults at risk
• experience of managing competing priorities and making informed decisions
• is a creative problem-solver with a proactive approach to work.

You'll also need:

• evidence of 2 years continued professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards
• an in-depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages
• the ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention
• valid driving licence and access to personal transport.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don\'t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Central Adult Safeguarding Team undertake complex safeguarding enquiries including Organisational safeguarding enquiries. The team works in a person-centred way using the principles of making safeguarding personal to develop multi-agency Safeguarding plans to improve the outcomes for adults at risk. As a Senior Practitioner you will provide support and advice to the team to complete robust risk assessments and ongoing decision making.

You will support the Team Manager and Senior Management Team, who will be responsible for the operational delivery within it.

You will work with local Contract and Service Development Teams and managers to understand, develop and share good practice, ensuring frontline teams share information to inform future commissioning models and new ways of working.

Empowering Everyone

We\'re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We\'re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Lucy Carr for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265158 or emailing [e-mail]. If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the \"Person Profile\" section of the JPP.

1. You should use the Supporting Statement template.
2. Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing [e-mail] or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at [e-mail] or 03456 014412.

You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you\'re invited to the next stage, you\'ll have another chance to request adjustments.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 8 February 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We\'re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you\'ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).