Safeguarding Team Manager

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Ipswich is seeking a passionate leader to manage the Central Adult Safeguarding Team. The role requires overseeing complex safeguarding enquiries, championing multi-agency collaboration, and committing to person-centred support. Applicants should possess significant experience in adult safeguarding, strong leadership abilities, and a solid understanding of relevant legislation. This role offers a secondment for 12 months with flexible working options and competitive salary.

Benefits

29 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme membership

Health and wellbeing benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Significant experience in adult safeguarding, ideally in a statutory setting.
• Demonstrated strong leadership and communication skills.
• Commitment to dignity, respect and empowerment for adults at risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Central Adult Safeguarding Team.
• Oversee complex safeguarding enquiries.
• Chair multi-agency safeguarding meetings.
• Build partnerships with stakeholders.
• Drive service improvement and manage performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Partnership building

Adult safeguarding

Understanding of Care Act 2014

Job description

Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Landmark House, Egerton Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5PF
• Salary: £48,163 per annum
• Hours: 37 flexible working options available
• Contract: Secondment for 12 months

We are looking for a passionate leader to join our Central Adult Safeguarding Team. You'll manage 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 the Manager of the Central Adult Safeguarding Team, you will:

• Lead and manage the team to deliver high‑quality person‑centred safeguarding plans.
• Oversee complex safeguarding enquiries including organisational enquiries.
• Chair a variety of multi‑agency safeguarding meetings.
• Build strong partnerships with health, police, housing, and the voluntary sector to promote integrated safeguarding responses.
• Drive service improvement, manage performance and embed cultural change.

You will need

We're looking for someone who:

• Has significant experience in adult safeguarding, ideally within a statutory setting.
• Demonstrates strong leadership, communication and partnership building skills.
• Understand the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation and guidance.
• Is committed to promoting dignity, respect and empowerment for adults at risk.

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.

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 Sarah Markham for a casual conversation. You can reach them by 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.

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

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

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.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 28 December 2025

Interview date: Week commencing 05 January 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).