Strategic Safeguarding Lead

Strategic Safeguarding Lead

Location: 1 Catford Road, Catford, London, SE6 4RU
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 3+ Months
Working Hours: Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 17:00, 37 Hours per week
Pay rate: £ 33.88 per hour
Job Ref: OR11329
 
Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the business of Lewisham Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) and support its Chair.
• Oversee the LSCP strategic business planning processes and ensure the operation of the LSCP, Executive Partnership, and sub/task groups.
• Advise LSCP members and chairs of sub/task groups on high-level policy issues and make recommendations for decision-making related to the LSCP budget, duties, priorities, and future direction.
• Ensure the development and implementation of a Learning and Improvement Framework for the LSCP, including multi-agency training, quality assurance, performance management, case reviews, and audit programs.
• Oversee and assist with the implementation of quality assurance functions of the LSCP, holding agencies accountable for their safeguarding arrangements.
• Ensure a coordinated response on safeguarding policies, procedures, and practice developments linked to current government initiatives.
• Encourage and contribute to the shifts in thinking required to meet the requirements of Safeguarding Children within the Children’s Act and statutory guidance.
• Promote, develop, and support high-quality safeguarding practice and performance in LSCP partner organizations.
• Develop and manage the LSCP’s relationships with senior stakeholders, including directors and chief executives in partner organizations.
• Work with the Independent Chair to develop and review robust governance arrangements with all members of the Partnership.
• Coordinate and promote high-level communication, joint planning, and multi-agency projects.
• Lead on the development of strategic and operational plans for services for children at risk.
• Prepare the Partnerships for inspection or review.
• Oversee the LSCP business-planning processes, enabling the LSCP to formulate strategic directions and identify key priorities.
• Work in close partnership with appropriate senior officers and Lead Members to oversee safeguarding arrangements for children in Lewisham.
• Monitor the strategic horizon to prepare the LSCP for changes in legislation, policy, and opportunities to improve practice.
• Ensure LSCP members and partner agencies are briefed on new legislation, government guidance, research findings, funding arrangements, and policy developments.
• Line-manage the LSCP staff, providing regular supervision and annual appraisals.
• Manage and monitor the multi-agency LSCP budget and make recommendations for expenditure.
• Represent LSCP interests at regional and national levels and share information, skills, experience, and knowledge via regional and national networks and consortia.
• Ensure the LSCP fulfills its statutory function in undertaking Serious Case Reviews.
• Lead on ensuring that the LSCP has appropriate performance information to evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding within Lewisham.
• Work in partnership with agencies to ensure regular reports of their safeguarding practice and quality assurance.
• Oversee the development, delivery, and evaluation of a multi-agency training program.
• Lead on the strategic safeguarding children professional development activities and events.
• Develop and deliver an ongoing program of partner agency audit and action planning.
• Ensure findings from agency audits are reported to relevant Partnerships and committees.
• Work in close partnership with all LSCP task groups and Chairs to develop and implement work plans.
• Develop opportunities to work with a wide range of partners to promote children’s safety and the aims of the Partnership.
• Promote positive links and professional development opportunities with local and national organizations.
• Ensure the views of children with care and support needs and their families influence the development of safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the development of safeguarding procedures and practice guidance.
• Ensure the LSCP Website is maintained and updated with the latest guidance.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and protocols are regularly reviewed and amended in response to legislative and guidance changes.
• Manage and coordinate the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of the LSCP and its task groups.
• Implement recommendations and share learning from serious case reviews to ensure children’s safety.

Person Specification

• Commitment to implementing the Council’s Equal Opportunities policies.
• Substantial management experience of social care services for children or similar in Social Services or Health.
• Knowledge and understanding of service development and policy issues in the safeguarding of children.
• In-depth knowledge of the responsibilities of LSCP and relevant research or guidance.
• Knowledge and experience of evaluation, quality assurance, and auditing of organizations.
• Knowledge of effective project management and complex case management in safeguarding children practice.
• Ability to work in a multi-agency environment and manage work to ensure deadlines are met.
• Ability to remain calm in challenging situations and manage change to promote continuous improvement.
• High-level written and oral communication skills, excellent presentation skills, and good ICT skills.
• Budget management skills and excellent report writing skills.
• Experience drafting or contributing to the development of inter-agency protocols.
• Experience managing and supervising staff and contributing to workforce development and learning.
• Significant experience of effective inter-agency partnership work and managing budgets.
• Experience drafting and implementing policy and procedure.
• Experience conveying complex information to a range of audiences.
• A relevant professional qualification and/or substantial experience in multi-agency services strategy and policy formation.
• Excellent levels of literacy and numeracy.
• Personal qualities include taking responsibility for own learning and demonstrating creativity in problem-solving.
• Must be able to work outside of normal working hours.

 
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