Job responsibilities
Job Summary
This role leads and coordinates the oversight of all aspects of social care, safeguarding, and family support across Haven House Children's Hospice. The post-holder will play a vital role in shaping and enhancing the delivery of holistic, person-centred care to children and their families, ensuring safeguarding principles are fully embedded across the organisation and the services are responsive to the complex and evolving needs of the families with support.
The post-holder will also take the lead on Serious Case Management, working closely with local authorities and partner agencies to ensure robust multi-agency responses, thorough internal processes, and reflective learning. In addition, you will oversee complex transitions into adult services, ensuring continuity of care and tailored support for young people and their families during this significant life stage.
A key part of the role involves contributing to the strategic direction of the hospices Family Support and Safeguarding functions, ensuring they align with and contribute to Haven Houses overarching mission and values. The role also carries responsibility for representing the hospice at borough-wide and regional forums, influencing policy and practice through effective partnership working and advocacy.
Key Responsibilities
Line management
Provide Direct Line Management and Leadership to the Family Support Team Take overall responsibility for the effective management and leadership of the Family Support Team. This includes conducting regular one-to-one supervision, annual performance appraisals, and supporting continuous professional development. Ensure clear delegation of responsibilities across social care, family support, and transitional support functions to promote efficiency,accountability,and high standards of care delivery.
Develop and Implement Outcome-Based Evaluation Measures Design, implement, and monitor robust outcome measures and evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness and impact of social care and family support interventions. Use data and qualitative feedback to inform continuous service improvement, demonstrate value and effectiveness to stakeholders, and ensure that interventions are evidence-informed and outcomes-driven.
Drive Strategic Development of Family and Social Services Contribute to the strategic planning and long-term development of family and social care services at Haven House. Collaborate with senior leaders and cross-disciplinary teams to ensure services align with the hospices vision, values, and strategic objectives. Identify opportunities for innovation, partnership development, and funding that enhance the support offered to children and their families throughout their hospice journey.
Safeguarding Leadership and Governance
Act as Deputy Safeguarding Lead for the Hospice Support the Designated Safeguarding Lead in ensuring that safeguarding remains a core element of service delivery and organisational culture. Take delegated responsibility for safeguarding in their absence and provide leadership on safeguarding matters across the hospice.
Provide Safeguarding Supervision to Staff and Volunteers Deliver safeguarding-specific supervision to all relevant staff and volunteers, supporting reflective practice, early identification of concerns, and confidence in managing safeguarding issues appropriately and compassionately
Lead Internal Safeguarding Responses and External Liaison Coordinate timely and effective responses to safeguarding concerns raised within the hospice, ensuring clear documentation, appropriate risk assessment, and liaison with statutory safeguarding partners including local authority childrens services, adult services, and the police.
Represent Haven House in Multi-Agency Safeguarding Forums Act as the hospices representative in safeguarding strategy meetings, child protection conferences, and multi-agency risk assessment panels. Advocate for the needs and voices of children and families, ensuring appropriate care planning and risk management.
Lead Safeguarding Policy, Training, and Audit Oversee the ongoing development, implementation, and auditing of safeguarding policies, protocols, and training programmes. Ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory frameworks and promote a culture of safeguarding awareness and best practice across all teams.
Report to the Board Safeguarding Committee Prepare and deliver quarterly safeguarding reports to the Board Safeguarding Committee, including data analysis, emerging themes, case summaries, risk assessments, and identified learning. Contribute to strategic oversight and governance of safeguarding at the hospice.
Serious Case Management and Organisational Learning
Coordinate Responses to Critical Incidents and Complaints Lead the hospices response to serious incidents, near misses,and complaints related to family and social services.Ensure timely investigation, transparent communication, and effective support for those affected.
Lead or Contribute to Internal Investigations and Serious Case Reviews Participate in or lead internal case reviews and investigations and contribute to external multi-agency serious case reviews where relevant. Ensure thorough documentation, evidence-based analysis, and adherence to statutory requirements.
Embed Organisational Learning and Drive Improvement Capture key learning from critical incidents, complaints, and safeguarding cases. Use findings to inform service development, staff training, and quality improvement initiatives. Promote a culture of reflection, learning, and continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
Transitions Lead Key Responsibilities
Lead and coordinate transition planning for young people approaching adulthood, ensuring a person-centred approach that involves families, clinical teams, and external partners.
Develop and implement bespoke transition plans that reflect the young person's needs, aspirations, and clinical requirements, starting from age 14 and continuing into early adulthood, ensuring MCAs are completed and reviewed.
Act as the key liaison between the hospice and statutory/adult services, including education, health, and social care, to ensure continuity and clarity across systems.
Represent the hospice in transition and palliative care networks, advocating for the needs of young people and sharing best practice.
Build internal awareness and capacity, offering guidance and training to colleagues to embed strong, proactive transition support across the organisation.
Annual Strategic Objectives
The post-holder will agree annual objectives with the Director of Clinical Services, which may include:
1. Expanding Family and social support pathways
2. Developing transition protocols
3. Improving safeguarding audit compliance
4. Enhancing the evaluation of family support services using measurable outcome frameworks
General requirements
- To promote and live the Haven House values of Compassionate, Professional, Respectful and Safe.
- To work with colleagues across the hospice as part of the Haven House One Team approach.
- To conduct yourself in line with the Haven House cultures and behaviours at all times, acting as an ambassador for the hospice.
- To contribute towards a culture of continuous improvement to help drive our service to Outstanding.
- To offer flexible support for the work of the organisation, with a flexible approach to new duties and responsibilities as needed to support our vision, mission and values.
This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder. The specific objectives of the post holder will be subject to review as part of the individual performance process.
Haven House is committed to Equal Opportunities in Employment and therefore it is our aim to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on grounds of gender, disability, religion, race, colour, sexual orientation, and nationality, ethnic or national origins or is placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Haven House is responsible under the existing equality and diversity legislation to ensure equality issues are promoted and you are expected to work with Haven House to fulfil these obligations, policies and codes of good practice.
Employees must take reasonable care and be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and to ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.
Haven House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.
