Job summary
This role sits within the Vulnerable Peoples Team at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, which incorporates both Safeguarding Children, Maternity and Safeguarding Adults services. The team plays a critical role in protecting the most vulnerable patients and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory safeguarding requirements.
The post holder will lead the Safeguarding Children Team at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding practice and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. This role involves assessing patient needs, developing and implementing safeguarding care plans, and evaluating their effectiveness.
You will work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams, lead meetings, and provide supervision and support to staff, maintaining professional standards in line with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct. The role requires close engagement with children, young people, families, and carers to deliver individualised, patient-centred care.
As a subject matter expert, you will provide specialist safeguarding advice across the Trust, support staff in managing complex cases, and ensure adherence to safeguarding policies and procedures. You will act as a liaison with local agencies, contribute to child protection services, and deliver specialist training to enable staff to recognise, respond, and report child abuse effectively.
Main duties of the job
Scope and range
Ensure effective communication and collaboration within paediatric and midwifery units, across the wider hospital, and with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, and families.
Deliver high standards of nursing care for children and their families, promoting a child-centred and Think Family approach.
Act as a role model for best practice, demonstrating leadership and professionalism to support and guide other staff.
About us
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme thats changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.
This means were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.
Were a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.
Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities
Safeguarding Leadership and Compliance
- Support the Head of Safeguarding and Vulnerable People, Deputy Chief Nurse, and Chief Nurse to ensure the Trust meets all statutory and regulatory safeguarding requirements, including Section 11 of the Children Act 2004, Care Act 2014, CQC standards, and local safeguarding partnerships.
- Provide highly visible safeguarding leadership across the Trust, promoting safeguarding responsibilities for all staff.
Specialist Advice and Support
- Act as a subject matter expert, offering complex professional advice on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
- Provide day-to-day support and guidance to staff on safeguarding issues, including domestic abuse, family breakdown, substance misuse, disability, and mental health concerns.
- Work closely with the Named Doctor, safeguarding team, and other professionals to ensure effective safeguarding practice.
Policy Development and Supervision
- Lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Trust’s Safeguarding Supervision Policy.
- Ensure safeguarding supervision is delivered across the Trust and provide expert case management for complex cases.
- Maintain robust safeguarding policies and procedures in line with national and local guidance, ensuring dissemination and compliance.
Training and Education
- Design, deliver, and evaluate safeguarding training for health professionals and multi-agency groups.
- Promote best practice and embed safeguarding responsibilities within all services and developments.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
- Represent the Trust at child protection conferences, multi-agency meetings, and safeguarding boards.
- Work closely with external agencies, including police and social care, to ensure coordinated safeguarding responses.
- Contribute to interagency meetings and sub-groups as required.
Governance, Audit, and Reporting
- Undertake audits and internal reviews, analysing findings to inform practice and service improvement.
- Provide quarterly and annual safeguarding reports to senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
- Support implementation of recommendations from safeguarding practice reviews.
Legal and Court Support
- Ensure staff receive appropriate legal advice and support for statements and court attendance in childcare proceedings.
Professional Standards
- Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and evidence-based practice.
- Act as a specialist resource for interpreting legislation and guidance.
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities
Safeguarding Leadership and Compliance
- Support the Head of Safeguarding and Vulnerable People, Deputy Chief Nurse, and Chief Nurse to ensure the Trust meets all statutory and regulatory safeguarding requirements, including Section 11 of the Children Act 2004, Care Act 2014, CQC standards, and local safeguarding partnerships.
- Provide highly visible safeguarding leadership across the Trust, promoting safeguarding responsibilities for all staff.
Specialist Advice and Support
- Act as a subject matter expert, offering complex professional advice on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
- Provide day-to-day support and guidance to staff on safeguarding issues, including domestic abuse, family breakdown, substance misuse, disability, and mental health concerns.
- Work closely with the Named Doctor, safeguarding team, and other professionals to ensure effective safeguarding practice.
Policy Development and Supervision
- Lead the ongoing development and implementation of the Trust’s Safeguarding Supervision Policy.
- Ensure safeguarding supervision is delivered across the Trust and provide expert case management for complex cases.
- Maintain robust safeguarding policies and procedures in line with national and local guidance, ensuring dissemination and compliance.
Training and Education
- Design, deliver, and evaluate safeguarding training for health professionals and multi-agency groups.
- Promote best practice and embed safeguarding responsibilities within all services and developments.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
- Represent the Trust at child protection conferences, multi-agency meetings, and safeguarding boards.
- Work closely with external agencies, including police and social care, to ensure coordinated safeguarding responses.
- Contribute to interagency meetings and sub-groups as required.
Governance, Audit, and Reporting
- Undertake audits and internal reviews, analysing findings to inform practice and service improvement.
- Provide quarterly and annual safeguarding reports to senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
- Support implementation of recommendations from safeguarding practice reviews.
Legal and Court Support
- Ensure staff receive appropriate legal advice and support for statements and court attendance in childcare proceedings.
Professional Standards
- Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and evidence-based practice.
- Act as a specialist resource for interpreting legislation and guidance.
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RM/RSCN/RN Child or Community Specialist
- ENB 970 or equivalent
- SSSA, ENB 997/998 or equivalent
- Qualified at Degree or Masters level (or working towards)
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as Band 7
- Evidence of multidisciplinary working
- Experience of implementing and managing change
- Carrying out audit to influence change
- Evidence of clinical experience in child protection
- Evidence of multi-agency working
- Managing a group of staff
- Managing and investigating complaints, critical incidents and serious case reviews
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RM/RSCN/RN Child or Community Specialist
- ENB 970 or equivalent
- SSSA, ENB 997/998 or equivalent
- Qualified at Degree or Masters level (or working towards)
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as Band 7
- Evidence of multidisciplinary working
- Experience of implementing and managing change
- Carrying out audit to influence change
- Evidence of clinical experience in child protection
- Evidence of multi-agency working
- Managing a group of staff
- Managing and investigating complaints, critical incidents and serious case reviews
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
