Safeguarding Manager (Ref:CRH370)

Job title: Safeguarding Manager

Department: Children's Contracts

Reporting to:  Strategic Safeguarding Advisor 

Location: Southeast (Kent) 

Contract type: Permanent

Hours of work: 40 hours p/w (Mon - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm)

Salary: £47,000.00 - £55,000.00 per annum

The Safeguarding Manager will promote and embed a strong safeguarding culture for all children and young people accommodated by Clearsprings Ready Homes. The postholder will also provide effective leadership and management of the Children’s Contracts Safeguarding Team.

Procedures:

• Lead the implementation of safeguarding policies, protocols and procedures.
• Promote a culture in which the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people are paramount.
• Act as the safeguarding lead for children’s contracts and ensure that all children and young people are provided with a safe and secure environment.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with local safeguarding teams, drawing on community expertise to inform the safeguarding strategy for Clearsprings Ready Homes.
• Review safeguarding policies and procedures annually to support delivery of the safeguarding strategy and ensure alignment with current legislation.
• Develop and maintain guidance, training and supporting materials to help staff apply safeguarding policies and procedures effectively in their work.
• Deliver safeguarding training for new staff and provide ongoing learning opportunities to ensure the organisation remains current and consistently applies best practice.
• Ensure that appropriate safeguarding reporting and response procedures are established, communicated and maintained.
• Provide expert advice and support to staff responding to safeguarding concerns, ensuring responses are timely and safeguard the best interests of all parties involved.
• Monitor and review management information to support contractual compliance and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice.
• Work collaboratively with relevant departments to ensure appropriate measures are in place for compliance with data protection requirements.
• Apply safeguarding expertise to support and contribute to the development and growth of the business. 

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Knowledge and Experience:

• Substantial knowledge and understanding of safeguarding principles, legislation, statutory guidance and best practice.
• Experience of working in a regulated environment and/or knowledge of the statutory requirements, inspection frameworks, and quality standards that govern how Ofsted inspects and regulates services.
• Experience of working collaboratively with statutory agencies to promote the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and/or adults at risk.
• Experience of conducting safeguarding investigations and audits.  
• Experience of managing a team.
• Understanding of information sharing, confidentiality, record keeping and professional boundaries in relation to safeguarding.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement and make timely, defensible decisions under pressure.
• Ability to think strategically and adapt processes to meet evolving demands across different contracts.
• Ability to work with a range of professionals and agencies and contribute positively to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
• Ability to provide clear safeguarding advice, guidance and support to colleagues.
• Ability to challenge appropriately and professionally where safeguarding practice or decisions may not adequately protect an individual.
• Ability to prioritise and manage competing demands, respond effectively to urgent safeguarding matters and meet required timescales.
• Ability to remain calm and professional when dealing with distressing, challenging or emotionally sensitive situations.
• Ability to maintain accurate, clear and timely safeguarding records.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• DSL qualification or evidence of the relevant experience, skills and the commitment to undertake this training within an agreed timeframe.

Desirable Criteria:

• Degree / professional qualification or registration in relevant area. 

• 25 days annual leave plus national bank holidays
• Westfield Health Membership (offering cashback on health services plus discounts for retailers and gym memberships)
• Life Cover (2 x basic salary)
• Employer pension contribution (4% employer, 4% employee)
• Laptop/Phone/other equipment if required as part of job role
• Referral Scheme

Diversity Statement

Clearsprings Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Modern Slavery Statement

Clearsprings Groups conduct robust checks on any new employee including eligibility to work in the UK to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.

Safeguarding Statement

Clearsprings Group is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expect all employees to share this commitment.

All successful applicants will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check in line with their job role.

This role is not open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer withdrawn.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if there is a higher level of interest that expected.