Head of Safeguarding
Go back Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Closing date: 14 July 2026.
We especially encourage applications from professionals with a background in adults safeguarding, social workers, and allied health professionals to diversify the skill mix in the team.
We aim to recruit applicants with significant experience in the field of mental health and learning disability services (MH/LD social worker, AHP, or nurse).
We encourage applicants with a strong background in operational line management, particularly within safeguarding teams in Local Authorities or managing safeguarding teams within other NHS trusts.
This role supports the Associate Director of Safeguarding and Legal Affairs in delivering high‑quality safeguarding assurance across the organisation, in line with local and national legislation and guidance. Working across both child and adult safeguarding, the post holder will collaborate with internal and external partners to promote safe, effective practice and build skills and confidence in specialist areas.
The post holder will act as deputy to the Associate Director when required, provide line management to the Named Professionals, and oversee the overall operational management of both the Corporate Safeguarding Service and the MASH function.
About us
As a trust we are committed to ensuring staff wellbeing, providing access to various networks, trust‑wide mindfulness groups, self‑referral physiotherapy services, staff counselling, and access to Vivup services, car lease schemes and other benefits.
Key Responsibilities
This role supports the Associate Director of Safeguarding and Legal Affairs in delivering high‑quality safeguarding assurance across the organisation and acts as deputy when required. Responsibilities include line management of Named Professionals, overall operational management of the Corporate Safeguarding Service and the MASH function, and collaboration with internal and external partners to promote safe and effective practice across child and adult safeguarding.
Person Specification
- Registration with Social Work England, HCPC or NMC
- Minimum 5 years post qualification experience within the mental health services
- Recent (within last 2 years) experience of practice in adult mental health as mental health social worker / OT / nurse
- Extensive (minimum 3 years) experience of line management of team, including sickness management, performance management, etc., within mental health services
- Experience of leading service change and implementing management of change process.
- Experience of developing and managing quality improvement projects and utilising relevant QI methodology.
- Experience of effectively managing budgets and clear understanding of budget management and the delivery of high quality, value for money services.
- Experience of working within an integrated/multi‑disciplinary service setting
- Experience of supporting and developing service user and carer involvement and co‑production.
- Excellent knowledge of legislation relating to safeguarding and relevant mental health legislation, and evidence of experience working with these.
- Excellent knowledge of contemporary safeguarding issues and practice across adults and children
- Excellent knowledge of legal and best practice framework related to sexual safety in the workplace.
- Excellent knowledge of legal and best practice framework related to support for staff experiencing domestic abuse.
- Excellent knowledge of legal and best practice framework related to carers of patients in the context of mental health services.
- Ability to prepare and present written briefings to senior leadership
- Ability to communicate effectively and build good relationships with multi‑professional groups and multi‑agencies
- Able to demonstrate a track record of applying strong analytical skills and lateral thinking to develop creative and innovative service solutions.
- Ability to apply findings from research evidence and best practice.
- Ability to deliver service outcomes to agreed standards by timely and accurate recording of performance data
- Ability to analyse and resolve complex issues, including conflict resolution
- Excellent presentation and communication skills – verbal and written
- Knowledge and experience of risk management processes
- Ability to translate strategy into operational practice to benefit patients and service users
- Ability to manage and direct service delivery initiatives and projects within budget and with set timescales.
- Able to demonstrate an ability to set standards for staff including clear expectations around timescales.
- Ability to acquire new skills and demonstrate a strong commitment to learning/continuous professional development for self and others
- Ability to motivate and empower staff to build an effective service and develop good relationships, trust, good morale and teamwork.
- Ability to attract, develop and retain a highly motivated and professional workforce and to deal swiftly and competently with any performance issues or unprofessional conduct.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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