Head of Safeguarding

Part 1: Job Profile b) Work relationships SCCH care is delivered by four clinical areas under the direct operational management of the Heads of Care. The nature of Safeguarding work necessitates good relationships, awareness and understanding of these clinical areas, multi-disciplinary professionals and the wider work of the charity: Inhouse Community Nursing SPACE (specialist palliative care team) Family Support Services (psychosocial care) The post holder will act as the organisational expert regarding safeguarding across the wider organisation. The post holder will work in partnership with internal and external professionals involved in the care of children, young adults and families. This includes contact within external professional networks to enhance individual knowledge and skills, to ensure alignment with guidance and regulations, and to continually review Safeguarding, Social Work and Transition Care.
c) Scope of job The postholder is required to act as a specialist resource in the prevention, identification, assessment and management of children and adults at risk, promoting collaborative working with other agencies. The post holder will work closely with the clinical areas, to safeguard individuals where there is a lack mental capacity or where there is a need for support or question around a persons decision-making ability. The post holder will be involved in policy formation and implementation and will be expected to respectfully challenge decision making and present an evidence-based argument to promote excellence in safeguarding and mental capacity practice. The post holder is responsible for ensuring and enhancing the quality, safety and effectiveness of social work and transition care offered to SSCH children and families.
This involves developing professional knowledge and skills of the team, to respond to evolving needs within childrens and adult palliative care. The post holder will be required to provide and present expert safeguarding advice and reports both verbal and written to the Directors, Board, other forums as well as externally at local, regional or national level. Work will predominantly take place in-person at Shooting Star House or Christophers. Some travel to schools, colleges, residential settings and family homes may be required.
Hospice care is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, therefore the post holder may be required to work occasional Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. Part 2: a) Main duties and key responsibilities Safeguarding To lead Safeguarding work that supports the delivery of innovative, clinically excellent, evidence-based practice in relation to children and adults who are identified as being at risk of harm, including those affected by domestic abuse and substance misuse. To ensure effective processes are in place that enable the Safeguarding Team to respond to staff seeking support, with specialist child protection, adult protection and safeguarding knowledge, support and guidance. To ensure Safeguarding work is carried through, in particular when competing priorities arise within the Safeguarding Team.
To work collaboratively with partner agencies across health, social care, education and others to safeguarding children and adults at risk and promote welfare. To represent SSCH at multi-agency meetings in respect of Safeguarding issues, including multi-disciplinary strategy meetings and child/adult protection case conferences/review meetings when required. To communicate highly sensitive and complex information appropriately in multi-agency forums. To support and empower the wider team in communicating highly sensitive and complex information to colleagues, partner agencies, families and individuals with professionalism.
To support professionals working with complex cases, utilising highly developed clinical and communication skills to ensure robust decision making and appropriate response to safeguarding concerns. MCA Dols To leads on statutory compliance in respect of DoLS/LPS. To design, develop and implement strategies, policies, procedures and guidance for MCA and LPS regulations, including quality assurance mechanisms and analysis. Provide expert oversight and advice to staff in relation to MCA and DoLS/LPS.
To ensure that standards are appropriated applied so that patients are cared for in the least restrictive manner within the options available to them. To ensure that all DoLS/LPS applications are completed and processed. Advisory To ensure extensive knowledge of the safeguarding agenda. To acquire and review national learning and information concerning safeguarding, including domestic abuse, substance misuse, public protection, child exploitation, channel, and modern-day slavery.
To identify new ways of working in response to national drivers and local need. To challenge decisions when appropriate and implement agreed actions. To report to Heads of Care and Directors any potential risks and non-compliance. To contribute to the development of strategy, policies and protocols that facilitate safe, effective and timely information sharing processes, reflecting current legislation and national policy.
To participate in morbidity and mortality meetings, journal club, study days and teaching sessions. Education To oversee the planning and delivery of training programmes for safeguarding children, adults and the wider safeguarding agenda. To work with the Heads of Care to identify current and emerging training needs across the clinical areas. To contribute to a staff supervision and wellbeing programme that promotes safe practice and supports and empowers practitioners in their professional development.
To facilitate learning and increase self-awareness of resilience and burnout. To ensure a provision of specialist safeguarding supervision. To work with the Practice Education and Quality Team to develop and deliver a comprehensive MCA and DoLS/LPS programme of training. To maintain personal and team knowledge of Safeguarding legislation including the MCA, Gillick competency and DoLS national, regional and local procedures and practices.
Governance To ensure effective policies, procedures and systems are in place for Safeguarding, MCA and DoLS/LPS in accordance with legislation and statutory and regulatory requirements. To actively undertake clinical audits and monitor and collects statistical data in relation to MCA/DoLS/LPS and safeguarding children and adults at risk. Ensure that the Director of Care, relevant committees, and groups are briefed on issues relating to safeguarding, particularly where a case may present serious concerns for SSCH. To produce reports and presentations as required, indicating themes, key developments and risks.
To thoroughly investigate internal incidents and attend multi-agency reviews, ensuring effective systems are in place for learning and sharing lessons both internally and with statutory partners. To contribute to service evaluation to ensure equity of service and maintain high quality service provision. To consider ways in which technology can enhance the safeguarding work of SSCH and to propose developments. Leadership To lead on the delivery of social work advice, advocacy, emotional support and direct interventions with children and young people with palliative and life-limiting conditions and family members.
To ensure effective delivery of transition care to young people aged 14 years and over, including proactive offers of support at appropriate age-points. To establish and build professional relationships with professionals/networks that progress effective psychosocial and transition care. To line manage the Social Work and Transition Team, ensuring safe practice, the continued professional development and welfare of this team. To ensure adherence to policies relevant to managing people.
To induct new staff as appropriate, ensuring they are aware of all necessary procedures, policies and information necessary to carry out their role. To contribute to organisational leadership work focused on business as usual and strategy initiatives, with specific focus on the experience of equality, diversity and inclusion for children, young people and families. Research and Development Participate in safeguarding based research within SSCH, supporting and advising the Director of Care To have up-date-to-date knowledge and ability to research and update oneself in a wide range of illness and disability and to be willing to update skills and knowledge. Working alongside the Research Lead carry out timely research and accurate information analysis and reporting on agreed areas.
Actively support and contribute to the development of key performance indicators. Update incidents, manage a database and record audit programmes for each safeguarding theme. Ensure safeguarding database is completed as required by coordinator and produce monthly reports requiring the types of Safeguarding incidents in all clinical areas. Develop and create statistical reports and present information to produce action plans.
Operate within and provide enhancements to current management information reporting. Contribute to research of national and international standards to promote evidence-based practice and critically appraise and synthesise the outcome of relevant research, evaluation and audit in relation to safeguarding children and adults.