Specialist Safeguarding Children Advisor Barking, Dagenham & Havering

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner to join the NELFT Safeguarding Team in the role of Specialist Safeguarding Children Advisor covering Barking, Dagenham and Havering. The successful applicants will support the Head of Safeguarding and Named Professionals for Safeguarding and join the wider NELFT Safeguarding Team to ensure a Think Family approach to Safeguarding. We will welcome applicants with a nursing, allied health professional or social work qualification. You will be required to provide input to NELFT's Safeguarding Children Advice Service which is based in Basildon, deliver safeguarding training, assist with policy development and contribute to the progress of the safeguarding strategy. The successful applicant will need to demonstrate a passion for safeguarding and be prepared to provide safeguarding supervision for practitioners. The post holder will be prepared to travel to various bases across Barking, Dagenham and Havering dependant on base as well as, on occasions, attend meetings in all areas covered by NELFT. You will be expected to take forward the safeguarding children agenda and support the delivery of the NELFT Safeguarding Strategy which includes policy development and review, supervision, training and participation in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and other reviews.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Specialist Safeguarding Children Advisor involves working closely with the Head of Safeguarding, Named Professionals for Safeguarding Children, and other Specialist Advisors in order to ensure that staff can access advice and support readily at the point of need.

An important element of the role is to participate in the planning, delivery and evaluation of safeguarding training, both single agency and multi-agency, and you will be expected to attend safeguarding children meetings as the representative for NELFT, including Local Safeguarding Children Board sub groups and to deputise for the Named Professional as directed.

You will be required to provide safeguarding children supervision for a defined group of staff and support staff in the preparation of written reports both in relation to formal Child Protection procedures and for legal proceedings.

Job responsibilities

Duties and main responsibilities

1. Adhere to and implement Local and National policies for Child Protection/Safeguarding Children and adults within professional practice.
2. Provide advice to NELFT practitioners via the Safeguarding Children Advice Service on day-to-day management of children and families where there are safeguarding children concerns. This may be by responding to telephone calls, InPhase alerts or email enquiries.
3. Support cover arrangements for the Safeguarding Children Advice Service under the supervision of a senior colleague.
4. Work collaboratively with the Safeguarding Adults team to embed the Think Family approach.
5. Work closely with the Named Professionals for Safeguarding Children and the wider safeguarding team in order to ensure that staff can access advice and support readily at the point of need and embed the Think Family approach.
6. Support the work of the safeguarding team with health practitioners and their managers in developing high standards of practice in relation to the management of vulnerable children and their families.
7. Assist fellow Specialist Safeguarding Children Advisors and Named Professionals in supporting staff involved in the Child Protection processes, attending Child Protection conferences, strategy meetings and other interagency/professional meetings as the need arises and/or briefing practitioners in relation to these meetings.
8. Provide safeguarding children supervision for a defined group of staff as agreed, in line with NELFT's Safeguarding Supervision Policy.
9. Support the delivery of the annual Safeguarding Children/adult Audit Programme.
10. Provide support to staff involved in the Child Protection processes, attending Child Protection conferences, strategy meetings and other interagency/professional meetings as the need arises.
11. Support new or inexperienced staff with writing effective referrals to social care, escalations and child protection reports.
12. Support staff in the development of chronologies for FII and Perplexing presentation cases or in respect of CSPRs and DHRs where there are children involved.
13. Support the dissemination of Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Learning Reviews/SCIE recommendations to inform and improve practice and influence policy/procedures in line with Local safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures.
14. Assist in the delivery of NELFT Safeguarding Children/Adult Training.
15. Assist in ensuring procedures are distributed, understood and implemented by professionals, in the light of new local and national policy.

Education and Development

1. Identify personal training and educational requirements in conjunction with the Safeguarding Named Professionals, Specialist Safeguarding Children Advisors and the Workforce Development Unit and attend relevant mandatory and other training pertinent to role.
2. Participate in Annual Appraisals.
3. Participate in the planning, delivery and evaluation of safeguarding training, both single agency and multi-agency.
4. Undertake the role of mentor, preceptor and clinical support as required to newly appointed staff.
5. Assist in the induction of new staff of other disciplines.
6. Identify the training needs of staff through safeguarding children supervision and support the development and commissioning of training to meet identified themes and trends.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse, Social Worker or Allied Health Professional
• Current registration with NMC or HCPC
• Teaching/Mentoring Qualification/working towards
• Evidence of ongoing Safeguarding Children level 3 training

Desirable

• Safeguarding Children Supervisor
• Attended a Leadership Programme
• Safeguarding training additional training

Experience
Essential

• Minimum of two years' experience post registration
• Experience of interagency work
• Involved in Audit
• Undertaking report writing and participation on safeguarding reviews

Desirable

• Experience of developing policies and guidelines

Knowledge
Essential

• Demonstrates a good knowledge of operational safeguarding processes

Skills
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Good IT skills
• Ability to maintain a balanced objective perspective on all situations

Desirable

• Ability to supervise and support staff in individual and group settings

Employer details
Employer name
NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
Address
Child and Family Health Centre
79 Axe Street
Barking
IG11 7LX
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