Safeguarding Practice Lead
Suffolk County Council
Job Details
* Post 1: Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 OEQ – Hybrid working
* Post 2: West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU – Hybrid working
* Salary: £48,163 per annum
* Hours: 37 hours per week – Flexible working options available
* Contract: Permanent
Responsibilities
* Provide trusted advice and professional leadership on complex safeguarding concerns, supporting practitioners to think clearly about risk while keeping people at the centre of decision‑making.
* Review practice through quality assurance activity, turning learning into clear improvements that strengthen consistency and impact.
* Lead learning sessions and workshops, supporting professional curiosity, confidence and strengths‑based practice.
* Support practitioners in self‑neglect, defensible risk decisions or CQC assurance, focusing on improving people’s experiences and outcomes.
* Build shared ownership of safeguarding and a culture of openness and continuous improvement across colleagues, partners and providers.
Qualifications & Requirements
* Professional qualification in Social Work (registered with Social Work England) or Occupational Therapy (registered with HCPC), with evidence of ongoing continuous professional development.
* Significant post‑qualification experience, including direct experience of adult safeguarding and working with complex cases involving risk and vulnerability.
* Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding best practice, with the ability to make sound, defensible decisions.
* Proven experience of providing expert advice, professional leadership and supervision to support and improve practice.
* Experience of quality assurance, practice development or service improvement, using learning, data or audit activity to drive change.
* Demonstrated leadership skills, including influencing and supporting others, leading learning or training, and embedding good safeguarding practice.
* Ability to work collaboratively with partners, including health, commissioned and independent sector providers.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and confidently.
* Strong commitment to person‑centred practice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Suffolk County Council’s values.
Benefits
* Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro‑rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days.
* Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
* Travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits.
* Performance‑related annual pay progression, and an annual cost‑of‑living pay increase.
* Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge.
* A variety of career development opportunities across the organisation.
* Diverse and active staff networks.
* Flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day.
Closing date: 11.30 pm, 17 May 2026.
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