Go back North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)
Safeguarding Children Specialist Nurse
The closing date is 29 May 2026
The Specialist Childrens Safeguarding Nurse plays a pivotal role within the Families First for Children Pathfinder, working as an embedded health professional within a multi‑agency child protection team. The postholder will provide highly specialist safeguarding and clinical expertise to support children and families, ensuring that health needs, risks, and vulnerabilities are fully understood and robustly represented in multi‑agency decision‑making.
The role focuses on early identification of health‑related safeguarding risks, direct work with children and families where required, and close collaboration with social care, police, education, and other specialist services to promote timely, coordinated, and relationship‑based interventions that improve outcomes for children.
Main duties of the job
* Act as the lead specialist safeguarding nurse within the Families First for Children Pathfinder, embedded in a multi‑agency child protection team.
* Provide expert health and safeguarding advice across all areas of the MACPT multi‑agency child protection team.
* Undertake visits and complete health assessments when required.
* Work directly with children and families, completing specialist assessments and addressing unmet health and safeguarding needs.
* Provide specialist safeguarding advice, supervision and support to frontline health practitioners across the Trust.
* Lead the coordination, quality assurance and oversight of health safeguarding activity within the MACPT.
* Work closely with the Named Nurse to develop guidance and procedures, deliver training on health‑related topics, complete audits, and collate Families First for Children Pathfinder health data.
About us
* Flexible working will be considered for all roles.
* North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.
* Bringing together community and out‑of‑hospital services with inpatient and elective care, we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.
* Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).
* We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other.
* We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn.
* We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone.
* We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working.
* We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all.
* We work well together and with our communities.
Job responsibilities
* Support Warringtons Families First Pathfinder Program, taking the lead in development and delivery of a highly specialist health practitioner role.
* Work directly and where necessary intensively with children and young people on the edge of care to identify, understand and address their health needs.
* Contribute to Section 47 enquiries, support the development and review of child protection plans and provide relevant health information to inform legal proceedings.
* Act as a source of advice and support to health practitioners, including Warringtons 0‑19 service and specialist children services.
* Take lead responsibility for the management and co‑ordination of safeguarding activity within a defined area of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, assessing, planning and implementing care plans for children and families.
* Provide highly specialist advice and clinical support to staff employed and commissioned by the Trust, maintaining appropriate documentation and records.
* Provide support/supervision and serve as a source of knowledge in safeguarding children.
* Work closely with the Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children to ensure appropriate quality assurance mechanisms are in place.
* Be integral in developing effective communication strategies within the Trust and with other agencies and professionals.
* Provide safeguarding supervision for all frontline practitioners.
Duties and Responsibilities
Professional
* Practice at all times within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
* Provide high‑quality supervision to staff to maintain and improve service quality for children and families.
* Formally record the supervision sessions.
* Work in conjunction with the Named Nurse and safeguarding team to review and update policies and procedures.
* Contribute to quality, audit and monitoring procedures.
* Serve as a resource to staff in terms of support, information and advice.
* Contribute to the development of effective communication systems within the Trust and other agencies.
Management
* Provide specialist advice and support to all staff within the Trust on safeguarding issues, policies, procedures and clinical practice.
* Collaborate with key professionals in the development and implementation of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance.
* Participate in the development of relevant multi‑agency policy, procedure and practice guidance.
* Effect change within own sphere of practice when indicated.
* Make recommendations to improve services.
* Influence, motivate, support and enable others to contribute toward effectiveness and success of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
* Allocate resources with professionals from partner agencies on behalf of staff when appropriate.
* Exercise leadership and aim to achieve high morale through efficient management and clear communication.
* Work closely with staff responsible for vulnerable children case management to provide an independent and objective overview to enhance protection of service users and staff.
* Assist in the Serious Case Review process, implementing findings and recommendations across the trust.
* Advise, direct and support staff in preparing written reports for formal child protection procedures and legal proceedings.
* Support and advise staff when attending court for safeguarding cases.
* Prioritise and manage workload amid unpredictable child protection issues and enquiries.
Please see Full Job Description and Person Specification attached.
Person Specification
Skills and Knowledge
* Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
* Ability to work autonomously and with minimal supervision.
* Ability to work effectively as part of a team or independently.
* Ability to analyse and interpret data, information and situations, offering appropriate advice and guidance.
* Excellent planning and organisational skills and ability to adjust plans to meet service demands.
* Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
* Demonstrated confidence with highly sensitive, emotive information.
* Computer literacy and ability to devise and maintain IT or paper‑based systems.
* Excellent teaching and presentation skills.
* Clinical credibility demonstrated through experience in safeguarding children.
* Ability to manage personal stress and that of others in highly emotive and distressing circumstances.
Relationships
* If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.
Job Specific Requirements
* Ability to work autonomously and direct others.
* Enthusiasm and commitment to the safeguarding agenda.
* Ability to travel independently across the Trust.
* Ability to work flexibly weekends/evenings as part of an all‑year‑round service.
* Flexible and motivated team‑player approach.
* Experience of cascading information.
Experience
* Post‑qualification experience in a relevant field.
* Experience of managing complex safeguarding children cases.
* Experience of working within a multi‑agency framework.
* Current knowledge of national guidance, the safeguarding agenda and legislation as well as national safeguarding concerns.
* Evidence of assessing risk and harm with proven analysis.
* Understanding of statutory duties in relation to the child death overview process.
Qualifications
* 1st level registration with current NMC registration.
* Specialist Community Practitioner.
* RHV / SN with relevant degree or evidence of ongoing study at L3.
* ENB 970 or HEA 454 (child protection).
* Equivalent qualifications.
* Teaching qualification.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)
#J-18808-Ljbffr