Go back East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)
MASH Health & Children in Care Service Lead
Closing date: 14 June 2026
Overview
Are you an experienced safeguarding professional with a passion for driving quality and managing risk? Join East of England Community Health & Care Services as our MASH Health & Children in Care Service Lead, where you'll play a critical role in ensuring the safety of vulnerable children and adults through effective multi‑agency collaboration.
This is a pivotal leadership role requiring a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, risk management, and partnership working. You'll oversee quality assurance, compliance, and continuous improvement within our Multi‑Agency Safeguarding Hub and our Children in Care service, helping to shape best practices and improve outcomes for those at risk.
Why Join Us?
* Be part of a dedicated, forward‑thinking team committed to safeguarding excellence
* Work in a dynamic, multi‑agency environment with key partners, including social care, health and police
* Enjoy a supportive workplace that values innovation, development and staff well‑being
If you’re a proactive leader with expertise in safeguarding and risk, we’d love to hear from you!
Apply today and make a real difference in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible and accountable for the delivery of the MASH health service and the Children in care team, including clinical responsibility for the safeguarding of service users who are open to MASH Health and the initial and review health assessments for children who become looked after. They will be responsible for the operational running and team management, ensuring and developing quality assurance and improvement and the clinical governance of the services.
The post holder will provide operational leadership and direction across the service to drive improvements and a culture of learning, influence service strategies, and have input into decision‑making at the senior management level.
Responsibility includes operational management of the Multi‑Agency Safeguarding Hub health team and the Children in Care team, providing clinical leadership, developing collaborative working practices across the safeguarding partnership, coordinating and leading the MASH health team to share health information lawfully, triaging and prioritising work based on risk to children, and ensuring service delivery within statutory time‑frames.
Job responsibilities
Key responsibilities include:
* Day‑to‑day operational management of the MASH health service, including all staff.
* Creation and implementation of the MASH Health operational framework and maintenance of policy, standard operating procedures.
* Line‑management support to Children in Care team managers.
* Develop and monitor governance arrangements, ensuring quality assurance, auditing, clinical risk management and evidence‑based practice.
* Review and respond to all DATIX incidents and complaints related to the MASH health & CIC services.
* Ensure supervision, training and development opportunities for MASH health practitioners and administrators.
* Work with partner agencies to develop MASH services and promote safety and well‑being of children.
* Identify clinical risks, escalates appropriately, and implement actions to mitigate harm.
* Monitor quality of practice through audit, benchmarking and research.
* Succession planning and future service development.
* Prepare for CQC inspections.
Communication
Represent the MASH health & CIC services at senior leadership levels internally and externally, maintaining effective professional relationships and ensuring robust processes for the dissemination of information about vulnerable children.
Important relationships
EEC HCP senior leadership, Service Leads, named nurses, clinical leads and team managers; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough County Council service leads; Cambridgeshire Constabulary, ICB designates; and other partner agencies.
Budgetary Responsibility
Budget holding responsibility, authorised signatory, orders equipment.
People Management
Responsibilities include appraisals, sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance matters, recruitment and selection, personal and career development, workload and allocation.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience with community caseloads comprising high dependency/complex family issues and child protection.
* Highly developed subject‑matter expertise and specialist knowledge across MASH health and safeguarding.
* Expert knowledge of local policy and national legislation.
* Experience planning and allocating work for a service or team.
* Direct line management of a team or service.
* Experience designing and delivering training packages in safeguarding.
* Experience supervising in safeguarding children.
* Advanced evidence‑gathering, risk analysis skills.
* Experience in a safeguarding leadership role.
* Experience working with police, local authority, voluntary agencies.
* Experience creating and reviewing health operational frameworks.
* Experience planning, implementing and analysing audits.
* Experience liaising with safeguarding partnership boards.
* Knowledge of national MASH standards.
Qualifications & Training
* First‑level registration with NMC‑RGN, RMN, RCN, SCPHN qualification.
* Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience.
* Evidence of post‑qualifying and continuing professional development.
Knowledge & Skills
* Excellent communication and high‑level negotiation skills.
* Highly developed interpersonal skills.
* Knowledge and appreciation of equality & diversity issues.
* Clinical governance and risk management experience.
* Expert knowledge of legislation, guidance and systems related to safeguarding children.
* Networking skills and ability to form alliances.
* Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills.
* Proven senior leadership skills.
* Ability to identify risks and create solutions.
* Strong written and IT skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).
* Report‑writing skills.
* Ability to work flexibly as part of a team.
* High‑level planning and organisational skills.
Safeguarding
* Demonstrable knowledge and experience to act as a recognised expert in safeguarding, child protection and the MASH.
* Responsible subject‑matter expert, providing specialised supervision and guidance.
* Appreciates safeguarding significance and interprets accurately for all children and vulnerable adults.
* Promotes welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
* Escalates cases appropriately.
* Keeps up to date with local policy changes, legislation and current events.
* Demonstrates best‑practice promotion and inspiration.
* Shows personal commitment to safeguarding children.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a D&BSC check.
Address
The Hex, Cambridgeshire Constabulary Headquarters
Remuneration
£57,528 to £64,750 a year, pro rata.
Contract
Secondment
Working pattern
Secondment – (details not specified)
Reference number
448-CCYP-7986914-A
Job locations
The Hex, Cambridgeshire Constabulary Headquarters
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