Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead
Field Based Role / Regular travel to our nurseries
Full Time / 40 Hours per week / Location
Salary: £47k-50k plus £4k car allowance (driving licence essential)
Based London or South of UK; Flexibility to work at home or from a regional office as required, with overnight stays as necessary
Closing Date: 14/5/25
The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead/Auditor is responsible for providing assurance to the company that its Child Protection and Safeguarding policies, procedures and associated regulatory requirements are applied across operations and support functions consistently and effectively to mitigate risks and fulfil our Duty of Care to Safeguard the children in our care.
The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead/Auditor provides this independent assurance through conducting internal audits, working in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, continuously learning from the investigations and emerging trends undertaken by the Safeguarding Investigation team, audits, and recommending improvement solutions, positive measurable impact and risk mitigation.
The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead /Auditor will advise, support and coach nursery managers and other colleagues in Child Protection and Safeguarding best practice.
The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead/Auditor will support the Head of Safeguarding and the Senior Safeguarding Consultant in general Child Protection work as directed, including but not limited to carrying out visits, inspection and training.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
1. Keeping Everyone Safe by continuously improving the practices, processes and behaviours that underpin a Child Protection, Safeguarding and Arena of Safety.
2. Setting the highest standards of behaviour across their setting consistent with the HEART principles.
3. Complete accurate Safeguarding audits within allocated time frame. Effectively communicate the key findings and actions to improve quality
4. Continuously monitor progression and closure of open action items via the monitoring system.
5. Develop and maintain strong and positive relationships with key stakeholders working in collaboration and maintain a thorough knowledge of the business and external regulatory environment.
6. Support company project activities with the aim to improve Child Protection and Safeguarding Practices.
7. Make sure the Safeguarding Audit is up to date in relation to Child Protection/childcare legislation/standards.
Responsible For:
8. Providing assurance to the company that its Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies, procedures and requirements are applied across operations and support functions consistently and effectively to mitigate risks and fulfil our Duty of Care to safeguard the children in our care.
9. Providing independent assurance through conducting internal audits, working in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, continuously learning from the audits, and recommending improvement solutions which will result in measured impact.
10. Advising, supporting and coaching nursery managers and other colleagues in Keeping Everyone Safe best practice.
11. Supporting the Head and Safeguarding and the Senior Safeguarding Consultant in general Child Protection work as directed, including but not limited to carrying out visits, inspection and training etc.
What We Can Offer You:
12. Our benefits include, but are not limited to;
13. Flexible working and holiday entitlements
14. Discounted childcare
15. Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks
16. Annual gala award evening
17. Fantastic range of discounts on high street retailers, grocery stores, cinema tickets, holidays and more
18. Wide range of wellbeing resources, supporting our teams for the ups and downs of daily life
Why Bright Horizons?
19. We’ve been voted Great Place to Work for the last 17 consecutive years, as well as being awarded the newly created Great Place for Wellbeing and Great Place for Women 2023.
20. Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 300+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
21. We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.
Essential Experience:
22. Worked in a Child Protection/Safeguarding Role or worked in a Childcare Environment
23. Proven track record in effectively undertaking the key tasks to the role, leading best practice and making a difference.
24. Work independently and prioritise.
Experience Desirable:
25. Childcare sector
26. Multi-site company
27. Structured audit environment
28. Ability to use the audit software and analyse the results and recommend any actions
29. Timeliness and accuracy of audit delivery and reporting
30. Closing out identified actions with impact and effectiveness of supporting activities
Qualifications
31. OHSAS: Internal Auditor Certificate (desirable)
32. Level 3 Early Years Qualification (essential)
33. Training/Coaching Qualification (desirable)
Personal attributes
34. Excellent influencer, change-maker and effective communicator (oral and in writing)
35. Highly motivated and driven, achieving positive impact and meeting deadlines
36. Ability to build trust and develop cohesive teams – strong empathy, clear expectations and fair-minded
37. High energy and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment - calm approach and ‘can-do’ attitude
38. Encourages colleagues to realise their potential and empowers high performers
39. Able to use data and numerical detail effectively to inform strategy, measure impact and drive quality
We look forward to receiving your application!