About the Role and our Ideal Candidate Lead, develop and uphold expert adult safeguarding practice, bridging strategic priorities and operational delivery in order to protect Sutton residents at risk of harm. Responsibilities In this role, you won't just be managing a workload; you will be the go-to safeguarding specialist responsible for driving forward excellent practice. On a day-to-day basis, you will be expected to: Mentor and Empower Staff: Deliver high-quality coaching, mentoring, and reflective case supervision, acting as a supportive practice leader and stepping up to provide management oversight when the Team Manager is away. Shape Policy and Training: Translate the latest research and legislation into practical reality by designing and delivering engaging safeguarding training, policies, and practice guidance, across internal teams and multi-agency partners. Model Best Practice in Complex Cases: Step in to directly handle and model expert statutory social work practice for the most complex, high-risk cases involving adults at risk and their carers. Drive Quality and Performance: Lead regular casework audits and quality assurance checks to ensure the teams consistently meet key performance indicators and remain prepared for regulatory framework inspections. Champion Multi-Agency Collaboration: Act as the organisation’s Self-Care Support Lead and Person in Position of Trust (PIPOT) Lead, chairing professional meetings and fostering strong, collaborative relationships with external partner agencies. About You We are looking for a dedicated, highly skilled social work professional who balances technical expertise with empathy. To be successful in this role, you will need to meet the following criteria: Essential Qualifications & Professional Standing: Qualified Social Worker: You must hold a professional Social Work Degree and maintain an active registration with Social Work England (SWE). Advanced Training: Evidence of post-qualifying training relevant to a social work specialism (e.g. Safeguarding). Vetting: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and relevant Council vetting. Essential Experience & Skills: Statutory Expertise: At least 4 years of post-qualifying experience within Adult’s Statutory Services, with a robust track record in undertaking assessments, support planning, risk analysis, and case reviews. Complex Case & Line Management: Minimum of 3 years autonomously managing high-complexity cases, making critical risk decisions under pressure, and holding line management or supervisory responsibilities. Legal & Technical Knowledge: A comprehensive, working knowledge of the Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005), and safeguarding/social work related legislative frameworks. Quality Assurance: Proven experience in auditing casework, implementing departmental procedures, and chairing multi-agency meetings. Communication & Autonomy: High-level written and oral communication skills, with the confidence to use your initiative to make decisive judgements outside of the escalation process. Flexibility & Presence: Excellent organisational skills to meet strict deadlines, the ability to work regularly from the office, and access to reliable transport to carry out essential home visits and face-to-face meetings. Desirable Requirement: Holding a Best Interests Assessor (BIA) qualification is highly desirable and will be a distinct advantage. About Us At the London Borough of Sutton (LBS), we put the well-being, safety and protection of our residents at the very heart of everything we do. Our Adult Social Care team is driven by a shared passion to continually elevate safeguarding standards, ensuring that our residents receive the necessary level of care and support, exactly when they need it. We are a forward-thinking, collaborative, and compassionate service. We operate under a culture that champions a person-centered approach, explicitly guided by the principles of Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP). This means that we tailor our interventions to the specific needs, preferences and desired outcomes of our residents. Our service is dedicated to fostering independence, ensuring that our residents exercise complete agency and self-determination over their daily lives. Our teams act as a vital bridge between strategic vision and operational excellence. We also take pride in building strong, resilient networks across the partnership, and playing a pivotal role in delivering the priorities of the Sutton Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB). Innovation, research-informed practice and continuous development define who we are. If you are looking for a supportive environment where your expertise is valued, your professional development is nurtured and your work directly improves lives, you will find your home here.