Job Ref No. ECC0-128S Position Type: Administration Pay Range: £36,375 to £42,794 per annum
Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Fixed
Application Close: 05/03/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: TBC
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 18 months.
If you wish to apply for this role, please submit an application via the following link: https://workingforessex.com/apply/education-safeguarding-adviser-21913
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Head of Education Safeguarding and Wellbeing, this is a countywide safeguarding role to support all Essex schools, EYCS and other settings. The post holder will support the provision of high-quality information, advice and guidance to all settings and ECC Education staff in respect of safeguarding and child protection. They will work collaboratively with the Essex Safeguarding Children Board and a wide range of partners to drive safeguarding work across the county.
This role will work with settings and ECC staff to raise standards through appropriate support and challenge, to build capacity and expertise and ensure safeguarding duties are met. The successful candidate will also investigate complaints from a range of sources and work with settings to identify any learning or support required to resolve difficult issues.
The postholder should have an in-depth knowledge of child protection and safeguarding statutory guidance and experience of working with schools and other educational settings.
Please note this role will be linked to a quadrant (West, South, North or Mid), but also requires travel throughout Essex to support events and activities in line with business needs.
To read more about our business area, please visit: Education
Accountabilities
* Act as a source of professional information, advice and guidance to education settings and ECC staff on safeguarding and protecting children from harm.
* Lead on complaints received about education settings in a particular quadrant and work collaboratively with quadrant teams to address any concerns.
* Work collaboratively with key professionals to improve safeguarding outcomes for children in Essex.
* Contribute to supporting education settings to raise standards through development of self-evaluation and undertaking safeguarding reviews of statutory responsibilities to ensure compliance with safeguarding requirements.
* Support delivery of safeguarding briefings for education settings to ensure Designated Leads receive relevant information to support their role as safeguarding leads.
* Support developing resources for education settings on a range of safeguarding issues, including CE, domestic abuse, gangs and violence, honour‑based abuse, child protection and harmful sexual behaviour.
* Maintain up‑to‑date in‑depth knowledge and information on child protection and safeguarding matters to ensure Early Years settings and schools receive regular and relevant updates on important issues.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience.
* Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
* Deep understanding of child protection and safeguarding statutory guidance and procedures specifically in relation to education, ideally having accessed Level 3 safeguarding training.
* Evidence of working with schools at a senior level, demonstrating a broad and in‑depth knowledge of education.
* Proven track record of effective partnership working which is collaborative and influential in delivering advice and guidance.
* Exemplar leadership and behavioural skills with the ability to focus on results, forging a strong team from diverse backgrounds to achieve strategic objectives.
* Proven ability of proactively influencing, leading and delivering major cultural and organisational change in a complex environment.
* Ability to communicate with a range of people at all levels.
* Post holder must be mobile throughout the operational area, have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or have the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government re‑organisation (LGR) on our careers site.
Information about the School
Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda – one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We’re immensely proud of our flexible working options.
All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
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Essex Recruitment Team
County Hall, Chelmsford
Essex, CM1 1QH
Telephone: 0
Email: resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
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