Suffolk County Council Address: Post 1: Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 OEQ, Hybrid working Post 2 : West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU, Hybrid working Salary: £48,163 per annum Hours: 37 hours per week, Flexible working options available Contract: Permanent At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change, and as a Safeguarding Practice Lead, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on the people of Suffolk. This is a key practice leadership role where you will influence safeguarding culture, strengthen professional confidence, and ensure high‑quality, person‑centred safeguarding practice that truly makes a difference. Reimagine the possibilities. Your role and responsibilities Imagine starting your day knowing that the work you do will shape safer, stronger practice for people across your locality. In this role, you will provide trusted advice and professional leadership on complex safeguarding concerns, supporting practitioners to think clearly about risk while keeping people at the centre of decision‑making and ensuring the best possible outcomes for adults, their families and carers. You will review practice through quality assurance activity, turning learning into clear improvements that strengthen consistency and impact. Working closely with colleagues, partners and providers, you help build shared ownership of safeguarding and a culture of openness and continuous improvement. You will lead learning sessions and workshops, supporting professional curiosity, confidence and strengths‑based practice. Throughout your work, whether advising on self‑neglect, supporting defensible risk decisions or contributing to CQC assurance, you stay focused on what matters most, which is improving people’s experiences and outcomes through high quality safeguarding practice. What you will need Professional qualification in Social Work (registered with Social Work England) or Occupational Therapy (registered with HCPC), with evidence of ongoing continuous professional development. Significant post‑qualification experience, including direct experience of adult safeguarding and working with complex cases involving risk and vulnerability. Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding best practice, with the ability to make sound, defensible decisions. Proven experience of providing expert advice, professional leadership and supervision to support and improve practice. Experience of quality assurance, practice development or service improvement, using learning, data or audit activity to drive change. Demonstrated leadership skills, including influencing and supporting others, leading learning or training, and embedding good safeguarding practice. Ability to work collaboratively with partners, including health, commissioned and independent sector providers. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and confidently. Strong commitment to person‑centred practice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Suffolk County Council’s values. You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. The team This post is based within one of the localities within Suffolk Adult Social Care: The West locality supports five diverse locality areas across West Suffolk, delivering statutory duties under The Care Act 2014 and providing responsive, person centred support to adults with a wide range of needs. The locality spans a mix of market towns, rural villages and more isolated communities creating a broad and complex pattern of need. Adult Social Care in the West is delivered through strong integration with health colleagues, community partners, hospital-based teams and specialist teams such as our Optimising Care and Support Team and Flexible Care and Support Team. Practice is grounded in a strengths based, person centred approach ensuring individuals receive timely and proportionate support. Teams benefit from a collaborative culture that values professional development and celebrates best practice. The North locality, operates within Suffolk’s locality‑based Adult Social Care model. It combines the large coastal town of Lowestoft with areas of rural isolation, creating a varied demand and complexity across the locality, including pockets of deprivation and health inequality. Delivering Statutory Care Act duties through strong integration with health, providers and community partners, underpinned by a strengths‑based and person‑centred practice approach, with a culture that supports professional development and actively recognises and celebrates best practice. Empowering Everyone We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report. For more information For a casual conversation please contact either: Kim Elvin by either calling 01473 263426 or emailing kim.elvin@suffolk.gov.uk Beverly Chambers by either calling 01394 605058 or emailing beverly.chambers@suffolk.gov.uk How to apply Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word). Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word). Describe a situation where you provided professional leadership during a challenging situation. What was your approach and what impact did it have on practice or outcomes? Give an example of how you have influenced practitioners or managers to improve practice in a pressured environment. Can you give an example of how you support others to reflect on risk, professional curiosity or decision-making in safeguarding work? Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details). For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page. We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed. Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team by either emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments. Closing date: 11.30 pm, 17 May 2026. Interview date: Week commencing 1 June 2026. Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct. This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities. In return, you’ll enjoy: up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase training and encouragement to expand your knowledge a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation diverse and active staff networks flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day Plus lots more! If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .