Job Description
Responsible to: Assistant Director of Pupil Well-being and Protection
Responsible for: Providing strategic leadership in relation to child and adult protection, safeguarding and inclusion; Developing and leading all aspects of assigned services including the Child Protection Support Service (CPSS) and Inter-cultural Education Service (IES) (under Review); Lead Social Worker.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this job is to ensure that the Education Authority (EA) fulfils legal, professional, and inter-agency obligations relating to child and adult safeguarding, and the inclusion of pupils, through the development, updating and implementation of safeguarding, protection and inclusion policy, procedures, and practice standards across the education sector, including, schools, EOTAS, and youth settings.The post holder will manage and lead a series of assigned services, including the Child Protection Support Service and Inter-cultural Education Service (under review), taking a rights-based approach to effective service delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Service Leadership/Management
•Lead and manage assigned well-being and protection services, including CPSS and IES, ensuring continuous service improvement, high quality service delivery and assurance
•Act as the EA’s Lead Social Worker, ensure that social workers employed by the EA are compliant with Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) standards, including supervision, training, practice and documentation
•Promote rights, welfare, privacy, and consent in all safeguarding, protection and inclusion functions
•Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that allegations of child and adult abuse and neglect are dealt with in adherence to legislation, EA policy, procedures and due process
•Support multi-disciplinary / inter-agency assessments and action planning to ensure organizational and professional learning in relation to safeguarding, protection and inclusion; including Case Management Reviews, Individual Agency Reviews and Domestic Homicide Reviews
•Develop staff through professional development that enhances skillsets, capacity and competence.
•Work collaboratively to promote trauma informed approaches
•Monitor and demonstrate service impact and pupil outcomes using Outcomes Based Accountability Framework
•Facilitate the EA Safeguarding in Education Forum (education sector)
•Manage staff, budgets, and resources equitably and effectively
Strategic Planning & Policy Influence
•Ensure EA meets child and adult safeguarding and protection, and inclusion statutory obligations
•Lead policy development and ensure up-to-date safeguarding, protection and inclusion policies
•Ensure that the EA training framework for child and adult protection, safeguarding and inclusion is responsive to the needs of the education sector
•Translate strategic objectives into directorate, division and service plans and targets
•Promote participation of stakeholders in service planning
•Represent EA on SBNI multi-agency fora and other strategic planning and policy groups as required
•Ensure regular reporting and assurances to the Directorate Management Team, Corporate Leadership team and EA Board members and Committees on child and adult safeguarding, protection and inclusion, including emerging issues, trends and demand
Corporate Leadership & Management
•Promote EA values and contribute to a positive corporate culture
•Provide expert and informed social work opinion and influence
•Ensure CPSS and IES services align with EA policies and governance, including audit and risk management
•Collaborate across directorates to address matters relating to safeguarding, protection and inclusion
•Deliver high-quality reports to EA leadership and stakeholders as required
•Manage staff performance, wellbeing, supervision, and development
•Lead disciplinary, capabilityand complaints procedures as needed
•Engage with key stakeholders including schools, trade unions and public representatives
Service Development & Quality Assurance
•Develop and deliver specialist services to promote educational access
•Promote reflective practice
•Review and update policies and procedures for regional service delivery
•Facilitate inter-agency work and share best practices and lessons learned
•Keep designated safeguarding professionals in schools informed and engaged
•Implement ICT systems for monitoring and reporting
•Promote efficiency and evaluate resource use
•Identify and secure funding for innovative projects, contributing to business cases as required
Training & Workforce Development
•Oversee child and adult safeguarding, protection and inclusion training programme, resources and online content
•Lead recruitment and retention of professional and administrative staff
•Ensure induction, supervision, and professional development meet regulatory and best practice standards
•Facilitate appropriate regulated post-qualifying training
Governance & Financial Management
•Ensure robust governance and financial controls
•Monitor budgets and ensure value for money
•Evaluate financial implications of service models
•Act as budget holder and authorised signatory
•Manage physical resources effectively
Partnership Working
•Build partnerships with DE, schools, health and social care trusts, and other agencies.
•Ensure regular consultation with service users, including children and parents
•Influence partners to improve service effectiveness
•Ensure information relating to safeguarding, protection and inclusion service information is easily accessible on the EA website and support EA communication strategies
Other Duties
•Comply with EA policies and undertake additional duties as required
•Promote equality and good relations in line with Section 75 of the NI Act (1998)