Head of Safeguarding

The Head of Safeguarding is a new role for the organisation. You will lead our safeguarding strategy and practice, ensuring we provide the highest standards of safety and care for the young people we support. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing quality, consistency and continual development of safeguarding practice across the organisation. You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement relevant safeguarding policies, facilitate staff training, embed learning from incidents, and ensure safeguarding is understood as everyone's responsibility.

We are happy to consider candidates taking their first step into leadership and we will consider exceptional part time candidates to ensure we find the right person or people for the role. We particularly welcome candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as these are overrepresented communities in our services and yet underrepresented within our leadership.

• Contract type and hours: permanent, 35 hours per week Monday-Friday
• Starting salary: £46,800 (salary scale £46,800-£52,000)
• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR
• Application deadline: 9am, Friday 30 January 2026.

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Main tasks and responsibilities:

1. Lead NHYC's organisational safeguarding strategy, setting high standards for policy, culture, and practice.
2. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice, ensuring NHYC remains compliant and responsive to the external environment.
3. Develop and review NHYC's safeguarding policies and procedures, in collaboration with the COO, ensuring policies are accessible, inclusive and understood across teams.
4. Convene regular forums with deputy DSOs to review cases, share learning and drive continuous improvement.
5. Act as a key point of contact for safeguarding concerns or incidents to be escalated.
6. Provide appropriate leadership, advice and case support to teams across our frontline services.
7. Ensure maintenance of high quality, accurate safeguarding records.
8. Coordinate responses to serious safeguaridng incidents where requried, including using insights from reviews to inform ongoing training, policy and practice improvements.
9. Develop and deliver internal safeguarding training for staff at all levels of the organisation.
10. Promote reflective practice and continuous learning across teams.
11. Represent NHYC in relevant safeguarding forums, networks or multi-agency meetings.
12. Liaise with statutory safeguarding partners as needed, ensuring appropriate referrals and escalation.
13. Provide regular safeguarding reports to the COO, Leadership Team, and Board of Trustees.
14. Support Trustees in fulfilling their safeguarding oversight responsibilities, including through training and assurance reporting. Following New Horizon's policies, procedures and performance expectations in all functions of the post.
15. Undertaking any other duties as may be reasonably required by the Chief Executive or Chief Operating Officer.

Please see our website for full job pack.

Head of Safeguarding - New Horizon Youth Centre