Homes Safeguarding Officer - South

Salary: Up to £45,000 - £50,000

Closing date: 10th May

Interview Date: 20th May

Please note: This role provides oversight of our children's homes across Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Candidates must therefore be based within or close to this region, as regular travel between homes is a key requirement of the role. While the position offers remote working, a strong local presence is essential to effectively support our services and maintain high standards of safeguarding practice.

Those huge small victories

We are the highest Ofsted-rated provider in the country for special education and care. Our teams are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things.

For children with complex needs the level of care and education we provide must go above and beyond. That's what drives us here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in-house clinical teams, we're proud to have won a reputation for excellence and market leading OFSTED ratings.

Get out what you put in

The Homes Safeguarding Officer will work closely with the Homes Managers and others to ensure that their practice is robust and defensible in relation to safeguarding. They will also support Homes Managers to develop a robust safeguarding culture within their homes. You will work with the Head of Safeguarding to support homes and ensure compliance in accordance with safeguarding and wider legislation and in the development and delivery of training for DSL's and home based staff. You will contribute to effective partnership working between different teams and departments within Witherslack Group.

You will provide day-to-day advice and guidance to Homes Managers and others in relation to safeguarding cases and undertake safeguarding audits in homes to ensure compliance within current frameworks and ensure that safeguarding concerns are managed in line with Local Safeguarding Partnership procedures and thresholds and that record keeping is robust and in line with best practice

You will be required to manage safeguarding data and produce safeguarding data reports as required. To be successful for this role you will have experience of working in a role where managing and dealing with safeguarding cases relating to children and young people was a key responsibility, ideally in a children's home.

Bring your whole-self to work

Here at Witherslack Group, we celebrate everyone's differences as that's what makes us the best at what we do. Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs - and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves.

We'll give you the chance to build an exciting career in a fast-growing organisation, where you're free to achieve your potential. Here's what we need from you;

• Substantial safeguarding expertise, managing safeguarding and welfare cases, particularly for looked after children, ideally as a Designated Safeguarding Lead or in a senior children's home role.
• Strong regulatory and policy knowledge -thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Children's Homes Regulations, Quality Standards, and safeguarding partnership arrangements.
• Proven leadership and advisory skills - experience working at a senior level, supporting children's homes to resolve safeguarding deficits, and acting as a trusted source of advice, guidance, and expertise for staff.
• Training and development experience - ability to design, deliver and evaluate safeguarding and child protection training, underpinned by a strong portfolio of CPD and evidence of embedding learning from practice reviews into practice.
• Excellent professional skills - strong communication, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with the flexibility to prioritise competing demands, produce clear reports, and work both independently and collaboratively.

What we do for you

We know you're going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the care sector. With us, you'll get to make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people - plus you'll get:

• Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 dependent on experience
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Holiday: You'll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with 7 weeks' holiday (including bank holidays)
• Flexible benefits package: meaning you can increase/decrease your holiday allowance, pension and life insurance - check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

Join the UK's best special education and care provider

Our young people deserve the best possible future and we feel the same about our teams. You deserve to have the career you want, with a purpose-led employer, in an environment that allows you to be yourself .

For a full job description please click here

To view our ex-offenders policy please click here .

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost). We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.