Job summary
This is your chance to lead something truly meaningful. As our Designated Safeguarding Officer and Safety Lead, you wont just influence safeguarding practice, you'll help shape the future of safe, high-quality care for children, young people, and families across the UK.
This is a high-impact, highly visible and exciting role for someone who wants to do more than just uphold standards - you want to raise them. You'll work hand-in-hand with senior leaders, commissioners, and local teams, driving forward a culture where safeguarding is second nature and safe systems of work continue to be fully embedded. From crafting policies and procedures to delivering training and coaching frontline teams, your leadership will empower services to go further, think bigger, and deliver exceptional outcomes.
You'll play a central role across Compass early intervention programmes including mental health, substance misuse, school nursing and emotional wellbeing ensuring our services are not only effective, but safe, inclusive, and built around the needs of our children, young people and families.
With frequent travel and the chance to support teams directly on the ground, no two days will be the same. If you're an experienced safeguarding leader who thrives on variety, challenge, and driving real change, this is the role for you.
Join us and be the difference behind safer futures.
Main duties of the job
You're a confident, experienced safeguarding leader who brings strategic insight and frontline credibility. You're passionate about quality, hold high standards, and driven in your belief that every child and young person deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported. You thrive in fast-paced settings, are a natural collaborator and have the leadership skills to inspire and lead teams through change.
To succeed in this role, youll need:
- To be a registered professional (e.g. Nurse or Social Worker)
- Ongoing professional development and commitment to learning
- Level 5 safeguarding training (or willingness to complete this)
- Strong safeguarding leadership experience working with children, families, and vulnerable adults
- Deep knowledge of safeguarding frameworks, including the Children Act, Care Act, and Mental Capacity Act
- Experience delivering training and providing safeguarding supervision and advice
- A track record in quality assurance, governance, and continuous improvement
- Strong communication, planning, and risk management skills, able to manage priorities under pressure
If youve got a
postgrad qualification,
led multi-disciplinary clinical teams, worked with
education or statutory services, or supported others through
training and reflective practice, greatbut its
not a dealbreaker. Above all, were looking for
passion, leadership, and a commitment to safer services.
About us
Compass is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Established for over 30 years, Compass is a national charity which works in communities across the UK providing services spanning substance misuse treatment and rehabilitation, early interventions for vulnerable young people, school-aged health programmes and associated prevention as well as treatment and health promotion initiatives.
All Compass posts are subject to appropriate level DBS checks.
We positively encourage applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation, and encourage applications from people who have experiences in life which enrich skills and empathy. This is part of our commitment to equality and developing a truly inclusive and representative workforce.
We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, on commencement, or once in post.
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits including:
- 27 days holiday + bank holidays, rising to 32 days over time (pro rata)
- Life assurance at 2 x basic salary
- Competitive contributory pension scheme
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and OH service
- Enhanced sick pay
- Excellent learning & development opportunities and career progression
- Annual performance/salary review
Closing date: 1st May 2025
Any questions regarding this role please contact Sue.Cody@COMPASS-UK.org for an informal chat. #CompServ #LI-BE1
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is your chance to lead something truly meaningful. As our Designated Safeguarding Officer and Safety Lead, you wont just influence safeguarding practiceyoull help shape the future of safe, high-quality care for children, young people, and families across the UK.
This is a high-impact, highly visible and exciting role for someone who wants to do more than just uphold standardsyou want to raise them. Youll work hand-in-hand with senior leaders, commissioners, and local teams, driving forward a culture where safeguarding is second nature and safe systems of work continue to be fully embedded. From crafting policies and procedures to delivering training and coaching frontline teams, your leadership will empower services to go further, think bigger, and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Youll play a central role across Compass early intervention programmesincluding mental health, substance misuse, school nursing, and emotional wellbeingensuring our services are not only effective, but safe, inclusive, and built around the needs of our children, young people and families.
With frequent travel and the chance to support teams directly on the ground, no two days will be the same. If youre an experienced safeguarding leader who thrives on variety, challenge, and driving real change, this is the role for you.
Join us and be the difference behind safer futures.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is your chance to lead something truly meaningful. As our Designated Safeguarding Officer and Safety Lead, you wont just influence safeguarding practiceyoull help shape the future of safe, high-quality care for children, young people, and families across the UK.
This is a high-impact, highly visible and exciting role for someone who wants to do more than just uphold standardsyou want to raise them. Youll work hand-in-hand with senior leaders, commissioners, and local teams, driving forward a culture where safeguarding is second nature and safe systems of work continue to be fully embedded. From crafting policies and procedures to delivering training and coaching frontline teams, your leadership will empower services to go further, think bigger, and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Youll play a central role across Compass early intervention programmesincluding mental health, substance misuse, school nursing, and emotional wellbeingensuring our services are not only effective, but safe, inclusive, and built around the needs of our children, young people and families.
With frequent travel and the chance to support teams directly on the ground, no two days will be the same. If youre an experienced safeguarding leader who thrives on variety, challenge, and driving real change, this is the role for you.
Join us and be the difference behind safer futures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered professional e.g. Nurse / Social Worker
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Level 5 safeguarding (or willingness to undertake at appointment)
Desirable
- Relevant masters or post graduate qualification.
- Recognised teaching/training qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Significant previous experience in safeguarding leadership and management.
- Experience of working with children and young people, families and carers and vulnerable adults as a safeguarding professional.
- Knowledge of national policy and guidance relating to safeguarding.
- Experience of delivering training in relevant safeguarding and/or health/care context.
- Detailed knowledge of policy and legal frameworks relevant to the role including (but not limited to):Mental Capacity Act, Working Together, PSIRF, Children Act Care
- Creating an environment and culture of continuous learning and innovation.
- Teaching, coaching and/or mentoring.
- Leading quality assurance and clinical governance initiatives.
- Extensive experience in and knowledge of safeguarding agenda via policy, procedure, supervision and practice.
- Provision of safeguarding supervision and advice.
- Experience of working within an environment that drives forward continuous improvement.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of incident investigation in a health or care setting.
Desirable
- Previous experience leading services comprised of clinicians and healthcare professionals delivering services to children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
- Experience of working in partnership with education (schools, PRUs, Special schools, FE colleges) and/or statutory services.
- Training other professionals to develop knowledge, skills and confidence
- Supervision of others to support reflective practice and continuous learning
- Experience of meeting targets and deadlines within financial and contractual constraints
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Demonstrates leadership and the ability to delegate and supervise staff whilst being an effective role model.
- Recognition and escalation of risk, contributing to control measures.
- Planning workload, time management.
- Work under pressure and able to manage changing priorities.
- IT skills.
- Multiagency/disciplinary working.
- Excellent communication (written and verbal) and inter-personal skills.
- Self-aware; positive attitude; flexible and adaptable; solution and business focused; and tenacious.
- A high degree of personal integrity.
- Ability to understand, collate, analyse and report on data to assess the performance or quality of care and services.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered professional e.g. Nurse / Social Worker
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Level 5 safeguarding (or willingness to undertake at appointment)
Desirable
- Relevant masters or post graduate qualification.
- Recognised teaching/training qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Significant previous experience in safeguarding leadership and management.
- Experience of working with children and young people, families and carers and vulnerable adults as a safeguarding professional.
- Knowledge of national policy and guidance relating to safeguarding.
- Experience of delivering training in relevant safeguarding and/or health/care context.
- Detailed knowledge of policy and legal frameworks relevant to the role including (but not limited to):Mental Capacity Act, Working Together, PSIRF, Children Act Care
- Creating an environment and culture of continuous learning and innovation.
- Teaching, coaching and/or mentoring.
- Leading quality assurance and clinical governance initiatives.
- Extensive experience in and knowledge of safeguarding agenda via policy, procedure, supervision and practice.
- Provision of safeguarding supervision and advice.
- Experience of working within an environment that drives forward continuous improvement.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of incident investigation in a health or care setting.
Desirable
- Previous experience leading services comprised of clinicians and healthcare professionals delivering services to children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
- Experience of working in partnership with education (schools, PRUs, Special schools, FE colleges) and/or statutory services.
- Training other professionals to develop knowledge, skills and confidence
- Supervision of others to support reflective practice and continuous learning
- Experience of meeting targets and deadlines within financial and contractual constraints
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Demonstrates leadership and the ability to delegate and supervise staff whilst being an effective role model.
- Recognition and escalation of risk, contributing to control measures.
- Planning workload, time management.
- Work under pressure and able to manage changing priorities.
- IT skills.
- Multiagency/disciplinary working.
- Excellent communication (written and verbal) and inter-personal skills.
- Self-aware; positive attitude; flexible and adaptable; solution and business focused; and tenacious.
- A high degree of personal integrity.
- Ability to understand, collate, analyse and report on data to assess the performance or quality of care and services.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
