Safeguarding and Critical Incident Lead

Job Outline

Responsible To: Executive Director/Head of Corporate Services

Staff Responsibility: None

Kibble supports at risk children, young people, and vulnerable adults (aged 5-26) across the UK. Many of the young people we care for have experienced significant trauma in their lives and Kibble offers dedicated care and support to help them move forward. This includes residential care, secure care and community support, as well as dedicated schools and wellbeing services. Kibble is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment.

An opportunity has been created for you to lead on safeguarding matters and the review of critical incidents across Kibble’s services. To fulfil these duties, you will be required to facilitate and monitor training and development for staff to ensure the early identification of the signs and symptoms of abuse or individuals at risk, to comply with legislation and local and national policy relating to safeguarding practice, and to appropriately report and act on safeguarding concerns relating to children, young people, and vulnerable adults. You will provide support, advice, and guidance to all staff on an on-going basis and on any specified safeguarding issue as required, and you will lead and manage safeguarding coordinators across Kibble’s services. You will carry out the review of critical incidents that occur across Kibble’s services, providing recommendations and reporting on lessons learned where appropriate.

The role will include:

• Ensuring Kibble is meeting its legal and statutory requirements in relation to safeguarding

• Undertaking regular review and analysis of safeguarding policy and activity, and when necessary, updating safeguarding policies and procedures.

• Ensuring that safeguarding policies, procedures and practices are fully implemented and adhered to by all staff, students, and volunteers

• Providing support, supervision and advice for any staff member, child, or young person with a safeguarding concern

• Ensuring that their own knowledge, skills, and abilities are kept up to date by accessing appropriate resources and training

• Ensuring safeguarding induction for new staff, students, and volunteers

• Ensuring that all staff are trained to the required standard in safeguarding children and adults by overseeing Kibble’s safeguarding provision

• Keeping all staff informed of good practice and changes to legislation and guidance

• Ensuring the referral obligations to the appropriate agencies are implemented

• Liaise closely with Senior Leadership Team, ensuring they are informed and up to date with any concerns, referrals, escalations, and ongoing investigations

• Liaising with and making referrals to appropriate agencies about individuals where there are safeguarding concerns, including, Police Scotland and the Care Inspectorate

• Reporting to regulators on Kibble’s safeguarding activity and standards

• Managing allegations against staff, students, or volunteers

• Managing and conducting the investigation of critical incidents as directed by the Executive Team

• Working in partnership with Who Cares Scotland to promote participation, advocacy, and young people’s voice across all services ensuring that they feel safe and secure

• Liaising and networking with universities, government, and local authorities to maintain best practice in Safeguarding

• Collecting, collating, and presenting data on safeguarding matters across all services

• Preparation of reports

• Developing and managing clear, accurate and secure record keeping systems

• Participation in an on-call rota

• Project management of resources identified to reduce risk and embed good safeguarding practices

Person Specification

• An experienced and registered health and social care professional (Social Worker, Nurse, Residential Child Care Worker)

• In possession of, or be willing to work towards, a post graduate qualification in child protection

• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding of Children and vulnerable adult agendas

• Knowledge of national policy/research and legislation relating to the Safeguarding agenda.

• Knowledge and understanding of health and social care workforce regulations and standards

• Excellent knowledge and experience of multidisciplinary working and ability to engage in joint investigations with local authorities, where appropriate, to safeguard children and young people

• Good working knowledge and demonstrable experience of application of Health and Social Care legislation and care quality standards?

• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to apply judicious impartiality

• Written, verbal communication and presentation skills of a high standard

• Ability to work flexibly in response to safeguarding and critical incident concerns

• Ability to work on own initiative whilst balancing priorities to meet deadlines and team objectives

• Ability to form excellent working relationships

• Ability to challenge practice and drive and support change

• Ability to ensure child and staff confidentiality is maintained at all times

• Ability to oversee safeguarding referrals for the main Kibble site

• Ability to oversee the safeguarding team.

Notes:

1. This job outline reflects the main tasks and responsibilities discharged by the postholder at the present time, however, Kibble reserves the right to alter or amend the content of this job outline to reflect changes to the job or services provided, while maintaining the overall character and level of responsibility for the post.

2. Notwithstanding any information or statement described within this job outline, all duties must be carried out in a way that promotes equality of opportunity, dignity and respect for all individuals and which is consistent with Kibble’s stated policy on equal opportunities.

3. The successful candidate will be subject to PVG Scheme Membership. Having previous convictions will not automatically disbar you from working at Kibble (with the exception of offences against children or other vulnerable groups) and every case is taken on an individual basis.

4. The successful candidate will be required to undertake Safe Crisis Management (SCM) training and will require a level of fitness to be able to carry out SCM. The successful candidate must be able to participate fully in this training and be prepared to put this training into practice.

The SCM training will consist of two days theory and two days physical training. The successful candidate must complete this training in full within four weeks of an agreed start date. Should the candidate for any reason fail any aspect of the SCM training (theory, physical or both parts), an additional two weeks will be given to pass.

5. Appointments will be subject to a twelve-month probationary period.

Closing Date for Applications: 3rd December 2021