Senior Safeguarding Practitioner

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced clinician with safeguarding knowledge and expertise to work within the Trust Central Safeguarding Team with a clear focus on safeguarding within our Secure Services.

Our Central Safeguarding Team includes registered professionals from a range of core disciplines (health visiting, mental health nursing, learning disability nursing, social work and systemic psychotherapy). The Team has a strong think family approach with safeguarding professionals all demonstrating knowledge of safeguarding for both children and adults.

The post holder will be based within the Trust Central Safeguarding Team and contribute to the Central Safeguarding Team duty service as well as delivering safeguarding training to staff at all levels and in all professions. They will review and quality monitor safeguarding concerns, provide advice and safeguarding consultation. They will provide safeguarding supervision to clinicians within Secure Services and lead and chair safeguarding enquiries on behalf of the Secure Directorate. They will complete performance quality reviews of completed safeguarding adults enquiries.

The post holder will advise Trust staff on their statutory and legislative duties for all aspects of Safeguarding as stipulated in primary legislation, government strategy, national, regional, and local guidance. Offering highly specialist advice, support and mentorship to service leads on prevention, concerns and enquiries, promoting a positive quality culture in which continuous improvement in clinical care is sought and achieved.

Langdon Hospital site in Dawlish is the base for our Trust Secure Services with our inpatient secure mental health services based on the site. These cater to adult males in need of medium secure and low secure services. Additionally, Dawlish is home to the Community Forensic Services, which offer support to adult males and females throughout their care journey, encompassing both inpatient and community settings. The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Services are operational in different areas across Devon.

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

The Post Holder will ensure best practice for all DPT staff by providing expert advice and support including practice development, education, and training, and supporting Trust staff involved within Safeguarding Adults Enquiry work.

• Ability to work and communicate effectively at all levels with staff within the Trust and other partner organisations.
• Ability to plan, organise and work under pressure.
• Ability to work autonomously, to organise own workload and to make informed clinical decisions in the absence of manager.
• Up to date knowledge of adult safeguarding multi agency policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates initiative and drive.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Demonstrate leadership skills.
• Ability to present confidently to single and multi-agency audience.
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills.
• IT skills in Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
• Excellent and accurate verbal and written presentation skills.
• Excellent Report Writing skills in order to communicate complex issues in concise, accurate and high quality completed reports.
• Clinical supervision skills.
• Evidence of knowledge and skills in undertaking Risk Assessment.
• Ability to manage conflict or professional disagreement.
• Ability to develop appropriate networks within health and with other agencies.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of national and local adult safeguarding guidance, policies and procedures (including detailed knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (2005), DoLS (2007), Care Act (2014), Children Acts (1989, 2004)).

• Educated to masters level or equivalent experience.
• Registered Professional - Nurse (1st level) (Adult, Mental health or Learning Disabilities); Social Worker; Therapist.
• Completed specific post-registration training in Safeguarding Adults.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• ENB 998 or equivalent teaching qualification.

• Post registration experience of leading or chairing safeguarding adults enquiries.
• Experience of partnership working within Health Trusts and other agencies.
• Experience of planning and delivering a variety of teaching to single and multi-agency audiences.
• Experience of contributing to Safeguarding Adults Reviews.
• Development of clinical policies and guidelines.
• Experience of undertaking audit.
• Experience or interest in research.
• Evidence of supporting staff in adult safeguarding supervision.
• Experience of supporting staff with legal proceedings.

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.