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- Tasks: Lead Cardiff's safeguarding response and support professionals working with children.
- Company: Cardiff Council Children's Services, dedicated to child safety and welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Join a vital role in safeguarding children and shaping community safety.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding, social work, and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and impact in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Cardiff Council Children's Services is seeking an experienced safeguarding professional to join our Safeguarding and Reviewing Hub as an Interim Designated Officer for Safeguarding (DOS). They will report directly to the Operational Manager for Safeguarding and Reviewing, Matt Osborne. This is a critical role responsible for managing and coordinating the local authority's response to allegations and concerns about people working with children, in line with the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and Cardiff's Professional Concerns (Section 5) Processes. The role is broadly equivalent to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) function in England, and suitable for applicants with LADO experience seeking to work within the Welsh safeguarding framework.
About the Role
- Lead and coordinate Cardiff's response to safeguarding allegations involving practitioners, carers, and volunteers working with children.
- Provide expert advice, guidance, and support to managers, employers, education settings, and partner agencies on professional concerns and safeguarding thresholds.
- Chair multi agency Professional Concerns Strategy Meetings, ensuring robust decision making, clear safeguarding plans, and timely actions.
- Liaise closely with South Wales Police, Education, Health, CIW, and relevant regulatory or professional bodies.
- Ensure the child's voice and safety remain central to all decision making.
- Work collaboratively with the Safeguarding & Reviewing Hub, Children's Services managers, and Education Safeguarding leads to ensure a consistent, informed response across the workforce.
- Maintain accurate and GDPR compliant records, track activity, and contribute to performance monitoring.
- Support learning, improvement, and professional development across the children's workforce.
- Contribute to wider safeguarding work across Cardiff, including emerging themes, case learning, and inter-agency problem solving.
We are seeking candidates who can confidently step into this specialist safeguarding role. You will need:
Essential Qualifications
- Significant post qualifying experience in safeguarding / child protection.
- Professional background in Social Work.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and procedures (Wales or England).
- Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns and working in multi agency settings.
- Experience of chairing or leading multi agency meetings.
- Ability to analyse risk, make confident decisions, and balance competing information.
- Excellent communication, partnership working, and report writing skills.
Desirable Qualifications
- Previous LADO / DOS experience.
- Knowledge of the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and Welsh policy context.
- Experience of safeguarding within education settings and working with Designated Safeguarding Persons / school leaders.
- Experience delivering training or professional guidance.
Managerial Experience
Additional Requirements
- Enhanced DBS check.
- Ability to work flexibly and manage a high volume, fast paced caseload.
- Commitment to child-centred practice and continuous improvement.
- Registration with a relevant regulatory body (e.g., Social Care Wales).
Designated Officer For Safeguarding (CS) G10 in Cardiff employer: Cardiff Council
Contact Detail:
Cardiff Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Designated Officer For Safeguarding (CS) G10 in Cardiff
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the safeguarding field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and Cardiff's Professional Concerns Processes. Being able to discuss these confidently will show you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that job! We make it easy for you to showcase your skills and experience directly to the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Designated Officer For Safeguarding (CS) G10 in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in safeguarding and child protection. We want to see how your background aligns with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your skills!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of collaboration and report writing, it’s essential to demonstrate your excellent communication abilities. Use clear and concise language in your application to reflect this skill.
Highlight Your Multi-Agency Experience: We’re looking for someone who can navigate complex safeguarding concerns across various agencies. Be sure to mention any relevant experiences you have in multi-agency settings and how you’ve successfully managed these situations.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this important role in safeguarding.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cardiff Council
✨Know Your Safeguarding Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and Cardiff's Professional Concerns Processes. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but also understand how to apply it in practice.
✨Showcase Your Multi-Agency Experience
Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully collaborated with various agencies. Highlighting your experience in chairing multi-agency meetings will demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to coordinate responses effectively.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing complex safeguarding concerns. Good communication is key in this role, so be ready to showcase your report writing skills and how you convey important information to different stakeholders.
✨Emphasise Child-Centred Practice
Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise the child's voice and safety in your decision-making process. Sharing specific examples of how you've implemented child-centred practices in previous roles will resonate well with the interviewers.
