At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead safeguarding services and ensure child protection practices are top-notch.
- Company: Jersey's Children's Services, committed to transforming lives for children and families.
- Benefits: Opportunity to make a lasting impact and be part of meaningful change.
- Other info: Be part of a once-in-a-career opportunity to drive whole system change.
- Why this job: Join a dedicated team focused on creating a safe and fulfilling childhood for every child.
- Qualifications: Registered Social Worker with strong safeguarding and leadership experience.
Our Story Jersey's Children's Services is on a journey. In recent years, Children's Services faced challenges including fragmented leadership, inconsistent practice, and reduced confidence across the system. But that story is changing. Over the last 18 months, a dedicated improvement programme has stabilised leadership, strengthened practice, and created measurable progress. With an investment of £15 million, we are demonstrating a clear commitment to the children of Jersey, our colleagues, and the service itself ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience a safe and fulfilling childhood. Now, we are building something permanent. Something better. A new leadership structure to take forward our vision of better support and care for children and young people in Jersey. As a smaller service than many in the UK, influence over service delivery and improvement is at the teams' fingertips with greater oversight across the various services. Now we're looking for exceptional leaders to help write the next chapter.
Lead practice that keeps children safe and families together. In this critical leadership role, you will shape safeguarding services, embed excellent social work practice, and ensure confident, timely decision-making in high-risk situations.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for safeguarding services
- Drive high-quality child protection practice and decision-making
- Lead performance improvement and inspection readiness
- Work collaboratively across agencies to improve outcomes
About You
- Registered Social Worker with senior safeguarding experience
- Strong understanding of child protection systems
- Proven leadership in complex, high-risk environments
- Resilient, values-driven and child-focused
Why Join Us?
- Delivering the vision to ensure meaningful impact for children and families
- Be part of a once-in-a-career opportunity to deliver whole system change
- Work in a service with clear direction, investment, and ambition
- Join a leadership team committed to lasting change
- This is more than a role. It's a chance to lead change that will be felt for generations with a service that holds children and young people at heart.
For all informal enquiries please contact Pauline Naraine, Associate Director via Application deadline: 31 May
Head of Family Safeguarding employer: Government of Jersey
Jersey's Children's Services is an exceptional employer dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families in Jersey. With a strong commitment to professional development, a collaborative work culture, and significant investment in service improvement, employees have the unique opportunity to lead impactful change in a supportive environment. Join us to be part of a meaningful journey that prioritises child safety and well-being, ensuring your contributions make a lasting difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Family Safeguarding
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the field of safeguarding and child protection. Attend relevant events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Jersey's Children's Services thoroughly. Understand their recent improvements and challenges. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples from your past experiences where you've made a real impact in safeguarding. Be ready to discuss how you can bring that same energy to Jersey's Children's Services.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and making a difference in children's lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Family Safeguarding
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for safeguarding shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in children's lives and how your values align with our mission.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in safeguarding and leadership. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead in high-risk environments and drive positive change.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences without unnecessary fluff.
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 exciting opportunity to lead change in Jersey's Children's Services.
How to prepare for a job interview at Government of Jersey
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of child protection systems and safeguarding practices. Brush up on recent developments in the field, especially those relevant to Jersey's Children's Services. This will show your commitment and expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience in complex, high-risk environments. Think about specific situations where you made a significant impact, and be ready to discuss how you can bring that same influence to the role.
✨Collaborative Mindset
Since the role involves working across various agencies, be prepared to discuss your experience in collaboration. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with other organisations to improve outcomes for children and families.
✨Emphasise Your Values
This position is all about being resilient, values-driven, and child-focused. Reflect on your personal values and how they align with the mission of Jersey's Children's Services. Be ready to articulate why these values are important to you and how they guide your decision-making.