Head of Safeguarding in Newcastle upon Tyne

The Head of Safeguarding is IBCA’s organisational authority for safeguarding and vulnerability. The post holder holds strategic accountability for the safeguarding strategy, operating model, governance, professional standards and assurance framework across the organisation.

Working with Directors, senior leaders and teams across Operations, Digital and Data, Communications and Engagement, Human Resources, Fraud, Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement, the post holder will ensure safeguarding is embedded in service design, operational delivery, corporate risk management and organisational decision-making.

The role leads a multi-site safeguarding function and provides expert advice and assurance on complex, high-risk and reputationally sensitive matters. It requires significant professional judgement, including balancing the autonomy and wellbeing of people engaging with IBCA with operational, legal, ethical and organisational risk in an environment where precedent or statutory direction may be limited.

The postholder will lead a preventative, trauma-informed and person-centred approach: ensuring IBCA responds effectively when concerns arise, while using learning, data and professional insight to reduce avoidable harm and strengthen organisational capability.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for safeguarding and vulnerability across IBCA, owning the safeguarding strategy, operating model, policies, standards, governance and delivery roadmap.
• Lead, develop and assure the multi-site safeguarding function, setting priorities and professional expectations and delivering outcomes through Safeguarding Managers, Safeguarding Officers and colleagues across the organisation.
• Provide authoritative advice and assurance to Directors, the Executive Committee, Board and governance forums on complex safeguarding, vulnerability, ethical and reputational risks, presenting clear and defensible recommendations.
• Oversee the most complex or high-risk safeguarding matters and establish proportionate escalation, decision-making, record-keeping and quality assurance arrangements, while enabling operational teams to retain appropriate ownership.
• Embed safeguarding in organisational systems, claimant journeys, service design, policy, digital products, data practices, communications, workforce activity and operational change.
• Develop management information, risk indicators and reporting that identify emerging themes, test effectiveness and provide senior leaders with meaningful assurance about safeguarding performance and organisational exposure.
• Build organisational capability through training, guidance, reflective practice, professional curiosity, consultation and learning from cases, feedback, incidents and quality activity.
• Develop effective partnerships with statutory agencies, government departments, arm’s-length bodies, specialist organisations and affected communities, representing IBCA credibly in sensitive and influential settings.
• Lead continuous improvement and prevention activity so that learning from safeguarding concerns informs safer systems, better decisions and improved outcomes for people engaging with IBCA.
• Maintain current professional knowledge and ensure IBCA’s safeguarding arrangements remain proportionate, legally informed and responsive to emerging risks throughout the organisation’s lifespan.

Person specification

• Significant experience of leading a safeguarding, vulnerability or complex-risk function, with accountability for strategy, professional practice, governance and organisational assurance.
• A strong and current understanding of adult safeguarding legislation, statutory frameworks and best practice, together with the judgement to apply these effectively in a non-statutory or otherwise complex environment.
• Evidence of designing, implementing and embedding sustainable operating models, systems, policies, processes, governance or assurance frameworks across an organisation.
• Experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary or geographically dispersed teams, setting direction and achieving outcomes through managers and others.
• Significant experience of setting the strategic direction for safeguarding or vulnerability across a complex organisation, including developing an operating model, governance and assurance arrangements and influencing executive-level decision-making in circumstances where precedent or statutory direction is limited.
• A strong record of influencing Directors, senior leaders and governance forums, including communicating complex or sensitive risks and presenting clear, evidence-based and defensible recommendations.
• Experience of making high-impact decisions in ambiguous situations, balancing individual rights and wellbeing with operational, ethical, legal and reputational considerations.
• Ability to use qualitative and quantitative information to identify themes, evaluate effectiveness, anticipate emerging risks and provide meaningful organisational assurance.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the credibility to build effective relationships across organisational boundaries and represent the organisation externally.
• A demonstrable commitment to trauma-informed, person-centred and strengths-based practice, including respect for autonomy, dignity, equality and lived experience.
• A Level 5 safeguarding qualification or equivalent advanced professional learning; successful candidates without this will be expected to work towards an appropriate qualification.
• Experience of safeguarding in a public body, compensation scheme, financial service, health, social care or another complex service supporting people affected by trauma or vulnerability.
• Experience of organisational development, systems thinking, service design, quality assurance or corporate risk management.
• Relevant professional membership or evidence of continuing professional development in safeguarding, risk, leadership or a related field.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Alongside your salary of £75,262, Infected Blood Compensation Authority contributes £21,803 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Family friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, up to 12 months shared parental leave