At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide safeguarding advice, support schools, and foster professional relationships across agencies.
- Company: Join a vibrant team within the Safeguarding in Education sector in North Northants.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, pension contributions, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified Teacher or Social Worker with 1+ year of relevant experience.
About the role
The role is for a Lead Safeguarding Officer in the Safeguarding in Education Team based in North Northants. The team works closely with social care education teams, local authority teams as well as safeguarding staff in early years, primary, secondary and further education settings and will be an effective conduit for information sharing and service development across Children’s Services and Education. The post holder will work closely with the Team Manager for Safeguarding in Education and support with the operational delivery of Safeguarding advice and support to schools. The Team sits within the Directorate of Education and reports to the Head of School Effectiveness Service. The team are based in North Northants and operate on a hybrid working arrangement. The team consists of Service Manager, two Safeguarding Officers and a Business Support Manager. The focus of the team is to build upon established operational relationships with educational and partner agencies and develop robust safeguarding pathways between education establishments including schools, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust and the LADO service.
What will you be doing?
- Provide high quality safeguarding advice and support
- Foster great professional relationships across settings and social care and other agencies
- Gather and present complex information to both individuals and groups in a way they will understand
- Complete safeguarding practice reviews with settings to develop, improve and support practice
- Deliver targeted safeguarding training to Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), school staff and other multi-agency colleagues
- Represent the service at multi-agency meetings
- Liaise with other professionals at the Local Authority to share intelligence about education settings in order to provide a targeted and joined-up approach to school improvement
- Work with partners / other services to address a range of safeguarding related issues through conferences and network meetings e.g. neglect and child exploitation, in order to reduce the issues that lead to increased safeguarding concerns
- Participate in LA auditing process on behalf of education such as, Care Planning, Thresholds and Missing/Return Home Interviews.
About you
Qualifications: Qualified Teacher, Qualified Social Worker or equivalent.
Experience: 1+ year of post-graduate experience within a similar role.
Compliance: Proof of ability to work and live in the UK. Current DBS check and references covering the last 3 years.
Travel: Clean UK driving license with the ability to commute to and from work independently.
Where you will be working
The Safeguarding in Education Team’s working pattern includes working from home, attending education settings and other venues in the community across Northamptonshire and occasionally out of the county, and some days working from our office at Bowling Gren Road, Kettering.
Benefits
We offer a vibrant working environment with:
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
- We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
Lead Safeguarding Officer in Kettering employer: North Northamptonshire Council
North Northamptonshire Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where legal professionals can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the community. With a strong commitment to employee development, competitive salaries, and a supportive culture, this role provides unique opportunities for growth and collaboration within a dedicated team focused on public service.
Contact Details:
North Northamptonshire Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Safeguarding Officer in Kettering
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at North Northamptonshire Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from North Northamptonshire Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like North Northamptonshire Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at North Northamptonshire Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Safeguarding Officer in Kettering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to North Northamptonshire Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to North Northamptonshire Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at North Northamptonshire Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
