At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to make impactful decisions for children's safeguarding.
- Company: Staffordshire Police, committed to innovative safeguarding practices.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional development, and the chance to shape future services.
- Other info: Opportunity to work collaboratively in a supportive multi-agency environment.
- Why this job: Be a key player in improving outcomes for children and families through early intervention.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding and strong decision-making skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Lindum House, Stone
Department: Integrated Front Door (IFD), Public Protection Unit
Rank: F-Grade
Contract: Fixed‑term (12 months, with potential extension subject to funding and review)
About the Role
We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join Staffordshire Police as a Partnership Decision Team (PDT) Officer within the Integrated Front Door (IFD). This is a new and innovative role, forming part of the delivery of Staffordshire’s Families First Partnership Programme, designed to strengthen how we safeguard children and families through early, coordinated, and effective intervention. The PDT sits at the heart of the IFD, bringing together key partners including Children’s Social Care, Health, Education, and Police to support timely, proportionate, and defensible multi‑agency decision‑making.
As a PDT Officer, you will provide supervisory‑level professional decision‑making, acting as the police representative within a daily multi‑agency forum. The role focuses on early‑stage and emerging risk, supporting decision‑making below the threshold for statutory Strategy Discussions or Section 47 enquiries, and at Family Help/early intervention level. You will work collaboratively with partners to assess risk, apply thresholds consistently, and ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time, helping to prevent escalation into statutory processes wherever possible.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Acting as the designated police decision maker within the daily Partnership Decision Team for Staffordshire Children’s Services
- Contributing police insight, information, and professional judgement to multi‑agency safeguarding discussions
- Supporting decision‑making for cases where risk is emerging, cumulative, or unclear, particularly prior to statutory thresholds being met
- Supporting decision‑making at Family Help/early intervention level, ensuring appropriate and proportionate safeguarding responses
- Providing professional challenge and influence within multi‑agency forums
- Maintaining line‑of‑sight oversight of safeguarding actions and supporting escalation where appropriate
- Supporting consistent application of safeguarding thresholds in line with guidance
- Contributing to quality assurance, audit, and learning activity
- Supporting service improvement, development, and evaluation of the PDT model
About You
We are seeking a confident and experienced individual who can operate at a supervisory decision‑making level within a complex and fast‑paced safeguarding environment. You will have:
- Experience within safeguarding, public protection, or vulnerability‑focused roles
- A strong understanding of risk assessment, safeguarding thresholds, and multi‑agency working
- The ability to exercise sound professional judgement, particularly where information may be incomplete or risk is emerging
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence, challenge, and support decision‑making across agencies
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess and interpret information from multiple sources
- Experience of working collaboratively within or alongside partner organisations
A working knowledge of Working Together to Safeguard Children and safeguarding frameworks is essential.
Why Join Us?
This is a unique opportunity to:
- Be part of a new and evolving safeguarding model within the IFD
- Contribute directly to the delivery of the Families First Partnership Programme
- Influence and shape multi‑agency safeguarding practice at the front door
- Play a key role in early intervention and prevention, improving outcomes for children and families
- Be involved in future service development, with opportunities to support innovation and pilot activity
- Work within a genuinely collaborative multi‑agency environment
Additional Information
This is a time‑limited, externally funded post, operating as a proof of concept. The role is funded by Staffordshire Children’s Services, and will therefore focus on supporting safeguarding activity relating to children and families within Staffordshire at this stage. The role does not require warranted powers and is open to police staff applicants. The role focuses on professional decision‑making and partnership working, rather than investigation. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements are supported in line with operational requirements.
Partnership Decision Team Officer in Beverley employer: Staffordshire Police
Staffordshire Police is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises collaboration and professional development. Employees in the Partnership Decision Team benefit from meaningful work that directly impacts the community, with opportunities for growth and training in safeguarding practices, all within the vibrant and diverse environment of Staffordshire.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnership Decision Team Officer in Beverley
✨Get Involved in Local Community Projects
One of the best ways to land a temporary role in social work is to dive headfirst into local community projects. Volunteer your time or skills at local charities or community centres to not only gain experience but also to connect with professionals in the field. They might just have some insider knowledge on temporary positions that pop up!
✨Engage with Social Work Networks
Join online forums and social media groups specifically for social workers. Platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn have dedicated groups where professionals share temporary job opportunities. Being an active member can help you stay in the loop and even get recommendations from those already in the field.
✨Attend Workshops and Seminars
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences related to social work in your area. These events aren't just great for learning; they're also hotbeds for networking! You never know who might be hiring or can point you towards a temporary position while you're soaking up new skills.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website!
When you spot a role that piques your interest, especially for a temporary position, make sure to apply directly through our website! This not only shows your commitment to Staffordshire Police, but also gives you an edge by putting your application right in front of the hiring team. Let’s get you moving on that path to your next opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Partnership Decision Team Officer in Beverley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let's highlight why you're passionate about social work and how your values align with those of Staffordshire Police. Share specific experiences where you made a difference, as this field thrives on genuine motivation and connection.
Demonstrate Relevant Experience:When listing your experience, focus on any internships, volunteer roles, or temporary positions you've had in social work or related fields. Those skills are gold! Think about situations where you helped individuals or communities, and don't forget to mention any relevant certifications, like safeguarding or mental health first aid.
Keep It Concise and Relevant:Remember, for a temporary role, hiring managers want to see how you fit in and can hit the ground running. Keep your CV clear and to the point, showcasing only the experience that really matters for the role at Staffordshire Police. We recommend a two-page limit – make every word count!
Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability:Considering this is a temporary position, it's vital to show you can adapt to new environments quickly. In your application, highlight any past experiences where you had to adjust to different teams or roles smoothly. This shows you understand the nature of temporary work and are ready for the challenge!
How to prepare for a job interview at Staffordshire Police
✨Sharpen Your Empathy Skills
In social work, it's all about understanding and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Make sure to prepare some examples from your experience where you've demonstrated empathy and resilience. Practising active listening techniques can help you articulate your approach during the interview with Staffordshire Police.
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with key social work theories and frameworks, like the ecological systems theory or person-centred approaches. These concepts might pop up during your interview for the temporary Partnership Decision Team Officer role at Staffordshire Police, so it's good to have a couple of insights ready to share.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, showcasing your flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you quickly adapted to new environments or changing client needs, which is crucial in the dynamic world of social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your decision-making skills and ethical judgement. Think about how you would handle specific challenges you might face in the field. Having a clear structure for your answers will show Staffordshire Police that you can think critically and act effectively under pressure.
