Independent Scrutineer - North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership

Please note, this is not a North Somerset Council vacancy and the successful applicant will not be employed by North Somerset Council but will invoice for their services.

Can you help us become a better safeguarding partnership, with children at the heart of what we do? Are you motivated by making a difference to the most vulnerable children in our society?

North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSSCP) is recruiting an Independent Scrutineer, initially for 12 months with the opportunity to extend.

The NSSCP is the multi-agency arrangement in North Somerset that oversees the safeguarding of children in North Somerset. The three statutory safeguarding partners who lead the work of the NSSCP are North Somerset Council, Avon & Somerset Constabulary and BNSSG Integrated Care Board.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 (WT23) sets out the requirements for independent scrutiny of these partnership arrangements, including critical challenge and appraisal of the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements established by the three safeguarding partners. In line with WT23 our new arrangements will include an independent scrutineer. This role is intended to focus on the work of local safeguarding systems; be multi-disciplinary in nature and review how partners are working together effectively to safeguard children. It will:

•Consider the overall effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements
•Consider how well the safeguarding partners are providing strong leadership
•Provide independent scrutiny of the annual report of the safeguarding partners
•Support a culture and environment conducive to robust scrutiny and constructive challenge

The post holder will lead activity to scrutinise safeguarding systems for children, and this will include:

•Conducting any scrutiny activity as identified by the NSSCP
•Offering scrutiny of progress against the NSSCP priorities as set out in the strategic plan
• Any other activity as identified by the partnership

The NSSCP would like to hear from you if you have:

•Experience of effective leadership at a senior level within a safeguarding field
•Experience of working at a senior level within a multi-disciplinary context
•Experience of deploying quality assurance to improve outcomes
•A degree or equivalent and hold a recognised professional qualification in a discipline which could include social care, health, police with experience at a strategic management level
•Capacity to offer approximately 18 days p.a. to undertake this work. Subject to mutual agreement, we may request more.

You will bring:
•Integrity, openness and trustworthiness
•Excellent communication and presentation skills
•The confidence, authority and objectivity to challenge practices and hold agencies to account
•The ability to empower multi-agency activity for change and improvement
•The ability to digest and analyse complex information

Please submit your CV and a covering letter of application/interest to zoe.gartland@n-somerset.gov.uk by 31st December 2024. This should detail how your suitability and experience is relevant to the experience required for this role. Interviews will take place on 6th January 2025.