Head of Safeguarding

Main area Safeguarding Grade Band 8c Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On site minimum 3 days per week) Job ref 434-C

Site Stoke Mandeville Town Aylesbury Salary £76,965 - £88,682 per annum - pro rata for part time Salary period Yearly Closing 21/10/:59 Interview date 06/11/2025

Be part of our BHT family

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.

We care for over half a million patients every year:

• Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
• Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
• Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
• Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients' own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.

More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.

We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.

If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact or phone .

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.

Launch Your Nursing Career with Us!

At Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, we are committed to helping newly qualified nurses grow into confident, skilled professionals.

From day one, you will benefit from structured development programmes, personalised mentorship, and access to specialist training that supports your long-term career ambitions.

Whether you are aiming for clinical excellence, leadership roles, or advanced practice, we will help you build a career you are proud of.

Start your journey with us and unlock your potential!

Job overview Are you an experienced safeguarding leader looking to make a real impact across adult and children's services? Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a dynamic, highly skilled Head of Safeguarding to provide visible leadership, expert guidance, assurance across acute and community settings.

In this pivotal role, you will:

Lead safeguarding strategy; safe delivery across the Trust , effective and person-centred services;

In partnership with local and regional agencies to protect people across Buckinghamshire;

Provide leadership on the implementation ofthe Mental Capacity Act , Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards , and pathways for patients with mental health needs;

Oversee safeguarding governance, compliance, education, and continuous improvement; Work with colleagues in midwifery to provide safeguarding;

Represent the Trust in multi-agency forums, driving collaboration and innovation in safeguarding practice;

Provide expert advice, supervision; support to colleagues across all professional groups;

Looking for an inspirational safeguarding professional with:

Significant leadership experience in adult and children's safeguarding across health or social care.

In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and best practice.

The ability to work collaboratively with system partners and provide assurance at Board level.

A passion for embedding a 'Think Family' and 'Making Safeguarding Personal' approach.

Main duties of the job As Head of Safeguarding, you will provide visible leadership and expert guidance across adult and children's services in both acute and community settings, including matrix working with midwifery services. Ensuring the Trust meets its statutory safeguarding responsibilities, working in partnership with local and regional agencies to protect people across Buckinghamshire. Includes leading the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, and developing pathways for patients with mental health needs affecting self-protection. You will drive education, governance, and continuous improvement, providing assurance to senior leaders and external partners that safeguarding arrangements are safe, effective, and person-centred.

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile workingopportunities,alongside your NHS benefits ofgenerous annual leave entitlement, pension andaccess toNHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We'recommitted to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued, and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity withinourBHT familyimprovespositive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person specification Experience

• Extensive experience in safeguarding within healthcare or social care setting
• Experience of leading across disciplines within healthcare and partner organisations
• Evidence of successful working and influence across organisational boundaries
• Experience in a leadership role, managing teams and safeguarding functions
• Experience of working across both adult and children's safeguarding
• Experience in policy development, implementation and monitoring
• Experience of inter-agency working and representing an organisation at external safeguarding forums
• Experience in delivering safeguarding training and education
• Involvement in safeguarding audits, governance and compliance processes
• Experience in leading complex safeguarding investigations

Education, Qualifications & Training

• Registered Nurse (RN) or equivalent Registered professional qualification (e.g. Social Work, Allied Health Professional)
• Educated to either master's level or Doctorate or equivalent post graduate research / education in safeguarding
• Evidence of continued professional development in safeguarding, leadership and management
• Recognised qualification in safeguarding (Level 4 or above) or equivalent
• Leadership and management training or equivalent experience
• Education in Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

• Highly motivated and able to work autonomously
• Ability to influence across organisational boundaries leading strategically to safeguard the population
• Committed to upholding safeguarding values and promoting a culture of continuous improvement
• Empathetic and compassionate approach to safeguarding vulnerable individuals
• Resilient, able to work under pressure, and manage competing priorities
• Demonstrates a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Special Circumstances

• Ability to travel across multiple sites within the Trust
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Willingness to undertake further safeguarding training and qualifications as a part of ongoing development
• Flexibility in working hours, including attending meetings and training as needed

PPE requirements:Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.

COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.

Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.

Contacting you: We will contact candidates through the email address supplied on their application form. Please make sure you check this regularly.

Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.

Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel . click apply for full job details