Safeguarding Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly skilled Safeguarding Practitioner focussed on Children in Care and Care Leavers, to join the Safeguarding Children and Adult's Team within Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT). The post-holder will provide expert advice on Children in Care and Care Leavers issues, polices, procedures and clinical practice which will enable the Trust and its workforce to conform to mandatory and statutory frameworks relating to the Children in Care and Care Leavers' agenda.

The Safeguarding Practitioner (Children in Care and Care Leavers) will act as lead health practitioner for a defined cohort of young people ensuring their health assessments are undertaken and health plans implemented working with other agencies as necessary. Partnership working across the health economy, with Commissioners and with other agencies is fundamental to this role.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with the Named Nurse for Children in Care and Care Leavers and with the Safeguarding Team as part of the Nursing and Quality Directorate. Safeguarding is integral to Governance arrangements within LSCFT and we are looking for someone with a commitment to high standards and belief in delivering reliable and sustainable service provision in an area of work across the ICB that is demanding and challenging but rewarding.

LSCFT is seeking a professional who values, and is committed to, providing advice, support, training, and clinical supervision to a wide range of health professionals. Applicants should have experience of working with situations that may present challenges for services and staff. Applicants should have an understanding of the national and local issues involved in Children in Care and Care Leavers and a proven ability to engage in effective multi-disciplinary teamwork.

The successful applicant will support the development of single and multi-agency, safeguarding policies, procedures and clinical practice, ensuring practice is current and up to date in line with local and national priorities. The applicant will be required to support organisational safeguarding arrangements, contribute to the trust's quality and assurance framework and support the team in fulfilling statutory safeguarding duties.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Job description

Person Specification
Qualifications

Essential

Current NMC registration
1st Level degree - Public Health Nursing (SCHP)
Evidence of continued professional development and experiential learning
Two years post qualification experience as a Public Health Practitioner

Knowledge

Essential

Up to date knowledge of the safeguarding children's and adults agenda
Knowledge of legislation relating to Safeguarding and the implications for practice arrangements
Up to date knowledge of promoting the health and welfare of Children in Care and Care Leavers

Experience

Essential

Recent clinical experience of working with vulnerable children and/or adults
Clinical experience relating to safeguarding and protecting children and/or adults; assessing health needs and preparing action plans under the supervision of an SSP
Some experience of multi-agency/multi-disciplinary working and ability to work co-operatively.

Skills

Essential

Ability to think widely and analyse problems and develop solutions
Support and challenge traditional views and work practices in a credible, non-threatening way

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.