Independent Chair Safeguarding and Quality Assurance
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 24 Mehefin 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | £52,413 i £57,864 bob blwyddyn |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 02 Gorffennaf 2026 |
| Lleoliad: | Bath, Bath & N E Somerset |
| Gweithio o bell: | Hybrid - gweithio o bell hyd at 5 ddiwrnod yr wythnos |
| Cwmni: | Bath & North East Somerset Council |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | RITM0238139 |
Crynodeb
Bath and North East Somerset Council is looking for an experienced and dedicated Independent Chair. The role of Independent Chair sits within the Children’s Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Service and is part of the Education and Safeguarding Directorate.
The Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service is responsible for:
• The delivery of Child Protection Conferences and the oversight and review of children and young people subject to a child protection plan.
• The appointment of an Independent Reviewing Officer to all children placed in the care of the Local Authority.
• Managing allegations against a person in a position of trust, with the Local Authority Designated Officer providing oversight, advice and guidance to organisations working with children.
• Monitoring the quality of practice and providing feedback and challenge in order to promote the safety and welfare of children and their families.
The primary role of an Independent Chair is to ensure that the child remains central to the plans that are being made, that the wishes and feelings of children are taken into consideration and their rights recognised and respected. An Independent Chair is responsible for ensuring the plans in place for children promote their safety, meet their needs, and secures emotional, physical, and legal permanence.
Under the leadership of the Head of Service for Children’s Quality Assurance and Safeguarding, the Independent Chair will:
• Ensure that the wishes and feelings of children are heard and contribute towards the plans in place for the child and their family.
• Ensure multiagency work helps protect children and focuses upon the child’s lived experience.
• Ensure that plans for children and their families are progressing in a timely way and reaching the desired outcomes.
• Ensure that where children are unsafe there is timely intervention taken to safeguard them.
• Ensure there is no drift and delay in planning for children.
• Lead and facilitate children protection conferences and child in care reviews.
• Respond to allegations against a person in a position of trust, providing advice and guidance to agencies to ensure that allegations are dealt with in accordance with local and statutory guidance.
• Quality Assure social work practice and multiagency work to ensure the plans for children are leading towards desired outcomes which include stability and permanence.
As an Independent Chair, you will have a caseload reflective of your skills and expertise and will be supported to ensure that you have sufficient capacity to develop good relationships with children, their families, carers, and the professional networks surrounding them.
About you:
Candidates must be able to demonstrate significant experience working in children’s social care with supervisory and/or relevant management experience. The role of Independent Chair requires a thorough understanding of the legal framework relating to children in care and care leavers, as well as the legal processes surrounding child protection.
Requirements of the independent chair:
• Degree or equivalent in social work
• Current registration with Social Work England
• Significant post qualifying experience in childcare social work
You can expect:
• A comprehensive induction
• A managed caseload (designated days/times for each Independent Chair when child protection conferences will be held)
• Monthly one-to-one supervision
• Opportunity to attend peer supervision
• Access to training and regional learning events
• Paid Social Work England membership renewals
• Attendance and participation at regional and national events
• Laptop and iPhone to promote flexible working
• Relocation payments where appropriate
• A stable and committed team, with significant experience
• Flexibility around working arrangements with opportunity to work from home and be office based
This role sits within a service that will be supporting what the future of support for children and families through the Families First Programme entails. As part of this transformation, the post is currently under review to ensure it aligns with our future service model. This offers an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to contribute to and be part of this development, while continuing to play a key role in delivering high-quality safeguarding and quality assurance practice.
Interested to find out more?
If you are interested in this post and require more details after reading the job description or would like to talk through the role and what’s involved, please contact Sarah Hogan, Head of Service, Children’s Quality Assurance and Safeguarding on 01225 395218 or email sarah_hogan@bathnes.gov.uk
The Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service is responsible for:
• The delivery of Child Protection Conferences and the oversight and review of children and young people subject to a child protection plan.
• The appointment of an Independent Reviewing Officer to all children placed in the care of the Local Authority.
• Managing allegations against a person in a position of trust, with the Local Authority Designated Officer providing oversight, advice and guidance to organisations working with children.
• Monitoring the quality of practice and providing feedback and challenge in order to promote the safety and welfare of children and their families.
The primary role of an Independent Chair is to ensure that the child remains central to the plans that are being made, that the wishes and feelings of children are taken into consideration and their rights recognised and respected. An Independent Chair is responsible for ensuring the plans in place for children promote their safety, meet their needs, and secures emotional, physical, and legal permanence.
Under the leadership of the Head of Service for Children’s Quality Assurance and Safeguarding, the Independent Chair will:
• Ensure that the wishes and feelings of children are heard and contribute towards the plans in place for the child and their family.
• Ensure multiagency work helps protect children and focuses upon the child’s lived experience.
• Ensure that plans for children and their families are progressing in a timely way and reaching the desired outcomes.
• Ensure that where children are unsafe there is timely intervention taken to safeguard them.
• Ensure there is no drift and delay in planning for children.
• Lead and facilitate children protection conferences and child in care reviews.
• Respond to allegations against a person in a position of trust, providing advice and guidance to agencies to ensure that allegations are dealt with in accordance with local and statutory guidance.
• Quality Assure social work practice and multiagency work to ensure the plans for children are leading towards desired outcomes which include stability and permanence.
As an Independent Chair, you will have a caseload reflective of your skills and expertise and will be supported to ensure that you have sufficient capacity to develop good relationships with children, their families, carers, and the professional networks surrounding them.
About you:
Candidates must be able to demonstrate significant experience working in children’s social care with supervisory and/or relevant management experience. The role of Independent Chair requires a thorough understanding of the legal framework relating to children in care and care leavers, as well as the legal processes surrounding child protection.
Requirements of the independent chair:
• Degree or equivalent in social work
• Current registration with Social Work England
• Significant post qualifying experience in childcare social work
You can expect:
• A comprehensive induction
• A managed caseload (designated days/times for each Independent Chair when child protection conferences will be held)
• Monthly one-to-one supervision
• Opportunity to attend peer supervision
• Access to training and regional learning events
• Paid Social Work England membership renewals
• Attendance and participation at regional and national events
• Laptop and iPhone to promote flexible working
• Relocation payments where appropriate
• A stable and committed team, with significant experience
• Flexibility around working arrangements with opportunity to work from home and be office based
This role sits within a service that will be supporting what the future of support for children and families through the Families First Programme entails. As part of this transformation, the post is currently under review to ensure it aligns with our future service model. This offers an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to contribute to and be part of this development, while continuing to play a key role in delivering high-quality safeguarding and quality assurance practice.
Interested to find out more?
If you are interested in this post and require more details after reading the job description or would like to talk through the role and what’s involved, please contact Sarah Hogan, Head of Service, Children’s Quality Assurance and Safeguarding on 01225 395218 or email sarah_hogan@bathnes.gov.uk
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