Contextual Safeguarding Coordinator

Contextual Safeguarding Coordinator

We are seeking an experienced, motivated and adaptable Contextual Safeguarding Co-ordinator to help embed Cheshire West and Chester’s approach to Risk Outside the Home. Working collaboratively with local authority, police, health and wider statutory and non-statutory partners, you will strengthen the partnership response to children and young people at risk of harm by applying the four Ps: Prepare, Prevent, Protect and Pursue. You will co-ordinate key partnership forums, chair mapping meetings, analyse intelligence to identify links and patterns of harm, support effective disruption and intervention activity, and co-ordinate Risk Outside the Home training with and for the partnership to strengthen workforce knowledge and practice. You will need to adapt confidently within an ever-changing safeguarding landscape, responding to legislative and policy developments, the evolving and increasingly complex methods used by those who cause harm, and the diverse needs, vulnerabilities and experiences of the children and young people within this cohort. You will also monitor safeguarding plans, maintain performance information and produce clear reports for operational and strategic audiences. You will bring sound knowledge of contextual safeguarding, experience of assessing risk and working with children and families, and strong communication, relationship-building and report-writing skills, alongside the confidence to provide high support and constructive challenge. This hybrid role requires flexibility to work across council and partner locations, in the community and from home

Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.

Principal Responsibilities Summary: The postholder will coordinate and support Cheshire West and Chester’s multi-agency contextual safeguarding arrangements, including contributing to strategy, policy and practice guidance; organising, minuting and chairing key meetings; and bringing together intelligence to identify networks of harm and agree disruption and intervention activity. They will maintain accurate case information, develop performance reporting, prepare and present reports to operational and strategic forums, monitor the quality and effectiveness of plans for children and young people, and drive improvements where required. The role also involves strengthening partnership accountability, liaising with other local authorities, delivering training and awareness-raising activity, developing a network of safeguarding champions, and ensuring that the views of children and young people inform services and interventions.

Person Specification Summary: The successful candidate will be educated to degree level or equivalent and will have substantial experience of working with children and families, assessing safeguarding risk, chairing and minuting meetings, using a range of information technology systems, and contributing to the development of policies and procedures. They will have sound knowledge of safeguarding systems, contextual safeguarding and the relevant legislation, policy and practice relating to child exploitation, modern slavery, trafficking, domestic abuse and harmful practices. Strong analytical, report-writing, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills are essential, alongside a solution-focused approach, sound literacy and numeracy, and the confidence to promote accountability through high support and high challenge. The postholder must be able to work flexibly across different locations, communicate clearly in spoken English, work within equality and diversity frameworks, and meet the requirements for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check; experience of multi-agency working, delivering training, reporting to senior boards and driving service improvement would be advantageous.

If you would like to learn more about the Contextual Safeguarding Coordinator post, please feel free to contact the CS Practice Manager at [email removed].

Please note that this job is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and children.  It’s a criminal offence for people who are barred from working in Regulated Activity (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with that particular group (i.e. adults at risk, children, or both).

To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see www.cwcrecruitment.co.uk

Candidates may use AI tools to support proofreading, editing and presentation. However, all application materials should represent the candidate's own experience, perspectives and thinking. We are seeking original and authentic responses, and applicants should ensure that any submission reflects their own analysis, judgement and vision for the role.  No candidate will meet every single requirement - if your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!  

Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment.  Please see the Equality Policy for more information.

Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a Local Living Wage for our employees which means that all employees will receive a minimum of £13.45 per hour for all contracted hours.

For any technical enquiries please email [email removed] and quote job reference number in all correspondence.

Attachments

• RARJ 7664 Contextual Safeguarding CoOrdinator JD PS.docx