Job info	Job info details
Job title	Education Safeguarding and Assurance Advisor
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Quality Assurance
Business unit	Quality Assurance
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Team Manager – Quality Assurance
Accountable to (line manager)	Team Manager – Quality Assurance
Salary grade	J
JE ref	JCT35

1. Key purpose of job

• To ensure that the standards as set out in ‘Working Together to Safeguarding Children’ (Working Together 2006 and 2018) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022) Statutory Guidance are adhered to.
• To work with the Education Safeguarding Lead and Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to implement operational policies procedures for the delivery of effective safeguarding practice across all education providers within Torbay (0-25 years).
• To assist in the delivery of the Education Service Plan in relation to Safeguarding, playing a key role to ensure that the actions and activities are developed and implemented through the Torbay Safeguarding Partnership.
• To provide information, support, advice and training on the statutory Welfare Requirements and the Early Years Curriculum to Early Years settings, Childminders and Childcare establishments as detailed in the Childcare Act 2006, and school-based provisions.
• To actively increase the number of registered placements by providing registration support to prospective and new providers to ensure that all statutory duties are met.
• To be the key contact for organisations when creating the Chronologies needed for the consideration of child safeguarding practice reviews and After-Action Reviews.
• To be the Lead Officer delivering the Section 157/175 Audit of the Education Act on behalf of the Torbay Safeguarding Partnership.
• To be the Lead Officer in the delivery of the Safeguarding Audit to the Private and Voluntary including the Language Schools, Early Years Sector and Post 16 Providers.
• To analyse learning from child safeguarding practice reviews, after action reviews and other reviews, identify areas for development arising, and cascade the learning to educational provisions to ensure and develop good practice.
• To take a lead role on behalf the Education Service in relation to the Multi Agency Case Audits (MACA) as required by the Torbay Safeguarding Partnership.
• To enable the Lead Officer for developing best practice procedures for effective information sharing procedures with respect to Safeguarding and GDPR.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Compliance with ‘Working Together to Safeguarding Children’ (Working Together 2006 and 2018) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022).
• Auditing of Section 157/175 of the Education Act and Section 11 of the Children Act is completed effectively and in a timely manner.
• Learning from child safeguarding practice reviews, after action reviews, MACA’s, the Section 157/175 and Section 11 is understood and adopted across the sector.
• Leaders, Managers and Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) are given support, challenge and advice to maintain and improve their externally validated outcomes for safeguarding via Ofsted.
• There is a better understanding of both the Education and Safeguarding Children sectors that results in the development of joint protocols for both sectors in relation to the safeguarding children’s agenda.
• A clear set of best practice and model guidance standards are available that inform Governing Bodies and Headteachers which is disseminated and understood.
• There will be sufficient high-quality Education and Early Years providers to meet local needs.
• The DSL within every education provision will have the necessary confidence, knowledge and skills to implement their role.
• The education sector’s views will be represented at relevant Boards and Groups as directed.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times.
• To ensure that children and young people achieve best outcomes, and in particular are safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and exploitation.
• To ensure that children, young people and their families have a voice and are enabled to make a contribution to the development and delivery of services.
• To support challenge and advise schools and other education establishments in relation to all aspects of safeguarding in education, including the implementation of Statutory Requirements, National Guidance and Welfare Requirements under the Childcare Act 2006.
• To be the Lead Officer delivering the Section 157/175 Audit of the Education Act on behalf of the Torbay Safeguarding Partnership.
• To be the Lead Officer in the delivery of the Safeguarding Audit to the Private and Voluntary including the Language Schools, Early Years Sector and Post 16 Providers.
• To analyse learning from child safeguarding practice reviews, after action reviews and other reviews, identify areas for development arising, and cascade the learning to educational provisions to ensure and develop good practice.
• To take a lead role on behalf the Education Service in relation to the Multi Agency Case Audits (MACA) as required by the Torbay Safeguarding Partnership
• On behalf of the TSP, to be responsible for the creation of model policies and procedures for use by the education sector across Torbay
• Provide direct advice and support to Language Schools to ensure that the quality of service provided maintains the highest level of best practice in relation to safeguarding. To take learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPR’S), after action reviews and other reviews, identify areas for development arising, and cascade learning to educational provisions
• To be the key contact for organisations when creating the Chronologies needed for the consideration of CSPR’s and after-action reviews.
• To keep up to date with legislative/regulatory requirements and the latest changes and/or developments in protecting children.
• To assist in the creation of management information and quality assurance systems that contribute directly to safeguarding and welfare promotion of children and young people.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment and conditions. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical effort. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal office and agile working equipment.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External: 

• For the purposes of this role, the education sector is defined as 40 Schools, 37 Early Years Providers, 80 Childminders, and Post 16 Providers.  The Department for Education, Ofsted and the Regional Schools Commissioner, TSP Partner Organisations, children and families.

Internal: 

• Education Services, Specialist Services, Safeguarding Service, MASH, Youth Justice Service, Early Help Service, Human Resources.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy. 
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.  
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements.  Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.  This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for. 
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Education Safeguarding and Assurance Advisor
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Quality Assurance
Business unit	Quality Assurance

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Evidence of effective written, oral and inter-personal skills, including presentation, advocacy, negotiation and consultation skills.
• Ability to communicate at an appropriate level with children and young people.
• Ability to engage with children and families, education professionals and other stakeholders to obtain the information needed to develop and deliver effective services.
• Ability to work on own initiative and also as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and be confident to understand when information should be shared for safeguarding purposes.
• Ability to effectively organise and prioritise work with minimum supervision to meet set deadlines, including working to conflicting deadlines.
• Negotiation skills.
• Ability to interact with and influence a wide range of professionals.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Evidence of applying innovative and analytical approaches to solving complex and challenging problems.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Experience of multi-agency working.
• Knowledge of the audit process for both the Section 157/175 and Section 11.
• Knowledge of the Ofsted Registration and Inspection process.
• Knowledge of the Welfare Requirements of the Childcare Act 2006.
• Knowledge of the Children Act 1989/ 2004.
• Knowledge of Working Together to Safeguarding Children’ (Working Together 2006), Safeguarding Children in Education (2016) Statutory Guidance 2016.
• Working knowledge of the Data Protection Act and General Data Protection Regulations.

Desirable knowledge

• To have knowledge of the Inspection Framework for Children’s Services .
• To have knowledge of the CQC Inspection Framework. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience of working in an education establishment in a senior capacity.
• Experience of implementing policy and procedures across an organisation to bring about change.
• Experience of OFSTED inspection process.
• Experience of working at a multi-agency level.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of working within the statutory social care sector.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• NVQ Level 4/5 or equivalent in a relevant subject area.
• Evidence continued professional development.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Management qualification to certificate level or equivalent, or a willingness to acquire such in a timely fashion.
• A degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or working towards.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.