MOD Independent Defence Safeguarding Reviewer

Type of review Independent review of safeguarding arrangements across Defence

Role Member of a multidisciplinary review team

Estimated commitment Approximately 15 days over the three-month period

Daily rate £750 per day

Review timeframe Approximately 16 weeks from formal mobilisation

Join the multidisciplinary team supporting a review of safeguarding across the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence is commissioning an independent review of safeguarding arrangements across Defence. This review will provide an authoritative assessment of safeguarding effectiveness, governance, accountability and organisational risk, helping to shape the future of safeguarding policy and practice across the whole force.

We are seeking recognised experts from a broad range of professional backgrounds to form a multidisciplinary review team. Working through defined evidence work streams, the team will examine current arrangements and develop practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen outcomes for children, adults at risk and other vulnerable groups across Defence.

A multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts will undertake the evidence gathering, analysis and drafting. Membership will be drawn from a broad range of professional backgrounds, including social work, education, health and policing.

The review team will report to a wider Defence Steering Group. The Steering Group will provide strategic oversight, maintain coherence across the review, test emerging findings and support access to relevant Defence stakeholders.

The review scope will be divided into thematic work streams. Each workstream will have a clear lead, evidence plan, outputs and milestones, with cross-cutting issues brought together through the Steering Group.

The Steering Group will report progress and emerging issues into the Directorate of Defence Safety and Support (DDSS). The final report, including findings, recommendations and options for future arrangements, will be presented to the Defence Safeguarding Board (DSB).

The review will use a structured, evidence-based methodology designed to provide both an organisation-wide assessment and sufficient depth in priority areas. The methodology will be agreed at mobilisation and will include:

• Mobilisation and scoping: Confirm the review questions, workstream boundaries, evidence requirements, stakeholder map, governance arrangements and quality assurance approach.
• Document and policy review: Examine relevant policy, governance, assurance, inspection, training and operational documentation.
• Data and trend analysis: Assess available quantitative and qualitative data to identify patterns, gaps, risk indicators and limitations in organisational evidence.
• Stakeholder engagement: Use interviews, focus groups and structured engagement with Defence personnel, safeguarding professionals, partner bodies and other relevant stakeholders.
• Case and process sampling: Test how policy and governance operate in practice through proportionate sampling of cases, pathways, decisions and assurance activity.
• Benchmarking: Compare Defence arrangements with relevant statutory, professional, inspection and cross-government frameworks, recognising the particular requirements of the Defence context.
• Synthesis and validation: Triangulate evidence across work streams, test emerging findings through the Steering Group and identify systemic strengths, weaknesses, risks and dependencies.
• Reporting and recommendations: Produce clear findings, prioritised recommendations and practical options for future governance, assurance and operating models.

The review is…