Head of Safeguarding and Child Protection

Job Description

Responsible to:

Assistant Director of Pupil Well-being and Protection

Responsible for:
Providing strategic leadership in relation to child and adult protection, safeguarding and inclusion;
Developing and leading all aspects of assigned services including the Child Protection Support Service (CPSS) and Inter-cultural Education Service (IES) (under Review);
Lead Social Worker.

The purpose of this job is to ensure that the Education Authority (EA) fulfils legal, professional, and inter‑agency obligations relating to child and adult safeguarding, and the inclusion of pupils, through the development, updating and implementation of safeguarding, protection and inclusion policy, procedures, and practice standards across the education sector, including, schools, EOTAS, and youth settings. The post holder will manage and lead a series of assigned services, including the Child Protection Support Service and Inter‑cultural Education Service (under review), taking a rights‑based approach to effective service delivery.

• Lead and manage assigned well‑being and protection services, including CPSS and IES, ensuring continuous service improvement, high quality service delivery and assurance
• Act as the EA’s Lead Social Worker, ensure that social workers employed by the EA are compliant with Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) standards, including supervision, training, practice and documentation
• Promote rights, welfare, privacy, and consent in all safeguarding, protection and inclusion functions
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that allegations of child and adult abuse and neglect are dealt with in adherence to legislation, EA policy, procedures and due process
• Support multi‑disciplinary / inter‑agency assessments and action planning to ensure organisational and professional learning in relation to safeguarding, protection and inclusion; including Case Management Reviews, Individual Agency Reviews and Domestic Homicide Reviews
• Develop staff through professional development that enhances skillsets, capacity and competence.
• Work collaboratively to promote trauma‑informed approaches
• Monitor and demonstrate service impact and pupil outcomes using Outcomes Based Accountability Framework
• Facilitate the EA Safeguarding in Education Forum (education sector)
• Manage staff, budgets, and resources equitably and effectively

• Ensure EA meets child and adult safeguarding and protection, and inclusion statutory obligations
• Lead policy development and ensure up‑to‑date safeguarding, protection and inclusion policies
• Ensure that the EA training framework for child and adult protection, safeguarding and inclusion is responsive to the needs of the education sector
• Translate strategic objectives into directorate, division and service plans and targets
• Promote participation of stakeholders in service planning
• Represent EA on SBNI multi‑agency fora and other strategic planning and policy groups as required
• Ensure regular reporting and assurances to the Directorate Management Team, Corporate Leadership team and EA Board members and Committees on child and adult safeguarding, protection and inclusion, including emerging issues, trends and demand

• Promote EA values and contribute to a positive corporate culture
• Provide expert and informed social work opinion and influence
• Ensure CPSS and IES services align with EA policies and governance, including audit and risk management
• Collaborate across directorates to address matters relating to safeguarding, protection and inclusion
• Deliver high‑quality reports to EA leadership and stakeholders as required
• Manage staff performance, wellbeing, supervision, and development
• Lead disciplinary, capability and complaints procedures as needed
• Engage with key stakeholders including schools, trade unions and public representatives

• Develop and deliver specialist services to promote educational access
• Promote reflective practice
• Review and update policies and procedures for regional service delivery
• Facilit…