Head of Education Safeguarding

Job Overview

Grade 7 - £66,627 - £85,845

Consultation grade – subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5 hours per week

Are you a strategic safeguarding leader committed to ensuring children in education are safe, protected and able to thrive? Birmingham City Council is seeking an exceptional professional to lead our Education Safeguarding Service at a time of significant improvement, opportunity, and transformation.

• Be a champion for all children in Birmingham, setting high expectations for safeguarding across the system
• Lead a range of statutory and strategic safeguarding functions on behalf of the Local Authority, ensuring full compliance with legislation including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Support schools and settings to safeguard and protect the welfare of children
• Contribute expert knowledge to safeguarding practice for key groups of vulnerable children
• Shape and deliver the vision, strategy and business plans for the Education Safeguarding Service, engaging staff, schools, partners and stakeholders to ensure a consistent, high‑quality safeguarding response.
• Develop and maintain strong systems, policies, procedures, and management information to support continuous improvement and excellent service delivery.
• Provide professional expertise, advice and guidance to schools, leaders, and multi‑agency partners across Birmingham.
• Lead, motivate and support staff within the Education Safeguarding Service to achieve strong performance, positive culture, and high standards.

• A degree or equivalent professional qualification in education, social care, or a related field.
• Significant leadership experience in safeguarding within education, social care, or local government.
• Deep knowledge of statutory safeguarding duties, child protection processes, and multi‑agency working within an education environment
• Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to influence partners, provide constructive challenge, and promote a culture of safety and learning.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice in all aspects of safeguarding.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. For this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented, and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view our Corporate Safeguarding Policy here.