Job Introduction
We are seeking an experienced and inspirational Head of Safeguarding to lead the delivery of outstanding safeguarding practice across our organisation.
This is a high-profile, strategic leadership role where you will work closely with the Chief Nursing Officer and wider Quality team to ensure we meet statutory safeguarding requirements while continuously improving outcomes for the people we serve.
You will play a pivotal role in shaping our safeguarding strategy, driving a culture of continuous learning, and ensuring that safeguarding is embedded across every level of the organisation.
Please note: This is a single vacancy being advertised across multiple UK locations to maximise reach, as the role is primarily remote. We kindly ask that applicants submit one application only, as duplicate applications will not be considered.
About the Role
As our Head of Safeguarding, you will:
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Provide expert leadership and oversight of safeguarding across adults and children’s services
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Drive the development and implementation of our safeguarding strategy and improvement agenda
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Ensure robust safeguarding governance, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance
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Analyse safeguarding data to identify risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement
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Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to promote best practice
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Represent the organisation at a senior level in safeguarding forums and partnerships
While this role does not have direct line management responsibility, you will play a key leadership role through regular 1:1 engagement and professional support to our 9 Safeguarding Leads across the organisation, helping them develop capability and deliver consistent high standards.
What We’re Looking For
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Registered Nurse (NMC) or Allied Health Professional (HCPC)
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Relevant degree and educated to Master’s level (or equivalent experience)
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Significant senior-level safeguarding leadership experience (e.g., Head of Safeguarding or national role)
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Extensive knowledge of safeguarding requirements for adults and children
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Leadership/management qualification
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Proven experience influencing at a strategic or national level
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Strong experience in safeguarding quality assurance, governance, and improvement
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Evidence of continuous professional development in safeguarding
We’re looking for someone who will not only lead but inspire. You will bring:
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A strong understanding of the safeguarding system as a whole, including how organisations, partnerships, and statutory frameworks interact
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Confidence to professionally challenge colleagues in a constructive and respectful way, ensuring high standards are maintained
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Excellent communication skills, with the ability to handle complex and sensitive information
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Strong diplomacy, influencing and negotiation skills
Personal qualities are just as important to us. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
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Active listening
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Compassion and empathy
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Integrity and resilience
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A collaborative and inclusive leadership style
Working arrangements:
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This role is primarily remote and can be based anywhere in the UK
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You will be required to undertake ad hoc travel across our services and business units
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Quarterly travel to London is essential for senior leadership and governance meetings
Why join HCRG Care Group?
This is more than just a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to shape safeguarding at scale and make a meaningful impact.
We offer:
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A strategic role within a supportive and forward-thinking Quality team
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Opportunities for learning and development, including exposure to the wider quality agenda and cross-functional working
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The chance to influence organisational culture, policy, and practice at a national level
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A collaborative environment where your expertise will be valued and your voice heard
Ready to make a difference?
If you are an experienced safeguarding leader looking for a strategic role with real impact—and you bring both expertise and compassion—we would love to hear from you.
Package Description
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£79,504 - £91,609 (Band 8c AfC Salary) with NHS Pension and full Agenda for Change terms and conditions
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Membership of My Reward Hub, giving you access to discounts on every day purchases like grocery shopping as well as cashback and voucher offers for treats for you and those special to you
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Access to your wages as you earn them to help cover life’s emergencies and avoid overdraft fees or high interest rates
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Online and face to face help with your mental and physical wellbeing – from healthy recipes and activity challenges through to post trauma support, legal, debt and life management help, as well career coaching and counselling
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Access to eLearning, bespoke career pathways and opportunities for continuing professional development through our ‘Outstanding’ learning and development team, The Learning Enterprise
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An open, just culture where you’re encouraged to have and implement ideas which can help us deliver our purpose: changing lives through transforming health and care – backed up by at least £100,000 of ringfenced innovation funding each year
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The pride of working for an organisation committed to the highest clinical and quality standards: with the majority of our rated services holding “good” or “outstanding” ratings from the Care Quality Commission
About the Company
We change lives by transforming health and care.
Established in 2006, we are one of the UK's leading independent providers of community health and care services, working with health and care commissioners and communities to transform services with a focus on experience, efficiency, and improved outcomes. We deliver and transform adult and children community health services, primary care services including urgent care, sexual health, dermatology and MSK services as well as adult social care and wellbeing services. Across England, we support communities of many millions and directly help more than half a million people each year - guided by our simple values: we care, we think, we do.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from a broad, diverse range of people who want to join our team. We’re a Disability Confident Committed company, so we work to provide facilities, work environment adjustments and technical solutions to be as inclusive of everyone.
While it doesn’t happen often, sometimes a role is very popular, and we’ll need to close it earlier than the date we’ve shown here. If you’re keen to join our team, we’d love to hear from you so please apply as soon as you can.
As you’d expect, safeguarding and protecting the children, young people and vulnerable adults that we work with is of the utmost importance so we have policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices and everyone who joins the team is subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks.
Finally, we need to let you know that the company you’ll work for is part of HCRG Care Group Holdings Limited and by applying for this job we’ll need to process and hold information about you. If you would like to know a little more about how we use your information, please see our website's privacy policy.
