Assistant Director of Family Inclusive Practice and Safeguarding

An exciting opportunity has risen to lead the trust wide Safeguarding Team at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The Assistant Director of Family inclusion and Safeguarding will be the key link between the organisation as a provider, ICB, 4x LA within West Midlands, NHSE, and number of other Stakeholders. They will provide strategic leadership to an excellent Safeguarding Team and will be supported by the Head of Safeguarding in their leadership role. Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.

• Adult and older adult mental health services
• Specialist learning disability services
• Mental health services for children and young people
• Community healthcare services for children, young people, and families in Dudley
We proudly offer supportive, inclusive, and family friendly employment and flexible working policies. We have a wide range of professional services and employee networks to help our colleagues be at their best - and find support if they need it. To find more about our staff benefits, please visit our website: blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk., To ensure robust systems, policies, procedures, professional guidance and training programmes are in place for all BCHC health services. This is so that children and adults at risk can be identified by staff at an early stage and protected from harm where possible and effective care can be provided for children and families where abuse has already occurred. To set a Trust Safeguarding strategy, ensure a set of Safeguarding dashboards and practice management of the safeguarding agenda. To line manage the Head of Service for Adult and Children's Safeguarding. To work with all partners to ensure the Trust obligations under the 1989 and 2004 Children Act are met, as are those under the Care Act 2014 for Adults Safeguarding. To ensure the promotion of anti-discriminatory practice is an integral part of all practice with children in need and children in need of protection; and for adults at risk. To ensure that the perspective of children (the voice of the child), their care is incorporated into all aspects of child protection practice. To lead in the analysis and appropriate development of services relating to Safeguarding Children and Adults and to be an expert in managing change. For further information, please see Job Description., Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) states that each Trust is responsible for identifying a senior clinical lead and complement the role of the designated nurse to undertake the role of designated nurse OR lead nurse for safeguarding children across a defined health economy. This role works collaboratively with the ICB Designated role in the services it provides in Black Country Healthcare. At Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) this role has been defined as a strategic leadership role which will reflect the Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018),and is aligned to the Roles and Competences for Healthcare Staff RCPCH Intercollegiate Documents for Adults (2018) and Children (2019). The post holder will function as the clinical lead and provides strategic direction for Adult and Children's safeguarding, Sexual Safety across the Trust. The post holder will provide assurance, specialist support and guidance to the Executive Team and Board on all matters relating to children's and adult's safeguarding, and ensure the Trust is compliant with statutory requirements as outlined under Section 11 of the Children's Act 1989 (2004) and under the Care Act (2014)., To ensure robust systems, policies, procedures, professional guidance and training programmes are in place for all BCHC health services. This is so that children and adults at risk can be identified by staff at an early stage and protected from harm where possible and effective care can be provided for children and families where abuse has already occurred. To work with the Director of Nursing, Named Doctor and Heads of Nursing to ensure that the Trust's safeguarding policies and procedures are updated according to the Trust cycle of business, and local and national guidance and best practice. To set a Trust Safeguarding strategy, ensure a set of Safeguarding dashboards and practice management of the safeguarding agenda. To line manage the Head of Service for Adult and Children's Safeguarding. To work with all partners to ensure the Trust obligations under the 1989 and 2004 Children Act are met, as are those under the Care Act 2014 for Adults Safeguarding. To ensure the promotion of anti-discriminatory practice is an integral part of all practice with children in need and children in need of protection; and for adults at risk. To ensure that the perspective of children (the voice of the child), their care is incorporated into all aspects of child protection practice. To lead in the analysis and appropriate development of services relating to Safeguarding Children and Adults and to be an expert in managing change. To provide professional nursing advice to other statutory and voluntary agencies on health matters relevant to safeguarding children and adults where required.
• Please Note that Internal at Risk Employees will be given preference for this position
We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward for this vacancy at any time should we receive an overwhelming response of applications. We therefore encourage applicants to apply early if you wish to be considered for this post. If you do not hear from the recruitment 4 weeks within the advertised closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage. Please ensure that you check your emails on a regular basis for any recruitment updates regarding this vacancy. If you are not successful at the shortlisting stage and would like feedback, please contact the Recruitment Team directly for feedback. The salary range quoted is as per NHS Agenda for Change pay structures. This is based on the number of years' working directly within the NHS at the advertised pay band. Experience gained with other NHS Trusts will apply, but candidates without prior experience working direct for the NHS would normally be appointed at the lowest point unless they can demonstrate the equivalent experience and then be eligible for incremental increases in future years. Successful applicants for clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the national Care Certificate qualification and will be supported to attain this once in post. The Trust is committed to equal opportunities, providing opportunities for flexible working and is a non-smoking organisation. As a Trust we are passionate about Anti-Racism, Disability Inclusion, and LGBTQ+ Equality, and are committed to diversifying our staff team in all areas and at all levels of seniority to better reflect the diverse communities we serve. Therefore, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from people who belong to a minority or marginalised community, including from Black and Asian, Disabled (including hidden disabilities such as Neurodiversity, Mental Health, etc), or Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans or Queer (LGBTQ+) people. Furthermore, Disabled applicants have the option of requesting that their application is considered under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). Please indicate your intention to apply under the GIS in the relevant section of your application. Regardless of whether you participate in the scheme or have shared a disability, you will be provided the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the interview process at each stage of the recruitment process. Due to the nature of the work some posts may be subject to a Standard Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, through the Disclosure and Barring Service as stipulated under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us; this will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances of your offences.

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country. Across the whole of the region we provide: + Adult and older adult mental health services + Specialist learning disability services + Mental health services for children and young people + Community healthcare services for children, young people and families in Dudley Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, with the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving. We currently employ over 4,000 people and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Whatever your role, working in a NHS Foundation Trust, like ours, is a demanding and extremely rewarding experience. Knowing that every day you can help to make a positive difference to someone's life is a very powerful feeling. We know that our Trust runs on this desire to help and support people, and our Trust vision expresses this. Our vision is to improve health and wellbeing for everyone, especially our colleagues to achieve the best possible work/life balance.