Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Corporate
Grade
Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
242-4762-LR
Employer
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Ladybridge Hall / Estuary
Town
Bolton / Liverpool
Salary
£64,455 - £74,896 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust logo

Head of Safeguarding

Band 8b

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet our minimum selection criteria at each stage of the selection process. We will not tolerate discrimination on any of the following: gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, religion, age, disability, working pattern, caring responsibilities trade union activity or political beliefs-or any other grounds.

The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of staff from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. We encourage applications from all backgrounds to improve the diversity of our workforce and to better reflect the communities we serve to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place; every time. 

The Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if a large number of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications received for our advertisements, we will only contact those candidates shortlisted for interview via email; we aim to do this within 4 weeks of the closing date. If you do not receive the email, it will be that you have not been shortlisting on this occasion. When applying for this position, it is essential that you read the job description and person specification fully. Please use the supporting information space to demonstrate your ability to undertake this role, drawing on your skills, knowledge and experience.

We also offers a range of excellent benefits including a pension scheme, up to 33 days Annual leave (exclusive of bank holidays), training and development opportunities, access to NHS discounts, Car Lease Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme, NHS Mortgages and Childcare Vouchers.

 

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for the right individual to join a progressive diverse team and an organisation with ambition to be the best. This is a permanent position offering the post holder an opportunity to be the Head of Safeguarding and PREVENT for the North West Ambulance Service. The post holder will report directly to the Assistant Director of Nursing and Quality within the Quality and Improvement Directorate. 

This position offers an exciting opportunity for an inspiring clinical leader to continue to improve the safeguarding work within NWAS.  The successful candidate will have a pivotal role in delivering the NWAS strategic plan (right care, right time, right place, every time), regulatory compliance (CQC) and the Quality,  and Improvement Directorate (QID) team purpose and objectives.

Main duties of the job

As Safeguarding Lead, the post holder will work within the Clinical Safety Team and support leaders and staff across the North West Ambulance Service to ensure the strategic delivery of the Safeguarding and PREVENT agenda and statutory responsibilities for safeguarding in line with The Care Act 2014, The Children Act 1989 & 2004, The Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The successful applicant will have a proven track record of working within the safeguarding arena and will be able to demonstrate an extensive understanding of the statutory requirements for safeguarding and be committed to protecting the most vulnerable and at risk members of society.

Working for our organisation

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport.

Our highly skilled staff provide life-saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed.
We also provide non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need.

Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident.

We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please ensure you have read the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying for this role.

To ensure that we invest in developing a nurturing, positive and thriving culture, it is important to us to recruit values based leaders. As part of this recruitment process, if you are successfully shortlisted you will be invited to take part in a Be Think Do Assessment Centre.  This may include engagement with a psychometric tool and completion of a group exercise, followed by a professional discussion.

NWAS is an inclusive employer and is actively committed to inviting applications from underrepresented groups to build leadership that reflects the communities it serves.

The dates of these elements are as follows:

SITUATIONAL JUDGEMENT ASSESSMENT DATE: 3rd September 2025

BE THINK DO ASSESSMENT CENTRE AND PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION DATE: 3rd September 2025

The Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if a large number of applications are received.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Master’s Degree level, working towards, or able to demonstrate equivalent expertise and experience in relation to expert safeguarding practice.
  • State Registered Health Care Professional (state registered social workers will also be considered)
  • Committed to continuing professional development
  • Post Graduate management/leadership qualifications

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Proven experience in working in child and adult protections
  • Specialist knowledge of current safeguarding legislation, Government guidance and local / national policy and procedures.
  • Sound analytical and judgement skills
  • Ability to demonstrate Leadership and motivational skills
  • Good understanding of the Contest Strategy and the Prevent agenda.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to be able to deal with a wide range of people across the organisation and relevant external stakeholders.
  • Ability to promote good professional practice in safeguarding adults and children.
  • Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive information and deal effectively with barriers to understanding.
  • Ability to analyse issues and think critically, to interpret complex facts and situations, compare a range of options and take appropriate action.
  • Ability to create a supportive environment for staff
  • Communicating (orally and in writing), adapting the styles and messages to match the situation and audiences including delivering difficult information and at times, in highly distressing and emotional circumstances
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
  • Excellent planning and organisational skills to manage a range of activities and ability to adjust plans to meet the demands of the service.
  • Ability to provide expertise and advice to a multi-agency forum.
  • Competence to undertake internal management reviews for Serious Incidents within the Trust.
  • Sound knowledge of Clinical Governance, Quality and Safety.
  • Proven organisational and people management skills.
  • Sound knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act.
Desirable criteria
  • Political skills, diplomacy and negotiation skills

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of working within the field of safeguarding.
  • Experience of effective multi-agency / partnership working
  • Evidence of continued professional development in the field of safeguarding.
  • Experience of conducting clinical audit and / or research.

Personal

Essential criteria
  • To have an approachable, fair and balanced attitude to staff.
  • To provide support to colleagues and the team using coaching and supervision methodologies to ensure safe practice and learning.
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
  • Prepared to work flexibly and be mobile across the Trust.
  • Ability to manage personal stress and that of others in highly emotive and distressing circumstances.
  • Able to recognise the need for own support and supervision.
  • Demonstrate a visible passion for the delivery of safeguarding services.
  • Demonstrate a strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity and ability to lead a team.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Race at WorkDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldApprenticeships Top 100 Employers 2024ENEI 2024 Gold

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Courtney Hurley
Job title
Clinical Safety Administrator
Email address
[email protected]
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies