Job summary Are you an experienced senior nurse passionate about safeguarding children and children in care & a commitment to delivering high-quality care? If so, this is your opportunity to lead & shape the safeguarding strategy within University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx).As the Head of Nursing for children and children in care, you will provide senior nursing leadership, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding practice across our Trust. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, quality governance, and performance management to enhance safeguarding services. This role involves: Strategic Leadership - Shaping & delivering the Trust's safeguarding vision & compliance with statutory regulations. Quality Assurance - Ensuring safeguarding governance aligns with national standards supporting audit processes. Multi-Agency Collaboration - Representing the Trust at Local Safeguarding Partnerships & working closely with external stakeholders. Education & Training - Leading staff training & development in safeguarding best practices.Service Improvement - Driving continuous quality improvements to safeguarding processes & patient care. Main duties of the job The Head of Nursing will be an integral member of the Safeguarding Senior Management Team, supporting the Corporate Nursing Division in delivering key performance targets and the Safeguarding strategy. The post holder will provide proactive senior nursing leadership and management for Safeguarding children and children in care. You will have; Registered Nurse (Adult / Children/ Midwife) qualification Master's level qualification or equivalent experience Extensive safeguarding experience with knowledge of specialist areas Strong leadership & people management skills Proven ability to work within complex & challenging environments Experience in multi-agency safeguarding work at a senior level About us At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves. As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do. We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex. Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/ Date posted 03 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £62,215 to £72,293 a year pro rata, per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working Reference number 279-7099590-APR25 Job locations All UXSx Sites Worthing Hospital Worthing BN11 2DH Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will have management and leadership responsibilities for the following areas; Determining the strategic direction of the safeguarding service in collaboration with the Associate Director and wider safeguarding SMT. Compliance with statutory regulations and service quality for safeguarding at UHSussex Performance management and professional standards of Safeguarding Nurse Specialists to ensure delivery of healthcare performance standards and Trust objectives within their designated area of responsibility. Ensuring UHSussex systems and processes support safeguarding children and children in care. Safeguarding, learning and practice reviews, including the development of action plans. Strategy for recognition and response of all forms of abuse and neglect, including domestic violence and abuse, extrafamilial harm and contextual forms of abuse. Preparing an annual report will provide assurance to the UHSussex Trust Board and ICB. Represent the trust or act as an active local safeguarding partnership and sub-group member. Assurance is provided via monthly exception reports and quarterly complete reports to the Trust, ICB, and Safeguarding Partnerships. Assurance to the Board and other stakeholders via attendance at internal safeguarding meetings and committees. I will deputise for the Associate Director at the Local Safeguarding Partnership meetings and other multi-agency, integrated care system meetings as required. Act as Chair of the children and children in care Operational Group Ensuring safeguarding action plans are associated with the children and children in care, Operational Group meetings are monitored, and concerns are escalated to the Safeguarding Committee. Monitoring of action plans with external safeguarding audits Escalate concerns via the Safeguarding Strategy Committee. The learning from safeguarding activity is disseminated, and action plans are followed up. Ensure that the provision of education and training sessions on safeguarding children and children in care meet the requirements in the various guidance documents. Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will have management and leadership responsibilities for the following areas; Determining the strategic direction of the safeguarding service in collaboration with the Associate Director and wider safeguarding SMT. Compliance with statutory regulations and service quality for safeguarding at UHSussex Performance management and professional standards of Safeguarding Nurse Specialists to ensure delivery of healthcare performance standards and Trust objectives within their designated area of responsibility. Ensuring UHSussex systems and processes support safeguarding children and children in care. Safeguarding, learning and practice reviews, including the development of action plans. Strategy for recognition and response of all forms of abuse and neglect, including domestic violence and abuse, extrafamilial harm and contextual forms of abuse. Preparing an annual report will provide assurance to the UHSussex Trust Board and ICB. Represent the trust or act as an active local safeguarding partnership and sub-group member. Assurance is provided via monthly exception reports and quarterly complete reports to the Trust, ICB, and Safeguarding Partnerships. Assurance to the Board and other stakeholders via attendance at internal safeguarding meetings and committees. I will deputise for the Associate Director at the Local Safeguarding Partnership meetings and other multi-agency, integrated care system meetings as required. Act as Chair of the children and children in care Operational Group Ensuring safeguarding action plans are associated with the children and children in care, Operational Group meetings are monitored, and concerns are escalated to the Safeguarding Committee. Monitoring of action plans with external safeguarding audits Escalate concerns via the Safeguarding Strategy Committee. The learning from safeguarding activity is disseminated, and action plans are followed up. Ensure that the provision of education and training sessions on safeguarding children and children in care meet the requirements in the various guidance documents. Person Specification Essential Essential Registered Nurse/ Midwife/ RSCN / RHV Educated to master's level/equivalent level qualification in relevant subject, or considerable experience of working at a similar level in specialist area. Teaching qualification or equivalent experience. Extensive experience of safeguarding experience with knowledge of specialist areas. Level 4 competence for Safeguarding Senior level experience of working within safeguarding children and children in care Desirable Robust understanding of clinical decision-making processes within health organisations and with partner organizations e.g., local Authority, acute and private providers, and the public Experience of presenting at a senior level Safeguarding Quarterly Board Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Essential Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues Person Specification Essential Essential Registered Nurse/ Midwife/ RSCN / RHV Educated to master's level/equivalent level qualification in relevant subject, or considerable experience of working at a similar level in specialist area. Teaching qualification or equivalent experience. Extensive experience of safeguarding experience with knowledge of specialist areas. Level 4 competence for Safeguarding Senior level experience of working within safeguarding children and children in care Desirable Robust understanding of clinical decision-making processes within health organisations and with partner organizations e.g., local Authority, acute and private providers, and the public Experience of presenting at a senior level Safeguarding Quarterly Board Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Essential Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279) Address All UXSx Sites Worthing Hospital Worthing BN11 2DH Employer's website https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)