Job overview
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) recognises its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults. Staff must always treat patients with dignity and respect, protecting those at risk from abuse and neglect. Employees have a responsibility to ensure that prompt and appropriate action is taken when concerns have been raised about a child, young person or adult at risk.
The role of the Specialist Safeguarding Practitioner is an important leadership position that will ensure excellent standards of safeguarding practice throughout ELHT. The post holder will be an experienced nurse or social worker with recent experience of working with adults at risk of abuse and neglect, preferably within a safeguarding role. They will lead on the design and delivery of training and education to the multidisciplinary workforce and be able to provide expert advice around safeguarding, mental capacity and deprivation of liberty safeguards.
The post holder will work closely with divisional leads and safeguarding ‘champions’ developing positive partnerships which will ultimately improve outcomes for adults at risk. They will also provide support and mentorship to safeguarding practitioners and other colleagues within the multidisciplinary safeguarding team.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will support the ELHT workforce to conform to the relevant statutory guidance, frameworks and legislation. They will support the Named Professional Safeguarding Adults and Head of Safeguarding to provide leadership, supervision, training and expert advice in the management of adult safeguarding concerns, including:
* Development and implementation of the Safeguarding Strategy and leading on workstreams within that strategy.
* Raising awareness of the safeguarding adults agenda with the ELHT multi-disciplinary workforce.
* Continued development of the Trust safeguarding policies and procedures and completion of audits to ensure that key safeguarding messages are embedded in practice and CQC standards are being met.
* Supporting staff to implement the principles of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
* Design, deliver and evaluate Level 3 Safeguarding Adult training.
* Facilitation of safeguarding supervision and safeguarding champions sessions.
* Provision of support in the raising of and response to safeguarding adult concerns within our acute and community settings.
* Supporting clinical and governance teams in the completion of safeguarding investigations to support S.42 enquiries.
* Proactively contribute to subgroups of the Safeguarding Adult Board and safeguarding reviews including Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SAR) and Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) alongside multiagency partners.
Working for our organisation
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) was established in 2003 and is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
We employ 10,000 staff, some of whom are award winning and internationally renowned for their work and achievements. We treat over 700,000 patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures. Our high quality healthcare services are offered across five hospital sites and various community sites.
We have a total of 1041 beds:
* 709 beds at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
* 240 beds at Burnley General Teaching Hospital
* 32 beds at Clitheroe Community hospital
* 67 Pendle Community Hospital
Our objectives and values
At ELHT our objectives are to:
* Put safety and quality at the heart of everything we do
* Invest in and develop our workforce
* Work with key stakeholders to develop effective partnerships
* Encourage innovation and pathway reform, and deliver best practice
Our values are:
* Put patients first
* Respect the individual
* Act with integrity
* Serve the community
* Promote positive change
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* Support the Safeguarding Team to provide high quality safeguarding supervision, training, advice and expertise to the ELHT workforce to maintain and continuously improve quality of services provided to adults at risk of abuse & neglect and their families.
* To work in conjunction with the Named Professional Safeguarding Adults and Head of Safeguarding to update policies, procedures and guidance and ensure we have an empowered workforce with the appropriate safeguarding knowledge and skills.
* To develop ELHT staff knowledge and skills in the specific areas of:
o Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse and neglect in accordance with the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
o Safeguarding policies and procedures.
o Recognising, raising and responding to concerns about abuse or neglect.
o Supporting the local authority to undertake S.42 enquiries when there are concerns an adult at risk has experienced abuse or neglect whilst under the care of ELHT services.
o Ensuring capacity assessments are undertaken appropriately.
o Recognising potential deprivations of liberty and ensuring deprivation of liberty safeguards are in place.
o Awareness of the PREVENT duty and how to manage concerns appropriately.
o Ensuring practice is trauma-informed and what this means.
* Provide advice to ELHT staff in relation to the support and management of adults at risk who have experienced any of the categories of abuse as defined by the Care Act 2014
* Raise awareness of and offer expert advise in matters relating to honour-based violence, female genital mutilation, human trafficking & PREVENT.
* To attend and contribute to safeguarding adults groups/meetings both within ELHT and alongside partners/external organisations where ELHT representation is required.
* Contribute to the governance arrangements regarding safeguarding within ELHT including, supporting S.42 enquiries and resulting action plans for divisions and Trust-wide and provision of assurance at the Adult Safeguarding Operational Group and Safeguarding Committee.
* Proactively participate in multiagency meetings with partner agencies including subgroups of the Safeguarding Adults Board.
* Contribute to the communication processes within ELHT ensuring relevant information in relation to local and national safeguarding agendas is shared.
* Work in partnership with other safeguarding practitioners within ELHT including the Named Nurse Safeguarding Children, Named Midwife and leads for Learning Disability & Autism and Dementia to ensure a holistic ‘think family’ approach to safeguarding.
* To work closely with safeguarding practitioners outside of ELHT including other named and designated professionals within the East Lancashire health and social economy ensuring a collaborative and consistent approach to local safeguarding arrangements.
* Work with multi-agency multi-disciplinary teams and networks to support a whole systems approach to care delivery and safeguarding.
* Contribute to the development of health service specifications and standards for safeguarding adult practice.
* To analyse and communicate sensitive and complex information in relation to the operational issues relating to organisation and to partner agencies as necessary.
* To develop structures opportunities for frontline staff to develop a modern workforce that meets the heath needs of the population of East Lancashire. This includes helping to identify funding streams, coordinate and collate bids to enhance the safeguarding services offered.
* Assist the Named Professional and Head of Safeguarding in helping to facilitate and coordinate the provision of legal reports required in legal proceedings and provide expert advice t practitioners on legal matters relating to the safeguarding agenda in conjunction with the Trust’s Legal Team.
* Establish and maintain communication with groups and individuals on complex and sensitive issues in a range of inter- and intra-agency settings within health, social, education and voluntary sector relating to the safeguarding agenda.
* Communicate and be able to constructively challenge and analyse complex situations and events within a variety of professional inter/intra-agency settings.
* Propose, manage, evaluate and implement new service developments/projects, in conjunction with the Safeguarding Team, Named Professional and Head of Safeguarding.
* Contribute to reports and present information to safeguarding conferences and related meetings.
* Deliver SAFE, PERSONAL and EFFECTIVE care – all aspects of the role will be delivered within a patient-led, multi-agency multidisciplinary team philosophy.
* Develop self and contribute to the development of others, including the safeguarding practitioners and champions.
* Provide, receive and analyse highly complex information relating to safeguarding adults on a local and national basis.
* Communicate and analyse information in potentially stressful situations providing advice on all levels within the Trust and on a multi-agency/disciplinary basis.
* Contribute to planning and formulation of inter-agency safeguarding policies and procedures. Work in partnership with other agencies involved in safeguarding participating and influencing inter-agency procedures.
COMMUNICATION
* Work closely with other specialist safeguarding professionals within the Trust team and across the health community.
* Work closely with all members of the safeguarding team and develop their communication skills.
* Liaise with practitioners from other agencies such as other health organisations, social care, domestic abuse services, police, probation.
* Work effectively with colleagues within ELHT and from other organisations such as PiPOT/LADO.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
* Support ELHT clinical teams with a consistent approach across all agencies and all aspects of the safeguarding agenda.
* Support the Named professional to ensure newly appointed staff are introduced to safeguarding policies and procedures.
* Contribute to the on-going development and implementation of the Trust’s training strategy in line with national and local expectations in particular national safeguarding drivers.
* Contribute to the delivery of training for ELHT staff and inter-agency training facilitated by the SAB.
ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
* To maintain up to date records and electronic diary in accordance with ELHT policies and procedures.
* To maintain a database that will collect and record information as appropriate for the purpose of statistical data collection.
* To facilitate and maintain accurate records in respect of safeguarding and supervision.
* Plan and prioritise own project/workload and that of any others where necessary.
* Flexible working to ensure a work/life balance is achieved.
* Implement internal safeguarding policies and procedures in line with legislation, national guidance and local safeguarding adult board guidance.
* Contribute to the promotion, dissemination and implementation of organisational policies and procedures.
* Actively seek the views of adults at risk and families in relation to safeguarding.
* Effectively communicate local safeguarding knowledge, research and findings from audits and challenge poor practice.
* Contribute to own organisation audits, multi-agency audits, local and statutory inspections.
* Provide specialist advice to practitioners, both actively and reactively, including clarification of organisational policies, legal issues and the management of safeguarding cases.
INTERAGENCY RESPONSIILITIES
* Participate in local multiagency forums/groups as required including subgroups of the local Safeguarding Adults Board.
* Liaise with other agencies and provide advice on health matters with regards to safeguarding adults.
* Support staff to ensure safeguarding alerts are managed effectively and efficiently within the Trust including adherence to robust recording procedures.
* Support the Named Professional and Head of Safeguarding in relation to development, maintenance and review of ELHT safeguarding processes.
* Cooperate with agencies as part of a multiagency investigation process in relation to safeguarding alerts raised by the Trust or as required from the lead agency in line with the Care Act 2014
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
* Adhere to all professional codes as set out by the relevant professional body, ELHT policies, Data Protection, GDPR and Caldicott principles.
* Adhere to local and national information sharing policies, procedures, guidance and legislation in respect of safeguarding adults at risk.
* Attend regular supervision session with the Named Professional or other supervisor.
* Work autonomously – organising, planning and prioritising own workload to meet the needs of the service.
* Take responsibility for ensuring effective and safe storage of data/paper records in accordance with Trust policy.
* Have awareness of responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR when accessing personal and sensitive data.
* To complete statistical and other returns as required.
* Use databases to record data re: cases, training and supervision.
* Participate in single and multi-agency audits and performance monitoring exercises.
* Participate in the development and implementation of frameworks for sharing best practice across adult health and partnership organisations.
* Facilitate research-based practice, disseminate research findings and support changes within the Trust based on best practice.
* To be responsible for personal professional development and revalidation.
* Inform the Named Professional or Head of Safeguarding of untoward incidents relating to safeguarding via the incident reporting system.
* Assist with S.42 enquiries for the Trust, internal management reviews and critical incident reviews in relation to safeguarding matters.
* Assist with single and multiagency safeguarding reviews including Safeguarding Adult Reviews and Domestic Homicide Reviews.
Person specification
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
* Person-centred approach
* Able to plan, prioritise and evaluate own workload and support junior members of the team to do the same
* Highly motivated and enthusiastic
* Adaptable, flexible and approachable
* Ability to think widely, analyse problems and develop solutions
* Knowledge and confidence around escalation, respectful professional challenge and conflict resolution
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
* Excellent written and communication skills
* Leadership skills and ability
* Proficient IT skills
* Ability to work individually and as part of a team
* within a multiagency system
* Ability to work cooperatively and able to bring about respectful and effective professional challenge, including management of conflict
* Demonstrates an awareness of the complex issues when working across organisations and disciplines – understands the key elements of change management
* Excellent knowledge of national and local policy, research and legislation relating to the adult safeguarding agenda
* Analytical and reflective practitioner
* Evidence of continued professional development with safeguarding focus
* Ability to meet deadlines
* Designing, facilitation and evaluation of training programmes
* Experience of strategy, guidelines and policy development
Experience
Essential criteria
* Multidisciplinary & multiagency working with adults at risk
* Provision of training to multidisciplinary audience
* Experience of supervision as supervisor
* Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
* Understanding of and practicing within a governance structure
* Experience of developing and using audit tools
* Partnership working with adults at risk, their families and young people around safeguarding issues
* Experience of developing policies, procedures and guidance
Desirable criteria
* Recent experience relating to safeguarding adults at risk within a specialist safeguarding role
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Current Nursing & Midwifery Council or Social Work England registration
* Teaching/training qualification or experience
Desirable criteria
* Degree or working towards a degree or equivalent experience
Other
Essential criteria
* Access to a Vehicle for work purposes – ability to travel and provide cross-site cover
* Flexible working to meet the needs of the service around 9am to 5pm core hours