Named Professional and Lead for Safeguarding Adults

Job summary

The post holder will operate with a high level of professional autonomy, acting as the Trust's senior safeguarding adults lead within the integrated safeguarding service. They will provide authoritative advice to senior operational leaders, the Chief Nurse, and the Executive Team on adult safeguarding, MCA/DoLs/LPS, Prevent, and PiPOT matters.

The post holder acts as a senior escalation point across the organisation, ensuring the Trust meets statutory responsibilities under the Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005), forthcoming Liberty Protection Safeguards, Prevent Duty (2023), and the NHSE Safeguarding Accountability & Assurance Framework (SAAF).

The post holder is accountable for independent expert decision-making in situations of high complexity, sensitivity, and organisational risk related to their specialism. This includes cases where national guidance requires interpretation for local adaptation, where significant legal implications exist, or where safeguarding decisions may affect Trust reputation, regulatory compliance, or multiagency outcomes.

Main duties of the job

Please see the attached Job Description for the full details of the role which incorporates responsibilities under the areas of: Clinical responsibilities, Leadership and management, Education, training and supervision, Communication and coordination, Audit, monitoring and research, Governance, policy and service development.

About us

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston. With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your applicationin order toensurewe'remeeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description for full detailed information on the roll and its responsibilities and accountabilities as the Named Professional and Lead for Safeguarding Adults.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

Registration with the NMC, HCPC, SWE or other appropriate professional regulator. Master's level qualification in a safeguarding field or demonstrable equivalent postgraduate specialist knowledge and experience. Post-registration safeguarding training. Evidence of advanced clinical leadership development or recognised leadership qualification.

Desirable

Teaching qualification or recognised education/facilitation training. Knowledge skills and abilities

Essential

Extensive specialist safeguarding knowledge relating to adults, underpinned by advanced theoretical knowledge and significant practical experience. Expert understanding of safeguarding adults, with up-to-date knowledge of current legislation, national guidance and best practice.

Expert knowledge of the Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005), Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) where applicable, the Intercollegiate Documents for Safeguarding Adults and Children, and the NHSE Safeguarding Accountability and Assurance Framework Extensive knowledge of safeguarding research and its application to safeguarding adults practice.

Ability to provide strategic leadership for safeguarding education, developing, delivering and evaluating safeguarding training across the Trust and with multi-agency partners. Ability to analyse, interpret and apply research evidence to influence safeguarding practice, policy and service development.

Demonstrates expert professional judgement in highly complex safeguarding situations Excellent teaching, presentation and communication skills for diverse professional audiences. Ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information effectively in challenging situations. Advanced IT skills, including development of educational resources, audit and performance reporting.

Expertise in evaluating training effectiveness and demonstrating organisational impact. Ability to develop, implement and review safeguarding policies, procedures and clinical guidance. Ability to establish and influence professional networks across health, social care and partner agencies.

Experience · Essential

Significant experience leading safeguarding adults practice within health and/or social care settings. Experience developing, delivering and evaluating safeguarding education programmes, including induction and specialist training (e.g. Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Domestic Abuse and PREVENT). Experience providing professional leadership, safeguarding supervision and management.

Experience leading the development and implementation of safeguarding policies, procedures and clinical guidance. Experience leading audit, quality assurance, service evaluation and improvement programmes. Experience presenting complex safeguarding information and reports to Trust committees, Boards and multi-agency partnerships. Active engagement in clinical and safeguarding supervision.

Desirable

Experience of providing evidence in legal proceedings and attending court.

Personal Qualities · Essential

Demonstrates a commitment to continuing professional development and maintains professional registration. Adheres to professional codes of conduct and Trust policies. Demonstrates integrity, credibility and professional authority, acting as an expert resource for safeguarding practice.

Embraces the Trust's values and demonstrates an attitude which respects and values patients, families, carers and colleagues while actively promoting staff wellbeing. Recognises the harmful effects of discrimination and inequality on health outcomes for adults and children, and actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. Demonstrates resilience, strategic thinking and flexibility in leading teams and supporting organisational change.

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).