Head of Safeguarding and Vulnerabilities
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Derby, DE22 3NEView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Salary
£79,504 to £91,609
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
23 November 2026
11 days leftJob description
The Head of Safeguarding and Vulnerabilitiesprovides Trust-wide strategic, professional and operational leadership, protecting children, young people ...
Provide Trust-wide safeguarding and vulnerable people leadership, advice and challenge to the Board, Executive Chief Nurse and clinical teams; support Named professionals and assure statutory, regulatory and competency requirements.
Lead strategy, governance, risk management and Board assurance, using data, audit, incidents and experience to improve outcomes, escalate concerns and embed learning from statutory reviews.
Oversee complex concerns and allegations with People Services and statutory partners; lead responses to domestic abuse, Prevent, exploitation, trafficking and hidden harms, with lawful information sharing.
Assure equitable, person-centred care across dementia, mental health, learning disability, autism and neurodivergence; apply the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and reduce restrictions through lawful, proportionate, time-limited review.
Embed child-centred, whole-family, trauma-informed and anti-discriminatory practice shaped by lived experience; represent the Trust in system partnerships and deliver agreed actions.
Lead role-based training, supervision and inclusive team development; ensure safe workloads, succession planning, effective budgets, financial compliance, value for money and research-led improvement.
Closing date of applications - 23 November 2026
Interview date - w/c 7 December 2026
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
- Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
- On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
- Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
- We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
- We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
- An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
- Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
- Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
- We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
- We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
- UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial acute-hospital experience and experience operating as a Named Professional, organisational safeguarding lead or in an equivalent senior specialist role
- Demonstrable experience of multi-agency work at strategic and operational levels, including constructive challenge, escalation and resolution of complex issues.
- Experience of providing expert advice and assurance to executive leaders, Board-level committees, clinical teams and statutory partners.
Desirable: - Experience across more than one safeguarding or vulnerable-person specialty
Knowledge
Essential
- Expert knowledge of current safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, case law, professional standards, regulatory requirements and NHS policy
- Advanced knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, consent, best-interest decision-making and least restrictive practice
- Knowledge of safe, equitable and person-centred care for people with mental health needs, dementia, learning disabilities, autism, neurodivergence and other vulnerabilities.
Desirable: - Awareness of emerging digital, data and artificial-intelligence opportunities and risks in safeguarding and vulnerable-person care.
Leadership and Communication Influence
Essential
- Highly developed communication, negotiation, facilitation and influencing skills, including the ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive or contentious information where there may be barriers to acceptance
- Compassionate, inclusive and credible leadership style that promotes psychological safety, accountability, learning and staff wellbeing.
Desirable: - Experience of influencing policy or practice at Integrated Care System, regional or national level.
Values and Personal Attributes
Essential: - Able to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and personal resilience when dealing with distressing, complex or contentious matters.
Desirable: - Experience of working meaningfully with people and communities with lived experience to improve services.
Qualifications and Professional Registration
Essential
- Evidence of substantial continuing professional development in safeguarding, leadership and vulnerable-person care
- Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or another relevant UK statutory professional regulator.
- Master's degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent demonstrable knowledge and experience
- Recognised teaching, facilitation, supervision or practice-education qualification, or equivalent experience.
Desirable: - Postgraduate specialist qualification in safeguarding, mental capacity, mental health, learning disability, public health or a related field.
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
9 November 2026
Last checked
10 November 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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