Safeguarding Development Officer (Job Share Opportunity), 14.8 hpw
Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Part time
Advert Start Date:
24/09/2026
Advert End Date:
23/10/2026 12:00
Salary:
£49,817 pa pro rata (£25.82ph)
Job Category:
Social Care - Adult Service
Employment Location:
Children’s Services, Laygate Family Hub, South Shields / Hybrid
Further Information
Safeguarding Development Officer (Job Share Opportunity), 14.8 hpw
(Children’s Services, Laygate Family Hub, South Shields / Hybrid)
£49,817 pa pro rata
Permanent
Working Pattern: Monday and Tuesday
Help shape safeguarding across South Tyneside
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Safeguarding Children and Adults Business Unit in South Tyneside.
We are looking for an experienced, motivated and highly organised individual to join our small, dedicated team as a Safeguarding Development Officer.
This is a permanent part-time post working 14.8 hours per week on Mondays and Tuesdays as part of an established job-share arrangement. The postholder will work alongside an existing Safeguarding Development Officer, ensuring consistent support is provided across the week to both the South Tyneside Safeguarding Children Partnership (SCP) and South Tyneside Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB).
This is not a role where responsibilities are divided into separate areas of work. Instead, both postholders work collaboratively across the full range of duties, ensuring continuity of service, shared ownership of priorities and a seamless approach to partnership activity.
About the role
This is a varied, challenging and rewarding strategic safeguarding role which sits at the heart of South Tyneside's multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
You will work closely with senior leaders across children's services, adult social care, health, police, education, probation, housing and the voluntary and community sector to support the delivery of partnership priorities and drive continuous improvement.
The role includes:
- Supporting the planning, development and delivery of safeguarding partnership priorities.
- Leading and supporting multi-agency audits, quality assurance activity and assurance reviews.
- Supporting the analysis and interpretation of safeguarding performance information.
- Coordinating and contributing to partnership improvement activity.
- Developing, reviewing and implementing policies, procedures and guidance.
- Monitoring and responding to national safeguarding developments, legislation and statutory guidance.
- Producing reports, briefings, business plans and annual reports.
- Supporting learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews, Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, Domestic Homicide Reviews and other review activity.
- Working with partners to identify strengths, risks, challenges and areas for improvement.
- Supporting the delivery of Board, Executive Group and Subgroup business.
- Building and maintaining effective relationships with safeguarding partners across South Tyneside and beyond.
- Promoting a culture of learning, challenge and continuous improvement across the safeguarding system.
No two days are the same. One day you may be analysing audit findings and supporting assurance activity, while the next you could be developing partnership policy, coordinating improvement work or supporting strategic discussions with senior safeguarding leaders.
About you
We are looking for someone with experience of working within safeguarding, quality assurance, service improvement or partnership environments.
You will have:
- A good understanding of safeguarding children and/or adults.
- Experience of partnership working across organisational boundaries.
- Experience of quality assurance, audit, performance analysis or service improvement.
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
- The ability to interpret complex information and present it clearly to different audiences.
- Experience of developing policies, procedures or strategic plans.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to work independently whilst contributing effectively as part of a small team.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
Applications are welcomed from professionals with experience in children's services, adult social care, health, education, criminal justice, community safety, housing, the voluntary sector or other safeguarding-related fields.
Why join us?
- You will become part of a highly respected safeguarding business unit that plays a key role in supporting strategic safeguarding arrangements across South Tyneside.
- In return, we offer:
- A rewarding and meaningful role that contributes to improving outcomes for children, young people and adults.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
- A supportive and collaborative team environment.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
- The opportunity to work alongside senior leaders and partners across the safeguarding system.
We want to ensure that we appoint the right person for this important strategic safeguarding role. As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to take part in a number of assessment activities designed to explore safeguarding knowledge, analytical skills, partnership working, communication and a commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and adults.
The selection process will consist of:
Assessment Exercise
Candidates will be asked to complete a short exercise based on a realistic safeguarding partnership scenario. This will assess the ability to analyse information, identify key themes and risks, consider appropriate actions, and present findings clearly and proportionately.
Panel Interview
- Candidates will attend a competency-based interview with representatives from the Safeguarding Children Partnership and Safeguarding Adults Board. The interview will explore previous experience and behaviours relevant to the role, including:
- Partnership working and relationship building.
- Safeguarding knowledge and understanding.
- Quality assurance, audit and performance activity.
- Policy and procedure development.
- Learning and improvement.
- Communication and influencing skills.
- Working effectively within a job-share arrangement.
The assessment and interview process will provide candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate their experience, strategic thinking, analytical skills and commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and adults at risk.
Young People's Panel
Candidates will meet with a panel of young people who have experience of contributing to participation and improvement activity across South Tyneside. This session will provide candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills, values and commitment to putting the voices, experiences and outcomes of children and young people at the centre of safeguarding practice.
The young people's panel will have an opportunity to provide feedback to the interview panel as part of the overall selection process.
Please note that this is a strategic safeguarding role rather than a frontline operational post. Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of partnership working, quality assurance, performance analysis, policy development, service improvement or similar activity within a safeguarding or public service environment.
If you are passionate about safeguarding, partnership working and improving outcomes for vulnerable children and adults, we would love to hear from you.
Join us and help make South Tyneside a safer place for children, young people and adults at risk.
For an informal discussion about this post, please contact
Emma Bedford Safeguarding Business Manager: emma.bedford@southtyneside.gov.uk
We offer an excellent benefits package and further information is available here - www.southtyneside.gov.uk/workinghere
South Tyneside Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will be sought along with other relevant pre-employment checks.
We do not currently offer skilled worker visa sponsorship.
To view our Privacy Notice please visit: https://southtyneside.gov.uk/article/2780/Privacy-notice-for-job-applicants
Please note that if you apply for this role, all communication regarding your application will be sent to the email address that you have registered with North East Jobs, please ensure you check your junk mail.
Closing date: Noon, 23 October 2026
Shortlisting will take place week commencing 2 November 2026
Interviews will be held on either 10 or 13 November 2026 once panel availability is determined
To Apply, please use the following link:
https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/safeguarding_development_officer-job_share_opportunity_14.8_hpw/302464
North East Jobs Reference number - 302464