Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the right individual to join the Trust safeguarding team in a fixed term position to cover a period of maternity leave, as a Safeguarding Practitioner.

The post holder will be a fundamental part of the safeguarding team and work closely with the Trust named midwife to ensure that the safeguarding remains at the heart of practice.

Main duties of the job

As post holder, you will:

  • help lead and oversee the activities necessary to ensure that the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust meets its responsibilities to safeguarding children, young people and their families.
  • need to demonstrate a strong understanding of safeguarding in relation to safeguarding both children and adults.
  • be responsible for independently leading and managing midwifery practice in relation to safeguarding, using an advanced level of professional accountability, autonomy and judgement for complex decision-making across a range of safeguarding issues
  • demonstrate an enquiring mind, critical thinking and analytical skills to enhance decision making in relation to the protection of vulnerable children and adults
  • have excellent interpersonal and communication skills in order to work effectively and respond appropriately in challenging circumstances.
  • Working for our organisation

    At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

    We run the following hospitals:

  • The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
  • New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
  • Hertford County, Hertford
  • Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
  • We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

    Detailed job description and main responsibilities

    In the paragraphs above you have read an overview about the role we would like to offer and general information about main duties of the post holder. Please see attached job description which describes in full details the duties, responsibilities and reporting relationships of the advertising role.

    Main role requirements are below but for the full details please refer to attached a person specification.

    Person specification

    Qualifications/Training

    Essential criteria

  • Registered Midwife
  • First degree or equivalent
  • Evidence of post-qualification study in safeguarding
  • Leadership training
  • Management training
  • Mentorship/Preceptorship course
  • Desirable criteria

  • Professional development to Masters level (Post Graduate Certificate/MBA/MSc or equivalent)
  • Safeguarding qualification
  • Previous Experience and Knowledge

    Essential criteria

  • Extensive knowledge of National and Local NHS, N&M and safeguarding agenda
  • Experience in Maternity Healthcare- Acute and community setting with evidence of leadership qualities
  • Experience of child protection/safeguarding
  • Formal and informal teaching experience
  • Staff and Resource Management experience
  • Sound theoretical and practical knowledge of safeguarding children, local and National policies and guidance
  • Up to date knowledge of: NMC Code of Professional Conduct, Safeguarding Children processes, Hand hygiene and Care Bundles, Health and Safety awareness, Clinical Governance and quality issues, Risk management, Equality and Diversity, HR policies
  • Desirable criteria

  • Experience of introducing change to the clinical environment
  • Report writing skills and experience
  • Experience of managing HR issues eg: poor performance etc
  • Experience of providing safeguarding supervision
  • Experience of delivering training
  • Skills

    Essential criteria

  • Excellent high level clinical leadership skills
  • Articulate with highly developed communication skils with the ability to network and build relationships at all levels including interpersonal skills, liaison and negotiation skills
  • Writing and presentation skills
  • Computer literacy
  • Ability to prioritise work
  • Ability to implement policy guidelines and projects from initiation to completion
  • Ability to manage complex situations effectively and sensitively
  • Ability to function as a member of the multi-disciplinary team
  • Good management, leadership and organisational skills
  • Ability to respond to stressful situations positively
  • Ability to exercise initiative
  • Desirable criteria

  • Influencing
  • Development of policy guidelines and projects from initiation to completion
  • Other requirements

    Essential criteria

  • Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour
  • Positive, caring approach
  • Ability to enthuse and motivate self and others
  • Ability to initiate, manage and sustain change
  • Effective time management
  • Flexibility and responsiveness to change
  • Ability to remain calm and focussed under pressure in order to maximise outcomes
  • Evidence of actively encouraging participation of all staff
  • Ability to empower others
  • To be non-judgemental
  • Evidence of self-awareness and reflective practice