Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Job Title: Specialist Safeguarding Practitioner
Contract Type: Permanent
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding practitioner to join our Trust's Safeguarding Team in a senior leadership role. As a Band 7 Safeguarding Practitioner, your primary focus will be within the Maternity Safeguarding Team, supporting and reporting to the Named Midwife for Safeguarding Children.

You will also provide expert leadership and advice across the Trust's all-age /Think Family safeguarding agenda when required, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding practice are maintained at UHS.

The Safeguarding Practitioner will be a highly visible team member, developing, promoting and maintaining high professional standards in safeguarding practice, for unborn babies, children and adults; ensuring the Trust meets its statutory responsibilities for safeguarding.

The postholder will be based within the Safeguarding Hub, taking a Think Family approach, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and multi-agency organisations to coordinate safeguarding responses and promote a sense of shared responsibility within UHS.

About us
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Details
Date posted: 05 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: Depending on experience £49,387 to £51,932 per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 188-THQ021126-I
Job locations: University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
This is a senior role that needs strong safeguarding knowledge, autonomy, and leadership to help shape practice across the organisation and make sure patients and staff are kept safe.

We're looking for someone with extensive experience in safeguarding, especially around children or adults at risk, and who's used to working closely with different agencies. Good communication and negotiation skills are key, as you'll be working with colleagues and local statutory partners. The role is mainly onsite at UHS, Monday to Friday (95), though you may occasionally need to attend offsite meetings.

A thorough level of understanding around the policies, standards and the legislative framework that supports everyday practice including the Children Acts 1989, 2004, Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard is essential

In this role, your key responsibilities will include:

• Advising: Be a visible leader and give expert safeguarding guidance to teams.
• Managing cases: Take the lead on complex or high-risk cases, provide supervision, and join multi-agency meetings.
• Training & support: Deliver trauma-informed safeguarding training, offer supervision and debriefing, and help staff build resilience and skills.
• Policies & quality: Put safeguarding policies into practice, contribute to audits, lead on service improvements, and help make sure we meet national standards.
• Reporting: Write reports for committees and boards, contribute to reviews and newsletters, and support escalation processes.
• Operational leadership: Keep workstreams and rosters organised, ensure the safeguarding services run smoothly, manage staff performance, and step in for the Named Nurse/Lead when needed.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Healthcare Professional on relevant part of NMC / HCPC register with extensive experience
• Masters-level modules in relevant subject or willingness to undertake
• Evidence of CPD to master's level or equivalent
• Specialist training in area of practice

Desirable

• Master's degree completed
• Teaching qualification
• Leadership training
• IT training

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Relevant experience of working with safeguarding cases in a variety of settings involving adults or children's services
• Experience of inter-agency partnership working
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, current issues, and inquiry reports for adults and children
• Specialist clinical skills and experience
• Change management
• Leadership, innovation
• Evidenced based care philosophy
• IT skills

Desirable

• Proven management experience
• Experience of attending safeguarding strategies case conferences/participating in protection plans
• Policy development and implementation
• Evidence of developing interpersonal skills
• Experience of undertaking audits
• Direct involvement with change management initiatives
• Experience in leading and facilitating safeguarding supervision for others

Trust Values
Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

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).

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
Employer's website: https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact: Head of Safeguarding, Danielle Honey, danielle.honey@uhs.nhs.uk

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