The Families First Partnership (FFP) programme is a £2.4 billion 2026–2027 government initiative transforming children's social care in England toward a multi-agency, preventive model. It mandates that local authorities implement Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs), integrating social work, health, and education to improve safeguarding and reduce reliance on high-level, reactive services.

As a Safeguarding Advisor for Schools and Education you will play a vital role in supporting the transformation and implementation of the MACPT representing education as a core statutory partner alongside health, care and police colleagues.

The education role involves ensuring schools, early years providers, and colleges are integrated safeguarding partners that actively collaborate with the MACPT for early intervention and child protection.

The post holder will also contribute to workforce development through training, coaching, mentoring and networking, helping to build confidence and capability across the system.

This position is part time, 2 days a week (14.48 minutes), office based at Howden House, Sheffield, S1 2SH. This is a temporary position until 31 March 2027, with possible extension dependent on funding.

We are looking to recruit a current, or recent Designated Safeguarding Leader or Designated Safeguarding Deputy, who has a relevant professional qualification and experience of work related to vulnerable children and safeguarding in a school, college or early years setting, with experience of multi agency work in relation to children aged 0-19 years.

If you would like any further information regarding this opportunity, please contact Assistant Service Manager Tracey Rice tracey.rice@sheffield.gov.uk.

If you would to arrange a call, please email your availability and a call will be arranged.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.