Head of Strategic Safeguarding
Trafford Council
Working Pattern: Full time
Working Arrangement: Hybrid Worker
Interview Date/Type: 23 October 2026 / In Person
SMART Working: We aim to offer flexibility wherever possible. Many of our colleagues work from home one or more days a week and/or adjust their hours. We call this SMART working - giving you the freedom to shape your working pattern around your life, whilst still delivering great outcomes. Speak with the hiring manager about the range of flexible working options available for this role.
About the Role
Lead Strategic Safeguarding. Influence System Change. Improve Outcomes for Trafford Residents.
This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader to join Trafford Council's Adults & Wellbeing Directorate as our Head of Strategic Safeguarding.
At Trafford, we are committed to ensuring that safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to deliver our Improving Lives Everyday transformation programme and strengthen partnerships across the borough, we are seeking an experienced and innovative leader who can drive excellence in safeguarding practice, quality assurance and strategic development.
As a key member of the Directorate Management Team, you will lead the strategic safeguarding agenda across Adult Social Care, ensuring that safeguarding remains central to decision making, service delivery and organisational improvement. This is a highly influential role with opportunities to shape policy, drive system-wide improvement and make a lasting difference to the lives of adults across Trafford.
About the Role
As Head of Strategic Safeguarding, you will provide strategic leadership for safeguarding adults across Trafford, ensuring the effective discharge of the Council's statutory responsibilities and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, learning and professional excellence. You will be the Directorate's designated safeguarding lead, providing expert advice and assurance to senior leaders on safeguarding practice, risk management, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
You will lead the development and delivery of safeguarding strategy, policy, practice and assurance arrangements across Adult Social Care, ensuring services consistently deliver high-quality outcomes for residents. Working closely with senior colleagues, elected members and partner agencies, you will influence the safeguarding agenda locally, regionally and nationally.
A significant element of the role is providing strategic oversight of Trafford's Adult Social Care Safeguarding Hub and DoLS service, ensuring effective safeguarding pathways, high-quality decision-making and compliance with current and emerging legislative requirements. You will play a key role in shaping Trafford's approach to Mental Capacity legislation, Liberty Protection Safeguards and wider safeguarding reform
You will support and further develop the Trafford Safeguarding Adults Board and associated governance arrangements, working collaboratively with health, police, housing, provider organisations and wider partners to ensure safeguarding remains a shared responsibility across the system. You will champion learning from Safeguarding Adults Reviews and assurance activity, ensuring learning is effectively embedded to improve practice and outcomes.
This role also has responsibility for leading strategic developments relating to Multi-Agency Risk Management, MARAC, MAPPA, Prevent and Persons in a Position of Trust arrangements, ensuring Trafford continues to deliver robust and effective adult safeguarding services.
As part of the Adults & Wellbeing senior leadership team, you will contribute to the wider strategic direction of the Directorate, supporting transformation, service improvement and innovation whilst ensuring safeguarding remains central to our vision of helping residents live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives.
About You
We are looking for an experienced, credible and inspiring leader who is passionate about safeguarding and improving outcomes for adults with care and support needs.
You will be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England and will bring significant senior leadership experience within Adult Social Care, safeguarding or a related field. You will have an excellent understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, Mental Capacity legislation and the wider policy landscape affecting Adult Social Care.
You will have a proven track record of leading complex services, driving organisational improvement and influencing strategic change across organisations and partnerships. Your experience will include developing safeguarding strategies, leading quality assurance arrangements and successfully working with a broad range of stakeholders in politically and strategically sensitive environments.
You will be an engaging and collaborative leader with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels. Comfortable working across organisational boundaries, you will have excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, together with the ability to analyse complex information and translate national policy into effective local practice.
Most importantly, you will share Trafford's values and demonstrate a commitment to empowering people, promoting inclusion, fostering collaboration and delivering the very best outcomes for residents, communities and partners.
This is an opportunity to join an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation where safeguarding is a strategic priority and where your leadership can genuinely make a difference.
If you are passionate about safeguarding, system leadership and improving outcomes for adults across Trafford, we would love to hear from you.
Additional Information
This advert may close early if we receive a high number of applications, so please apply as soon as possible.
An enhanced DBS Check with adults barred list will be required.
Find Out More.
For the full details of this opportunity, please refer to the role profile linked below.
If you have any questions or would like an informal chat you can get in contact with the hiring manager, Charlotte Walker at Charlotte.Walker@trafford.gov.uk or on 07855 977 214.
About us...
Trafford is a vibrant, inclusive borough at the heart of Greater Manchester. Home to 235,000 residents, four thriving town centres, over 11,000 businesses, and 60+ parks and green spaces. We’re a place where community and opportunity meet. With excellent transport links, a proud heritage as the birthplace of the NHS, world-class sporting venues and outstanding schools, Trafford is a fantastic place to live, work, and thrive.
Why Trafford?
We’re more than just a local authority; we’re a team of passionate people committed to making a real difference. We deliver essential services that matter, from education and social care to business support, licensing, libraries and leisure and much more. No matter what your role is with us, you will help us to create a borough where all our “residents, businesses and communities thrive.”
Our Culture...
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. They’re not just words on a wall, they shape how we work together, make decisions, and support each other every day.
They help us create a workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and inspired to do their best. If you share these values and want your work to have real purpose and impact, Trafford is the perfect place to grow your career.
What you'll love about working with us...
Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, development and work-life balance:
- Generous Leave: Start with 26 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays), with options to carry over or buy extra days.
- Flexible Perks: Discounts on car leasing, cycle to work, home tech, plus family friendly policies and hybrid working
- Invest in your future: Join our generous Local Government Pension Scheme for peace of mind.
- Grow with us: We'll support your development at every stage! Through leadership programmes like our EPIC Manager, LEAP into leadership and senior leadership. Plus, you'll have access to specialist qualifications and personal coaching to unlock your full potential.
- Wellbeing First: Guided wellbeing walks and “Tea and Talk” sessions, and events like World Mental Health and National Fitness Day.
- Connect with us: Connect with colleagues through our staff forums or join our Let’s Talk events to network, share ideas, and hear about the exciting work happening across our council.
- Be Celebrated: For all your hard work, ideas and contributions through at our annual Time to Shine event, our cheers for peers’ scheme or through our EPIC Star Awards.
Key Information...
- Pre-Employment Checks: If offered a role, as a minimum we’ll need to verify your right to work in the UK, receive two satisfactory references, and medical check. Trafford Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.
- Please note: We are not a licensed sponsor and will not be able to support with your work visa.
- Privacy Notice: We respect your privacy. For details on how we collect, process, and protect your data, please click here: Recruitment and employment privacy notice | Trafford Council privacy notice | Trafford Council
Make an Impact. Apply Today.
If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a team shaping a better Trafford for our residents, businesses and communities then we'd love to receive an application from you.
We want everyone to feel confident and supported throughout our recruitment process. If you need any help, adjustments or support at any stage, please get in touch with us at recruitment@trafford.gov.uk