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Independent Chair - Safeguarding Adults Board

£700 Per Day

28 Days Per Annum

Two Year Contract (6-month review)

The Richmond and Wandsworth Safeguarding Adults Board (RWSAB) is seeking an independent chair to lead the local safeguarding partnership. You will need to bring innovative ways of working and ensure robust and effective safeguarding partnership across two Boroughs including cross-working with Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships, Community Safety and other local partnership networks. 

Applicants are welcome from any professional background including health, local government and police. Our emphasis is on strategic and systems leadership and chairing skills with less emphasis on adult social care knowledge. The Independent Chair will be accountable to the SAB Executive, consisting of Senior Officers representing the statutory partner agencies: Local Authority, Police and Health. This an exciting opportunity for the right individual to make a real difference to local people.

The role requires up to 28 days per annum paid at £700 per day and, although you are not a direct employee of the council, HMRC regulations have defined this role as an “office holder” therefore payments arrangements will need to be made in accordance and deductions for Tax and NI taken at source. The contract will be reviewed after six months, with an initial term contract of two years.

Application: Please apply to the job via the councils’ careers site you will need to demonstrate how your suitability and experience is relevant to the job description and person specification to accompany your CV. The letter should not be more than 2 sides of A4.

About the role 

The successful candidate will be strategic and clear thinking, able to negotiate, support partners to constructively challenge each other to deliver high-quality adult safeguarding work across the partnership. This will be underpinned by the applicants’ ability to communicate clearly and succinctly verbally and in writing with an ability to produce clear, accurate and concise written reports and communications on behalf of the SAB, including production of the SAB Annual Report.

To ensure that the Richmond and Wandsworth Safeguarding Adults Board fulfils its statutory duties the SAB Independent Chair will:

• Chair the SAB Executive and other SAB strategic meetings.
• Draft, develop and publish a strategic plan setting out how the SAB will meet its objectives and priorities and how their member and partner agencies will contribute.
• To quality assure and contribute to the SAB’s annual report detailing how effective the SAB has been.
• Ensure that Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) for any cases which meet the criteria for a SAR are undertaken.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

A relevant academic or professional qualification in health, social care or police.

• Significant experience at operational and strategic level in a relevant field; social care, health, education or criminal justice.
• A working knowledge of the adult safeguarding agenda.
• A proven track-record of effective leadership at strategic level.
• The ability to lead a complex multi-agency partnership and support the SAB to deliver its strategic priorities and to offer assurance and changes in policy and practice to improve safeguarding outcomes.

For further information please contact Virindar Basi (Principal Social Worker, Assistant Director for Professional Standards) Virindar.Basi@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk 

Closing Date: 23^rd February 2025

Shortlisting Date: W/C 24^th February 2025

Interview Date: W/C 3^rd and 10^th March 2025

Application: Cover letter detailing how your suitability and experience is relevant to the job description and person specification to accompany your CV. The letter should not be more than 2 sides of A4. Please apply via the council website.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.  

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils