About Us

Specialist Safeguarding Professional Advisor – Maternity Cover
£51,540 - £62,451
Secondment 12 months
Full time
Richmond and Wandsworth

Objective of Role:
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the London Borough of Wandsworth offer a unique opportunity to join a service that works collaboratively across both boroughs. We are seeking a dedicated and experienced professional to join our Safeguarding Adults Team—a small, dynamic, and high-performing team within Adult Social Care committed to preventing and addressing abuse and neglect. This is a secondment or fixed term contract for 12 months covering maternity leave.

About the Role:
You will play a key role in monitoring, auditing, and promoting high-quality, timely safeguarding responses for adults at risk across operational teams. Responsibilities include providing specialist consultation to Service Managers, Assistant Service Managers, and Team Managers on complex or high-risk safeguarding matters. The role also involves leading Organisational Safeguarding meetings, chairing the Self-Neglect and Hoarding Panel, and acting as a point of escalation for cases requiring senior oversight or guidance.

As a lead specialist practitioner, you will develop and coordinate safeguarding systems and practice to drive continuous improvement and ensure compliance with the Care Act 2014. Working closely with key partners, you will support the delivery of effective safeguarding practice across both councils. This is a specialist role requiring substantial professional expertise, sound judgement, and the ability to navigate operational and organisational complexity.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
You will be confident in supporting and developing staff, strengthening processes and practice, and collaborating with partner agencies. Experience in delivering and developing local training is highly desirable, though a willingness to build these skills will also be welcomed to support ongoing professional development across the teams.

For an informal discussion, please contact: Virindar Basi, Head of Professional Standards & Safeguarding on 07508 055689 or via email virindar.basi@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Recruitment Timelines:
Closing Date: 8 February 2026
Shortlisting Date: w/c 9 February 2026
Interview Date: w/c 16 February 2026

Secondment

All internal applicants for this secondment must seek permission from their current line manager before applying. Failure to do so may result in the secondment not being authorised.

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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