Independent Scrutineer

Kirklees Local Safeguarding Children’s Partnership is proud of its work and the huge levels of commitment from all members. The independent scrutiny function is critical to provide assurance in judging the strength and effectiveness of the Kirklees Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (KSCP) multi agency arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people across the district.

We are looking for an exceptional person, who shares our passion and commitment, to build on our strong foundations and continue to provide robust and positive challenge across the partnership to improve outcomes for children and young people in Kirklees. As Independent Scrutineer you will support the Partnership in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities, by providing independent and objective scrutiny of the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. You will act as a constructive critical friend to the Partnership by offering high support and high challenge, and to advocate reflection to help strengthen a learning culture, promote continuous improvement and achieve positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.

Your experience will bring depth of working knowledge of operational and strategic safeguarding and familiarity with multi agency safeguarding arrangements. Critical to your success will be your ability and enthusiasm for engaging with children, young people and families to ensure the voice and lived experience of children and their families is at the heart of our safeguarding arrangements. Your experience will be underpinned by high level knowledge of legislation, guidance, policy and inspection frameworks

The role will initially involve Chairing of the Partnership Executive meetings so you must be able to build effective partnership relationships and chair complex multi-agency discussions that lead to assurances and improvements to policy and practice.

You will be accountable to the Strategic Director for Children and Families and will have the support of the partnership business manager.

Engagement will be on a contract for services basis. The contract will be for an initial one year, with an ability to extend for a further year, with agreement from all parties and subject to achieving all of the required outcomes of the role. You will need to be able to commit to an average of 2 days a week throughout the year.

Rate of Pay: £500 per day with possibility of negotiation for the right candidate.

To maintain the integrity of this appointment, applicants must not have any current affiliation with any of the agencies represented on the Partnership and must be able to demonstrate that they can continue to independently lead the Partnership.

There will be a Young People’s panel as part of the assessment process.

For an informal discuss on the role please contact Tom Brailsford, Service Director Resources Improvement and Partnerships via Wendy Harris (wendy.harris@kirklees.gov.uk)

The selection process will take place on the 2nd of June 2021.