Working in partnership to build better social care
Independent Chair
Barking and Dagenham Safeguarding Adult Board
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£600 per day.
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As this role must maintain its independence submissions must be made through a registered company. The role is deemed to fall outside of IR35.
The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) is seeking to appoint an Independent Chair who will provide strategic, values-based leadership across the partnership. The Chair will ensure that the Board fulfils its statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, drives continuous improvement in safeguarding practice, and maintains an unwavering focus on the lived experiences and outcomes of adults with care and support needs.
We are looking for an individual who can lead with independence, integrity and compassion; as well as someone who embodies our Borough’s commitment to inclusion, co-production, and equality, while ensuring that local people remain at the heart of everything we do.
Applications close 12 noon on Friday 28th November
Introduction to the role
As set out in the Care Act 2014 all Safeguarding Adults Boards (SAB) should have an Independent Chair to provide safeguarding partners and relevant agencies with independent, rigorous, and effective support and challenge at both a strategic and operational level, provide assurance to the whole system around the effectiveness of the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements through a range of scrutiny methods.
The Independent Chair will ensure that the collective statutory duties are being fulfilled, quality assurance mechanisms are in place, and that Safeguarding Adult Reviews and other local regional and national reviews are undertaken, with key learning areas identified and effectively implemented across the safeguarding system.
The Chair will ensure that the voice of our community is heard and considered as part of scrutiny and that this is at the heart of our safeguarding work through direct feedback, informing policy and practice. They will be a critical friend and provide opportunities for two-way discussion and reflection between partners, frontline practitioners and community leaders, to challenge, support and provide insight into how we can improve our working practices.
The Independent Chair will evaluate and contribute to multi-agency safeguarding processes, support the committees and sub groups of the SAB, draw together the SAB Annual Report, the SAB Strategic Plan alongside feeding into the wider accountability systems such as inspections and reviews.
Key role responsibilities
Assessing the overall effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements.
Monitoring progress against safeguarding partnership arrangements and contributing to the Annual Report.
Scrutinising the Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) to ensure fair decision-making and robust challenge across partners.
Acting as an independent voice for service users, staff, and partners to evaluate the impact of local safeguarding efforts.
Reviewing how effectively safeguarding partners provide leadership and work collaboratively.
Monitoring progress against safeguarding partnership arrangements and contributing to the Annual Report.
Ensuring robust performance management, audits, and quality assurance systems are in place.
Providing scrutiny around key priorities and observing frontline practice.
Supporting partners to identify and maintain relevant SAB priorities and develop strategic plans.
Chairing and attending multi-agency meetings and engaging with wider leadership.
Producing the SAB Annual Report detailing safeguarding work, priorities, and outcomes.
Supporting regulatory inspections and participating in peer reviews (e.g., ADASS, LGA).
Required experience
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Experience of undertaking safeguarding related assurance, inspection or scrutiny.
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Substantial experience of and effective leadership at a senior level in the safeguarding field.
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Substantial experience, knowledge and understanding of statutory and voluntary organisations and how they work.
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Extensive knowledge of the safeguarding agenda including legislation, guidance, policy and inspection frameworks with a comprehensive understanding of the Care Act 2014 and what this means for local partnerships, statutory agencies and voluntary organisations.
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Significant experience of attending and chairing complex professional meetings at a senior and strategic level.
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Demonstrate a high degree of legal literacy applicable to safeguarding, having the ability to connect relevant legal statute with the professional priorities and objectives of multiple partners.
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Experience of having influenced and negotiated successfully at a senior level across agencies, disciplines and sectors.
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Extensive experience of developing innovative approaches to assurance, inspection and quality improvement, learning development and communications in a safeguarding context.
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A strong awareness of issues of confidentiality and demonstration of appropriate adherence to confidentiality.
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Experience of resolving disputes and complaints between professionals.
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Experience of involving service users and the community in planning and decision making at all levels – including contributing to strategic plans and developments.
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Experience of applying quality assurance frameworks to understand the impact and effectiveness of service provision in meeting needs.
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Experience of hearing the lived experience of the residents of Barking and Dagenham or another similar borough and a deep, demonstrable understanding of how these lived experiences shape lives.