Head of Safeguarding

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, visible and compassionate safeguarding leader to join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust as Head of Safeguarding. This senior Trust-wide role will lead the operational delivery and continued development of safeguarding services across adults, children, cared for children, maternity, mental health, learning disability and autism, spanning hospital and community settings.

We are seeking an inspirational leader who can lead with integrity, compassion and confidence; build trusted relationships across complex systems; and provide robust assurance to senior leaders and the Trust Board. In return, this post offers the opportunity to shape safeguarding practice across one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and make a meaningful difference to patients, families, staff and communities.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Safeguarding will provide senior operational leadership for Trust-wide safeguarding services, including safeguarding adults and children, cared for children, mental health, learning disability and autism. The post holder will manage and develop the safeguarding workforce, provide expert advice to colleagues across the organisation, and ensure safeguarding practice is embedded across hospital and community settings.

The role will lead the delivery of safeguarding priorities, including governance, statutory and regulatory compliance, quality assurance, safeguarding supervision, education and training, policy development and service improvement. The post holder will work closely with senior nursing leaders, named professionals, clinical teams and multi-agency partners to ensure effective identification, management and escalation of safeguarding concerns.

A key part of the role will be to provide assurance to senior leaders and the Trust Board, using audit, data, incident learning, inspections and safeguarding reviews to drive improvement. The post holder will also represent the Trust at local, regional and partnership forums, contribute to safeguarding strategies and policies, and support a culture of learning, prevention, compassion and continuous improvement.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are — what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Supporting Documents’ section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.