Safeguarding Vacancies & Opportunities

Independent Scrutineer – Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership

Salary details: £600 per day

Contract type: Consultancy basis (inside IR35)

Job term: 15 days per year

Appointment length: Initial fixed term of three years (subject to annual review)

Place of work: Hybrid

Closing date: 15/07/26

Interview date: 31/07/26

The Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership is looking to recruit an Independent Scrutineer to support our understanding of the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements for children.

The Partnership would like to hear from candidates who can offer constructive challenge and scrutiny to promote continuous improvement. If you have extensive strategic multi-agency safeguarding experience and a successful track-record of improving outcomes for children, we want to hear from you.

Somerset welcomes applications from people from a range of disciplines. You will hold a recognised professional qualification (or equivalent experience at a strategic management level) in a discipline which could include social care, education, criminal justice or health.

You will have:

• substantial experience of effective leadership at a senior level within a multi-agency context
• substantial knowledge and understanding of statutory and voluntary organisations and how they work
• strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• experience of deploying quality assurance to improve outcomes
• knowledge of local and national safeguarding frameworks, including recent developments in social care, health and policing; as well as in associated legislation.

The role requires a commitment of 15 days per year with the potential for the safeguarding partners to commission further days during the year. Please find below the Assignment Sheet provided by the Partnership.  

For further information about the role please contact Jasmine Wark, Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership Business Manager: [email protected]

This role is being recruited by Somerset Council on behalf of the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership.

How to apply

A CV and supporting statement should be sent to [email protected] by 15/07/26.

Safeguarding & Complaints Coordinator (Contractor) – Plum Village UK

Organisation: Plum Village UK

Location: Remote

Engagement: Contractor (self-employed), fixed term, one year

Day rate: £270 per day

Days: Up to 50 days, to be drawn down flexibly in response to need

Reports to: Safeguarding Sub-Committee of the Trustee Board

Start date: As soon as practical

Application deadline: 6 July 2026, 9pm

Role Overview

Plum Village UK is seeking an experienced and compassionate Safeguarding & Complaints Coordinator for a one-year contractor engagement. This is a new and distinctive role within a values-led organisation with no large staff team, where the community is spread across a national network of semi-autonomous local practice groups.

The engagement offers up to 50 days to be used flexibly as the need arises. The Coordinator will report to the Safeguarding Sub-Committee of the Trustee Board, working with a high degree of autonomy while helping Plum Village UK develop a sustainable long-term approach to safeguarding.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding policy, governance and quality assurance.
• Support and strengthen safeguarding across Plum Village UK's network of local sanghas.
• Manage safeguarding concerns and investigations where appropriate.
• Lead on escalated complaints handling.
• Coordinate safeguarding training and promote a culture of safeguarding awareness.
• Support the long-term development of the safeguarding function.

Person Specification

We recognise that this is a new and unusual role, and the right person may not fit a conventional safeguarding professional profile. We are open to different backgrounds and would encourage you to apply if you feel drawn to this work, even if you do not meet every criterion.

Please download the full Role Description for the complete Person Specification and role requirements below. Please also refer people to the www.plumvillage.uk and www.beingpeace.uk (our Practice Centre) to find out more about the organisation. 

How to Apply

Please submit the following by 6 July 2026, 9pm:

• A brief CV or overview of relevant experience.
• A proposal (maximum 5 pages A4).
• Examples of relevant previous work (if available).
• Names and contact details of two professional references.

If you are interested in this role but uncertain whether your experience is a good match, we would still warmly encourage you to be in touch.

For clarification, support, or alternative methods to complete your application, please contact [email protected].

Selection Timeline

Application deadline: 6 July 2026, 9pm

First interviews: Likely to be week commencing 13 July

Start date: As soon as practicable