Independent Scrutineer

The Children and Families Department takes a strengths-based approach to working with each other, children, young people and families, and our partner agencies. We call this 'Our Nottinghamshire Approach'. Watch the two minute animation to learn more.

Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership is seeking an experienced safeguarding professional to serve as our Independent Scrutineer. This pivotal role provides independent, rigorous, and reflective oversight of our multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, ensuring they are effective, transparent, and continuously improving in line with statutory requirements. As Independent Scrutineer, you will act as a critical friend to the Partnership and Strategic Leadership Group, providing support and challenge, testing the impact of safeguarding arrangements, and ensuring the voices of children and families are central to all we do.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver a structured scrutiny programme aligned with strategic priorities and the Business Plan.
• Ability to produce high-quality analytical reports.
• Offer constructive challenge and critical reflection to senior leaders across agencies.
• Scrutinise learning and review processes, including child safeguarding practice reviews and thematic audits.
• Mediate and advise on inter-agency disagreements, supporting resolution and shared accountability.
• Contribute to inspection readiness and alignment with wider accountability frameworks.

About You

You are an experienced safeguarding professional with strategic insight and a deep understanding of effective practice for children, young people, and families. You bring first-hand experience of risk assessment, intervention, and decision-making in multi-agency contexts, and have the confidence to challenge and support senior leaders.

Essential Criteria

• Academic or professional qualification in social/health care, education, criminal justice, or legal discipline.
• Strategic leadership experience within services working directly with children, young people, and families.
• In-depth understanding of statutory and policy frameworks underpinning safeguarding arrangements.
• Proven experience of evaluating, auditing, and improving multi-agency child safeguarding practice.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Enhanced DBS clearance required prior to appointment.
• Experience with Safeguarding Children Partnerships or similar statutory arrangements.
• Understanding of local context and priorities.

This is a unique opportunity to make a significant difference to the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, and families across Nottinghamshire. You’ll play a leading role in ensuring safeguarding partners work together effectively, with transparency and accountability, and that the voices of children are at the heart of every decision.

Please note that the Independent Scrutineer will perform Office Holder duties and IR35 rules apply to this appointment. Payments will be made through payroll and tax and NI deductions will be made at source via PAYE in line with current HMRC guidelines.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Haley Thompson, Service Manager, Partnerships & Planning or the outgoing scrutineer Dr Mark Peel. Appointment to this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Disabled applicants who meet the essential shortlisting requirements will be guaranteed an interview. A job share scheme is available for all full-time posts: both permanent and temporary, unless otherwise stated.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks. Nottinghamshire County Council strives to ensure that it goes beyond the requirements of the Equalities Act and prides itself on being accredited as a Disability Confident Leader Organisation. Therefore, the County Council encourages applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, religion, belief, pregnancy and maternity status, age or sexual orientation.