North Yorkshire Children's Partnership are seeking a Safeguarding Children Partnership Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer to help children and young people in North Yorkshire to thrive and achieve the best possible outcomes they can.

Thank you for your interest in the role of North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer.

North Yorkshire is a beautiful place to live and work and we believe our children and young people are our future. We want children and young people in North Yorkshire to thrive and achieve the best possible outcomes they can, ensuring where needed, children receive the right support, at the right time, by the right person. NYSCP is a multi-agency partnership with colleagues from different organisations working together to deliver our statutory duties as set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018), for children, young people, their families and carers across the County. As a partnership, we work collaboratively to ensure children and young people are protected from harm whilst growing up in an environment in which they are happy and that encourages them to have aspirations for their future.

The statutory function of NYSCP is to co-ordinate and embed safeguarding practice within organisations across multi-sector, whilst also ensuring effectiveness of practice and with the aim of ensuring all children in North Yorkshire are safe, happy, healthy and achieving in life as set out in the Being Young in North Yorkshire Strategy 2021-24.

We are looking for an Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer who will bring enthusiasm and commitment to safeguarding children. They will provide challenge and support to our statutory Local Authority, Integrated Care Service and Police partners, whilst ensuring all relevant organisations are safeguarding children and young people across the county. The independent scrutiny of our approach and practice to enable us to continue to build upon and develop our strong partnership arrangements is key. 

We want the appointed Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer to help us continue to review and affirm our arrangements in response to an ever-changing landscape. You will be welcomed into an environment where openness to change and improvement firmly exists. Safeguarding presents many challenges, many of which can be complex and demanding, however our strong partnership approach puts us in a good position to tackle what lays ahead.  We have the desire to ensure our safeguarding practices remain robust, but we need to continually challenge and adapt.

The Council has a reputation for delivering high quality services and its’ children’s services are nationally recognised for their excellence, taking a national lead to spread best practice. With the benefit of strong partnership relationships, children’s services are committed to maintaining this reputation, demonstrating professional resilience, creativity and a 'can do' attitude in the face of challenging times.

As Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer you have the opportunity to build on our reputation, practice and success providing you with the professional challenge and interest to further your professional career and impact.

About the role

The North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership is looking for an outstanding leader with extensive experience of child protection and safeguarding children and young people to take on the role of Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer. You will ideally have experience of this at both an operational and strategic level. Whilst the partners are responsible for safeguarding, we require a chair who can credibly build partnerships within a safeguarding agenda and professionally develop independent scrutiny.

With a successful track record at executive level, you will have excellent knowledge and understanding of local and national safeguarding agendas including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and legislation and research underpinning this work. Strong communication skills are essential as you will be required to represent the NSYCP locally, regionally and nationally, communicating effectively at all levels, being the ‘voice’ of the partnership. In addition, you will have experience of chairing complex professional and strategic meetings, a clear understanding of the ever-changing role of a local safeguarding children’s board, excellent leadership skills, a proven ability to think strategically and the ability to resolve issues through negotiation.

NSYCP has a wide representation and a high level of commitment from key statutory and third sector organisations in this large and rural county.

Period of Contract: Up to 4 years

Days: A minimum of 24 days per year (additional days to be negotiated to a maximum of 30).

Rates: £650 per day

If you are interested and are inspired to help lead the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application. We encourage you to explore your interest with our recruitment partners at The Resourcing Solution to learn a little more.