Independent Scrutineer; Temporary

Position: Independent Scrutineer (Temporary)
About the Role

The Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership is seeking an experienced and highly credible Independent Scrutineer to provide objective oversight, constructive challenge, and assurance on the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements for children and young people across Northamptonshire.

The Independent Scrutineer will act as a critical friend to the partnership, offering impartial scrutiny and promoting reflective practice to support continuous improvement. This is a key statutory function under the Children and Social Work Act 2017, requiring a high degree of professionalism, independence, and expertise in safeguarding.

Responsibilies

Provide independent scrutiny, challenge, and assurance regarding the effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements across Northamptonshire.
Ensure the partnership fulfils its statutory responsibilities and operates in line with national guidance.
Oversee and make recommendations on the commissioning, findings, and publication of safeguarding reviews.
Hold agencies to account for the implementation of recommendations and monitor progress toward improved practice and outcomes.
Assess the leadership, collaboration, and strategic direction provided by safeguarding partners, and agree how findings will be reported.
Provide assurance that organisations have effective strategies in place to address safeguarding priorities, gaps, and risks.
Evaluate how robustly partners hold each other to account, particularly where performance issues or poor practice are identified.
Offer independent advice where conflicts of interest arise between statutory leads.
Engage with children, young people, families, and frontline practitioners to understand how well local arrangements work in practice.
Take responsibility for the content and quality of the annual report on the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements and local services.
Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion by demonstrating awareness of equal opportunities and the diverse needs of children, families, and practitioners.
Skills

Professional Safeguarding Expertise
Strong Understanding of Statutory Guidance
Multi-Agency Leadership
Scrutiny, Oversight & Assurance

Experience with Safeguarding Reviews
Frontline Practice Insight
Conflict Resolution & Independence If you thrive to make a difference and have experience, then we would love to hear from you