ACT Safeguarding Lead

• Category: Qualified Social Work - Children's
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Posted on: 23 February 2026
• Location: Victoria Gate, Chobham Road, Woking, GU21 6JD

This permanent, full-time role has a starting salary of £42,239 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Safeguarding Lead to join our fantastic Assessment Consultation Therapy (ACT) Team based in Woking, Surrey.

This position is open to hybrid working and as part of ACT you will split your time between working remotely and collaborating together in the Woking office for three days per week.

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

Assessment Consultation Therapy (ACT) is a specialist therapeutic service provided by Surrey that works directly with young children and adolescents who present and display with harmful sexualised behaviour. Our aim is to support and provide treatment for children and their families, via a therapeutic and cognitive approach, listening to understand how and why they maybe behaving or feeling the way they do.

We are a supportive and close-knit team, working from our dedicated office in Woking, where we undertake direct assessments on site with our children and young people. The nature of the work we do means there are opportunities to work holistically and collaboratively with colleagues across various professional networks. We also have on site access to our ACT Team Manager, meaning that you will be well-supported with your work, with plenty of opportunities for expanding your knowledge.

We have a strong culture that emphasises growth, development and recognition. You will be working in an environment where each individual contribution is genuinely valued, and the supportive nature of the team fosters a deep sense of camaraderie and motivation. As a team we create an ideal space for collaboration and continued learning, where ideas flow freely, and feedback is constructive and encouraging.

• Overseeing the referral pathway into ACT
• Writing reports
• Actively participating in Strategy and Multi-Agency meetings, as well as Case Conferences and Child in Need meetings
• Providing training and consultancy to our wider network; empowering professionals to effectively manage presenting behaviours and mitigate risks
• Contributing to the production of quarterly and annual reports

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours :

• You are an experienced and empathetic Social Worker with a strong background in child protection
• You hold a Social Work qualification such as a Degree, Masters or Post Graduate Diploma and are registered with Social Work England
• You have extensive knowledge and understanding of the risk factors associated with sexually harmful behaviour
• You are proficient in assessing and managing referrals & planning and coordinating enquiries
• You have proven experience in leading consultations
• You have a willingness and ability to travel across the county to meet the demands of the role

• Please describe a time when you identified significant safeguarding concerns for a child or young person. Please include what action you took, how you assessed risk, and what the outcome was.
• Please describe a safeguarding incident you have managed from start to finish. What steps did you take, how did you ensure timely and appropriate information sharing and what…