Head of Safeguarding Investigation

About the Role

This full-time position, requiring 37.5 hours weekly from Monday to Friday, is primarily remote with occasional travel to nurseries and offices located in Northampton and London. The annual salary starts from A368,000. The deadline for application submissions is 15th August 2026. Applicants must provide an updated CV to be considered.

Role Purpose

The Head of Safeguarding Investigation leads the organization's safeguarding investigations involving children or adults working with children. This role ensures investigations are thorough, proportionate, consistent, and align with safeguarding laws, regulatory demands, and best practices. It offers strategic leadership, governance, and quality oversight across all investigations, encouraging continuous learning, improvement, and risk management to safeguard children's welfare.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain investigation thresholds, decision-making, and escalation criteria aligned with legal, regulatory, and best practice standards.
• Conduct investigations with a solid understanding of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) process and statutory requirements, ensuring proper information sharing and management of concerns and allegations.
• Serve as the lead authority on safeguarding investigation decisions, offering professional guidance and escalating issues to senior leadership.
• Develop and enhance an investigation framework that guarantees robust, child-focused, evidence-based, and proportionate investigations capable of withstanding scrutiny.
• Implement standards, methodologies, governance, and performance metrics to promote a high-quality, efficient, and consistent investigation service.
• Oversee quality assurance and conduct regular audits to ensure investigations meet organizational, legal, and regulatory standards, providing feedback and oversight for team consistency.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight for complex, high-risk, and sensitive investigations and represent the organization in external agency meetings as necessary.
• Maintain and manage strategic relationships with external safeguarding agencies like LADO, Children's Services, Ofsted, DBS, and Police.
• Monitor and improve investigation performance, ensuring timely and effective case resolutions.
• Identify trends, systemic issues, and risks from investigations to inform organizational policies, learning, and preventative measures.
• Prepare clear reports and analyses on investigation activities and risks for senior leadership and external stakeholders, including regulators.
• Collaborate with Operations, HR, and Legal teams to ensure consistent and compliant safeguarding risk management.

Candidate Qualifications and Experience

• Extensive experience in leading or managing complex investigations in safeguarding, regulatory, compliance, or risk contexts.
• Background within early years or education sectors.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding frameworks, legislation, and investigative best practices.
• Proven ability to design or implement consistent decision-making frameworks and governance models.
• Experience handling high-risk and sensitive cases with sound judgment and integrity.
• Skilled in influencing senior leaders and operating at leadership levels.
• Ability to translate investigative findings into actionable organizational insights and improvements.
• Track record of effective team leadership, coaching, and mentoring.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills for strategic decision-making.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working with external agencies such as Ofsted or equivalent inspection bodies.
• Knowledge of legal proceedings related to safeguarding and investigations.
• Experience in building or leading specialized investigation or case management teams.

Educational Requirements

• A relevant degree or equivalent experience, such as Law, Criminology, Social Care, HR, or Risk, is preferred.
• Professional qualifications in investigations, safeguarding, or compliance are advantageous.

Additional Information

The organization is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This role will follow strict safer recruitment procedures, including mandatory pre-employment checks and an enhanced DBS check before confirmation. The employer welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and ages and will consider reasonable adjustments for candidates as required.

Employee Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements and holiday benefits.
• Discounts on childcare services.
• Quarterly weeks dedicated to employee appreciation.
• An annual awards gala event.
• Access to discounts on retail, groceries, entertainment, travel, and more.
• Comprehensive wellbeing resources supporting staff through daily challenges.

As a company celebrated as a Great Place to Work for 20 years, Bright Horizons invites qualified candidates to apply and join their mission to foster the future of children, families, and employees through flexibility, balance, and wellbeing.