Overview
Head of Safeguarding – Permanent – Full Time
ID: 284821
Job Specialism: Charity
Location: Birmingham
Salary: £61,003 per annum
Closing Date: Sunday, 31st August 2025
Join Sense at this exciting time and lead safeguarding across an organisation that puts people with complex disabilities at the heart of everything we do.
We’re looking for a strategic safeguarding leader to take on a pivotal role as our Head of Safeguarding, supporting both Sense and Sense International.
This is a unique opportunity to step into a high-impact leadership role just as we launch our new organisational strategy—and shape how safeguarding is not only embedded across our work but championed as a core value across every part of Sense.
About the Role
This is your chance to drive a culture of safety, accountability and learning across all parts of our organisation—from frontline services and education settings to our vibrant charity shops and international programmes.
As our Head of Safeguarding, you will:
- Lead the strategic direction of safeguarding at Sense
- Shape, implement and monitor policies that protect and empower the individuals we support
- Support and advise teams across our UK and international operations
- Embed person-led, trauma-informed, and inclusive safeguarding practices
- Be our subject matter expert and represent Sense across national boards, networks and sector events, as well as advising senior leaders and the Board to ensure governance excellence
- Keeping the voices and rights of people, we support at the centre of all decisions
- Leading on serious case reviews, reporting, and continuous improvement
What We’re Looking For
- A safeguarding expert with deep knowledge of social care and education legislation across the UK
- A strategic thinker who can influence at Board level while supporting our frontline staff
- An inspiring leader who thrives on collaboration, learning and challenge
- Someone with a demonstrable commitment to addressing diversity and inclusion in all elements of Safeguarding policy and practice, including the ‘Making Safeguarding Personal’ initiative
- Proven experience working in health & social care and/or the charity sector
Please review the full job description and person specification, attached to this advertisement.
About Sense
We believe that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Sense is proud to be a disability confident leader.
Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition, we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement.
To apply
Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly. We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.
Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.
No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.
If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 415 6735 or recruitment@sense.org.uk
Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.
For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone’s contribution is valued and we ensure they’re given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. For more information please visit: https://www.sense.org.uk/jobs/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-recruitment/
Precise Location: 750 Bristol Road, , Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 6NA, United Kingdom
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
