Independent Chair - Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board
About the role:
The Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board (GSAB) is looking for an experienced and effective Independent Chair. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the long-term strategic direction of adult safeguarding in Gloucestershire, particularly as we are about to embark on a new 3-year strategic plan.
GSAB plays a crucial role in ensuring agencies collaborate to protect adults in Gloucestershire from abuse and neglect. The Independent Chair will ensure GSAB operates effectively, adhering to the relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice.
The Chair will promote partnership working with agencies and individuals with lived experience, challenge and hold partners to account, and serve as an independent voice for the Board. This role requires a resilient, enthusiastic, committed, and determined leader to advance the Safeguarding Adults agenda.
The role is expected to require up to 36 days per year (approximately 3 days per month), with specific commitments agreed upon during the appointment process. The initial term is 2 years, with the possibility of extension by mutual agreement, and includes a 6-month probationary period.
About us:
The aim of the Board is to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults at risk to enable them to retain independence, wellbeing and choice and to access their human right to live a life that is free from abuse and neglect.
The Safeguarding Adults Board was established in April 2009 prior to it being placed on a statutory footing with the introduction of the Care Act 2014. More information about the work of GSAB can be accessed on this website.
About you:
We are seeking an individual with a proven track record in working across agency and professional boundaries to foster productive partnerships and improve services. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of safeguarding principles, empowering adults at risk, and upholding the values of co-production.In addition, have experience chairing complex professional meetings, and experience leading in large public, independent, or voluntary sector organisations at a senior level. Your expertise in managing strategic and operational change will support the board in advancing a collaborative safeguarding agenda that empowers adults at risk and respects their rights to self-determination.
We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, determined, and motivated to make a positive impact on the lives of adults at risk. You should demonstrate a passion for improving outcomes, and be committed to promoting equality, respecting diversity, and integrating the voices of those with lived experience of safeguarding into service improvements.We are looking for someone with the ability to inspire and gain commitment from others, who thrives working collaboratively, and is eager to help build a safer, more inclusive community.
You will hold a relevant professional qualification of sufficient standing that commands respect within the multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Board and be educated to degree level.
As part of the statutory functions, GSAB has the following six strategic priorities:
- Empowerment
- Protection
- Prevention
- Leadership, Accountability and Governance
- Partnership
- Proportionality
If you hold the same behaviours and approach, then we want to hear from you!
Applying:
GSAB invites applications from individuals with experience of senior leadership who share its values and can provide high challenge and support.
Applicants must not be currently employed by any GSAB-represented agencies and must be able to demonstrate their ability to perform the role independently.
Please write your personal statement with consideration for the essential criteria in the Job Profile. This should include examples of why you should be considered and the experience, skills, and knowledge that you would bring to the post. Alongside this, please include an up-to-date CV as part of your application, which can be forwarded by an email.
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact ASCrecruitment@gloucestershire.gov.uk to arrange a convenient time for a call back with the hiring manager.
We are closer than you think:
We are an easy commute from many locations, view our commuting times map to see what we mean.
Additional Information:
Please note that successful candidates will be invited to interview on Thursday 6^th March 2025. This will be held in-person and comprise of a 3-stage process:
- Introduction to panel members and stakeholders
- Stakeholder panel discussion
- Presentation and competitive interview process
To access the Job Profile for this role, please follow the link below:
Download the Job Profile for the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Independent Chair
Download the Person Specification for the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board Independent Chair
Please note that this post:
- is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- is a politically sensitive post under the Local Government Act 1989.
It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a ‘customer facing role’ must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early due to the volume of applications received and / or due to the needs of the service. The advert will be open for a minimum of 14 calendar days. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.