Hybrid Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead at Bright Horizons

Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead

Field Based Role / Regular travel to our nurseries

Full Time / 40 Hours per week / Location

Salary: £47k-50k plus £4k car allowance (driving licence essential)

Based London or South of UK; Flexibility to work at home or from a regional office as required, with overnight stays as necessary

Closing Date: 14/5/25

The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead/Auditor is responsible for providing assurance to the company that its Child Protection and Safeguarding policies, procedures and associated regulatory requirements are applied across operations and support functions consistently and effectively to mitigate risks and fulfil our Duty of Care to Safeguard the children in our care. 

The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead/Auditor provides this independent assurance through conducting internal audits, working in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, continuously learning from the investigations and emerging trends undertaken by the Safeguarding Investigation team, audits, and recommending improvement solutions, positive measurable impact and risk mitigation.  

The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead /Auditor will advise, support and coach nursery managers and other colleagues in Child Protection and Safeguarding best practice.

The Safeguarding Quality Assurance Lead/Auditor will support the Head of Safeguarding and the Senior Safeguarding Consultant in general Child Protection work as directed, including but not limited to carrying out visits, inspection and training.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Keeping Everyone Safe by continuously improving the practices, processes and behaviours that underpin a Child Protection, Safeguarding and Arena of Safety.

• Setting the highest standards of behaviour across their setting consistent with the HEART principles.

• Complete accurate Safeguarding audits within allocated time frame.  Effectively communicate the key findings and actions to improve quality  

• Continuously monitor progression and closure of open action items via the monitoring system.

• Develop and maintain strong and positive relationships with key stakeholders working in collaboration and maintain a thorough knowledge of the business and external regulatory environment.

• Support company project activities with the aim to improve Child Protection and Safeguarding Practices.

• Make sure the Safeguarding Audit is up to date in relation to Child Protection/childcare legislation/standards.

Responsible For:

• Providing assurance to the company that its Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies, procedures and requirements are applied across operations and support functions consistently and effectively to mitigate risks and fulfil our Duty of Care to safeguard the children in our care. 

• Providing independent assurance through conducting internal audits, working in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, continuously learning from the audits, and recommending improvement solutions which will result in measured impact.

• Advising, supporting and coaching nursery managers and other colleagues in Keeping Everyone Safe best practice.

• Supporting the Head and Safeguarding and the Senior Safeguarding Consultant in general Child Protection work as directed, including but not limited to carrying out visits, inspection and training etc.

What We Can Offer You:

• Our benefits include, but are not limited to;

• Flexible working and holiday entitlements

• Discounted childcare

• Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks

• Annual gala award evening

• Fantastic range of discounts on high street retailers, grocery stores, cinema tickets, holidays and more

• Wide range of wellbeing resources, supporting our teams for the ups and downs of daily life

Why Bright Horizons?

• We’ve been voted Great Place to Work for the last 17 consecutive years, as well as being awarded the newly created Great Place for Wellbeing and Great Place for Women 2023.

• Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 300+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

• We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.

Essential Experience:

• Worked in a Child Protection/Safeguarding Role or worked in a Childcare Environment

• Proven track record in effectively undertaking the key tasks to the role, leading best practice and making a difference.

• Work independently and prioritise.

Experience Desirable:

• Childcare sector

• Multi-site company

• Structured audit environment

• Ability to use the audit software and analyse the results and recommend any actions

• Timeliness and accuracy of audit delivery and reporting

• Closing out identified actions with impact and effectiveness of supporting activities

Qualifications

• OHSAS: Internal Auditor Certificate (desirable)

• Level 3 Early Years Qualification (essential)

• Training/Coaching Qualification (desirable)

Personal attributes

• Excellent influencer, change-maker and effective communicator (oral and in writing)

• Highly motivated and driven, achieving positive impact and meeting deadlines

• Ability to build trust and develop cohesive teams – strong empathy, clear expectations and fair-minded

• High energy and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment  - calm approach and ‘can-do’ attitude

• Encourages colleagues to realise their potential and empowers high performers

• Able to use data and numerical detail effectively to inform strategy, measure impact and drive quality

Bright Horizons are committed to creating inclusive environments where everyone has a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to contribute and thrive in meaningful and impactful ways. We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. If you share our passion, values, and have most of the skills listed, we encourage you to apply – as you may be just what we are looking for! Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS. Some of our roles require specific qualifications by law, this will be highlighted as essential within the advert.

We look forward to receiving your application!

If you experience any problems, please email europe.recruitment@brighthorizons.com and we will be happy to help.