Independent Scrutineer

Independent Scrutineer

Knowsley Council is an award-winning Local Authority, named Local Authority of the Year in the Municipal Journal Awards 2024.  This is an exciting time to join Children’s Services at Knowsley. Following our Ofsted inspection in 2024 we are on an improvement journey. We have high aspirations for our children and young people and are determined to work together to make the necessary improvements and get to ‘good’ whilst always aiming higher. Improving CSC is one of the Council’s main priorities; there’s significant investment in the service, expertise on-hand and opportunities make a real difference; helping to shape the future delivery of CSC for the benefit of our children and young people. 

Come join us and be part of our success.

The Role:

The Knowsley Safeguarding Children Partnership Board provide strategic leadership, direction and governance for the delivery of statutory and local requirements for the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in Liverpool through equal and joint responsibility.

The Independent Scrutiny role will:

• Provide scrutiny to the Knowsley Safeguarding Children Partnership ensuring that it fulfils its statutory responsibilities set out in the Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and other related guidance
• Act as a constructive critical friend, as well as promoting reflection to ensure accountability and drive continuous improvement to the partnership and safeguarding practice across Knowsley.
• Seek assurance regarding the robustness and effectiveness of local multi-agency arrangements in Knowsley to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to report areas of weakness and highlight areas of strength to the safeguarding partners and report to the Executive Board as required.
• It is essential the Independent Scrutineer possesses extensive knowledge of the safeguarding children agendas including the Working Together to Safeguard Children Act 2023, Children Act 2004, Children and Social Work Act 2017, and statutory guidance
• Excellent communication, negotiating and influencing skills are essential in this role, along with a strong track record of strategic leadership and independent scrutiny.

Applicants, please note salary - £650 per day, including travel and expenses, up to 2 days per month. The appointment will be for a maximum of 4 years, subject to review on an annual basis.

Next steps:

Closing Date for this role is: 04 April

Interview dates are expected to take place w/c 07 April 2025

If you would like to talk to a member of the team about the role or have an informal discussion, please contact hilary.brooks@knowsley.gov.uk

We promote applications from all sections of the community, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applicants. 

If you are interested in this vacancy, please upload your CV along with a supporting statement as one document in PDF or Word format. Your CV and supporting statement should be tailored to reflect the competencies within the person specification.

Please note if a CV and supporting statement does not reflect the person specification it is unlikely to be shortlisted