Head of Safeguarding

Job summary

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a new arm’s-length body set up, at unprecedented pace, to administer compensation to people whose lives have been impacted by the infected blood scandal.

IBCA will ensure payment is made in recognition of the wrongs experienced by those who have been infected by HIV, Hepatitis B or C, as well as those who love and care for them. They have been frustrated and distressed by the delays in achieving proper recognition, and we must help put this right.

We are committed to putting the infected and affected blood community at the centre of every decision we make and every step we take to build our organisation to deliver compensation payments.

IBCA employees will be public servants. If successful in this role you will be appointed directly into IBCA, on IBCA terms and conditions as a public servant.

Successful applicants will join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be fully operational for a period of approximately up to 5 years, after which IBCA will become a smaller residual service. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arm's Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

Job description

The Head of Safeguarding is IBCA’s organisational authority for safeguarding and vulnerability. The post holder holds strategic accountability for the safeguarding strategy, operating model, governance, professional standards and assurance framework across the organisation.

Working with Directors, senior leaders and teams across Operations, Digital and Data, Communications and Engagement, Human Resources, Fraud, Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement, the post holder will ensure safeguarding is embedded in service design, operational delivery, corporate risk management and organisational decision-making.

The role leads a multi-site safeguarding function and provides expert advice and assurance on complex, high-risk and reputationally sensitive matters. It requires significant professional judgement, including balancing the autonomy and wellbeing of people engaging with IBCA with operational, legal, ethical and organisational risk in an environment where precedent or statutory direction may be limited.

The postholder will lead a preventative, trauma-informed and person-centred approach: ensuring IBCA responds effectively when concerns arise, while using learning, data and professional insight to reduce avoidable harm and strengthen organisational capability.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for safeguarding and vulnerability across IBCA, owning the safeguarding strategy, operating model, policies, standards, governance and delivery roadmap.
• Lead, develop and assure the multi-site safeguarding function, setting priorities and professional expectations and delivering outcomes through Safeguarding Managers, Safeguarding Officers and colleagues across the organisation.
• Provide authoritative advice and assurance to Directors, the Executive Committee, Board and governance forums on complex safeguarding, vulnerability, ethical and reputational risks, presenting clear and defensible recommendations.
• Oversee the most complex or high-risk safeguarding matters and establish proportionate escalation, decision-making, record-keeping and quality assurance arrangements, while enabling operational teams to retain appropriate ownership.
• Embed safeguarding in organisational systems, claimant journeys, service design, policy, digital products, data practices, communications, workforce activity and operational change.
• Develop management information, risk indicators and reporting that identify emerging themes, test effectiveness and provide senior leaders with meaningful assurance about safeguarding performance and organisational exposure.
• Build organisational capability through training, guidance, reflective practice, professional curiosity, consultation and learning from cases, feedback, incidents and quality activity.
• Develop effective partnerships with statutory agencies, government departments, arm’s-length bodies, specialist organisations and affected communities, representing IBCA credibly in sensitive and influential settings.
• Lead continuous improvement and prevention activity so that learning from safeguarding concerns informs safer systems, better decisions and improved outcomes for people engaging with IBCA.
• Maintain current professional knowledge and ensure IBCA’s safeguarding arrangements remain proportionate, legally informed and responsive to emerging risks throughout the organisation’s lifespan.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Significant experience of leading a safeguarding, vulnerability or complex-risk function, with accountability for strategy, professional practice, governance and organisational assurance.
• A strong and current understanding of adult safeguarding legislation, statutory frameworks and best practice, together with the judgement to apply these effectively in a non-statutory or otherwise complex environment.
• Evidence of designing, implementing and embedding sustainable operating models, systems, policies, processes, governance or assurance frameworks across an organisation.
• Experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary or geographically dispersed teams, setting direction and achieving outcomes through managers and others.
• Significant experience of setting the strategic direction for safeguarding or vulnerability across a complex organisation, including developing an operating model, governance and assurance arrangements and influencing executive-level decision-making in circumstances where precedent or statutory direction is limited.
• A strong record of influencing Directors, senior leaders and governance forums, including communicating complex or sensitive risks and presenting clear, evidence-based and defensible recommendations.
• Experience of making high-impact decisions in ambiguous situations, balancing individual rights and wellbeing with operational, ethical, legal and reputational considerations.
• Ability to use qualitative and quantitative information to identify themes, evaluate effectiveness, anticipate emerging risks and provide meaningful organisational assurance.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the credibility to build effective relationships across organisational boundaries and represent the organisation externally.
• A demonstrable commitment to trauma-informed, person-centred and strengths-based practice, including respect for autonomy, dignity, equality and lived experience.

Desirable criteria

• A Level 5 safeguarding qualification or equivalent advanced professional learning; successful candidates without this will be expected to work towards an appropriate qualification.
• Experience of safeguarding in a public body, compensation scheme, financial service, health, social care or another complex service supporting people affected by trauma or vulnerability.
• Experience of organisational development, systems thinking, service design, quality assurance or corporate risk management.

Relevant professional membership or evidence of continuing professional development in safeguarding, risk, leadership or a related field.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,262, Infected Blood Compensation Authority contributes

£21,803 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Family friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, up to 12 months shared parental leave

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV, which should include your career history, skills, experience and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words, that demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on experience and strengths.

• Expected timeline (subject to change)
• Expected sift date – w/c 5 October 2026
• Expected interview date/s – w/c 12 October 2026

Interview location - Your interview will be conducted face to face.

You will be notified of the location if you are selected for an interview.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via IBCA.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Sponsorship

IBCA recruitment policy limits Skilled Worker visa sponsorship solely to roles designated as business-critical (internal role not prioritised as hard to fill). Because this position does not fall into that category, we will not be offering sponsorship. Therefore, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship.

Further Information

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to IBCA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website)

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we rec