Safeguarding Investigator

Safeguarding Investigator

Full Time / 37.50 hours per week / Monday to Friday

Remote with ad hoc travel to our nurseries and our offices in Northampton and London

Salary From £43k per annum

Closing Date for this role: 31/10/26 or sooner if right candidate is hired

All applicants need to attach an up-to-date CV to be considered

Purpose of Role:

The Safeguarding Investigator is responsible for leading and delivering safeguarding investigations across a range of complexity, from low-level concerns through to complex, high-risk and sensitive cases. Applying professional curiosity, sound judgement and robust risk assessment, and working closely with operational leaders, HR, Legal, Regulatory Specialists and external agencies, the role ensures safeguarding concerns are investigated thoroughly and effectively, risks to children are identified and managed, and learning is captured to strengthen safeguarding practice across the organisation. All investigations will be thoroughly documented, with clear records of evidence, findings, decisions, and the rationale underpinning outcomes.

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?

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 270+ 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.

Responsibilities:

• Concerns are identified and acted upon promptly.
• Appropriate referrals are made to the LADO, Children's Services, Police and/or Ofsted where required.
• Risk to children has been assessed and mitigated at all stages of the investigation.
• Consideration is given to the Voice of the child throughout the process
• Evidence of any bias and the impact on the Safeguarding Culture is identified and followed up
• Accurate records and decision-making rationales are maintained.
• Leaders maintain oversight of the concern and took appropriate action.
• Learning is identified and used to improve practice

Key Accountabilities:

• Assess, monitor and manage actual or potential risks to children throughout the investigation process, ensuring appropriate safeguarding measures are implemented, reviewed and escalated where necessary.
• Ensure the child's welfare, lived experience and voice are central to investigation planning, decision-making and recommendations.
• Ensure investigation findings, conclusions and recommendations are proportionate, evidence-based and supported by clearly documented rationale.
• Handle sensitive information in accordance with data protection legislation, confidentiality requirements and information-sharing protocols.
• Lead and manage the end-to-end delivery of safeguarding investigations, ensuring all cases are handled thoroughly, consistently and within defined timelines.
• Conduct a wide range of safeguarding investigations using professional curiosity to ensure all relevant lines of enquiry are explored.
• Conduct safeguarding investigations with an understanding of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) process, ensuring that investigation findings, emerging concerns and any subsequent allegations are evaluated promptly and escalated to the LADO where thresholds are met or further consultation is required.
• Apply defined internal/external thresholds and criteria to determine appropriate investigation approach
• Produce clear, accurate and evidence-based investigation reports, findings and recommendations.
• Maintain comprehensive, structured and compliant case records and documentation.
• Ensure all investigations are conducted in line with safeguarding, legal and regulatory requirements
• Participate in quality assurance activity across safeguarding investigations, providing robust scrutiny of practice, decision-making and record keeping ensuring investigations are thorough, evidence-based, compliant and child-focused.
• Work closely with the Head of Investigations on more complex or high-risk cases, escalating where appropriate
• Support coordination of cases requiring regulatory notifications, ensuring clear and accurate information
• Identify themes or learning from cases and contribute to continuous improvement and share with wider safeguarding team.
• Provide clear updates and reporting on investigation progress, risks and outcomes to stakeholders
• Collaborate with Operations, HR and Legal to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to safeguarding cases

Essential Experience:

• Experience conducting safeguarding investigations or managing complex casework
• Strong understanding of safeguarding processes and principles
• Ability to assess risk and manage cases effectively
• Experience producing clear and accurate case documentation
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills

Desirable Experience:

• Experience within early years, education, childcare, healthcare or other safeguarding-focused environments
• Experience working with regulatory bodies, Local Authorities or inspection frameworks
• Knowledge of employment processes relating to investigations (e.g. disciplinaries)

Qualifications:

• Safeguarding or investigation-related training or accreditation – Desirable

Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Good judgement and decision-making skills
• Professional and calm handling of sensitive issues
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Organised and able to manage multiple cases
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned with HEART principles, acting with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability and Respect

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Proud to be a Great Place to Work for 20 years. Apply today!

We look forward to receiving your application.

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Proud to be a Great Place to Work for 20 years. Apply today!

We look forward to receiving your application!

About Us

At Bright Horizons, our culture is built on our commitment to Keeping Everyone Safe and providing world-class care and education, delivered by a world-class workforce. We believe our people’s potential is endless and with this in mind, we aspire to create an environment where our colleagues can thrive and accomplish the things they thought impossible.

Bright Horizons has been recognised as a Great Place to Work by our employees and the Great Place to Work Institute for the last 13 years. We care passionately about what we do, and our HEART values and principles help us support one another in the work that we do each day. These are quite literally at the HEART of our organisation’s ethos and culture as it helps us to provide a working environment that supports professionalism, growth and diversity.
We are passionate about our people’s ongoing learning and development. Our learning and leading with HEART framework supports each Bright Horizons colleague on the first steps of their leadership journey, whether that includes our 'World-Class Welcome' induction or our extensive ongoing training programme. Either way we want you to feel valued and invested in!

Celebrating in the accomplishments of our people is an essential part of our culture. We believe in the power of “thank you” and throughout the year, in ways big and small, formal and informal, we show our appreciation for employees at all levels. We have many ways to acknowledge and celebrate our people, including our very popular “employee appreciation month”. This is a chance for everyone to share their gratitude to one another, across the whole company. Whether it is a “thank you” placed on our website, a chocolate pizza, team lunch or an ice cream van visit, it is our way of showing each other we care and appreciate everything we do. Each year, we have our annual 'Awards of Excellence' events; whether you are an award winner or cheering on a fellow team member, these formal award occasions are opportunities to come together and celebrate one another.

By creating this account you acknowledge that Bright Horizons will collect, store and process any of your personal data provided in respect of your application and employment in accordance with our Employee Privacy Notice.

https://www.brighthorizons.co.uk/statutory-information/privacy-notice-employees.