• Reporting to the Director of Nursing, you will lead the development, implementation, and assurance of Public Protection services across NHS Forth Valley, including Child Protection, Adult Support and Protection, Gender-Based Violence, and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).
• You will provide expert professional advice to senior leaders and work collaboratively with local authorities, Police Scotland, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and third-sector organisations, to strengthen safeguarding systems and improve outcomes for children, young people, and adults at risk.

As a senior professional leader, you will be responsible for developing strategy, driving quality improvement, strengthening governance and assurance arrangements, and ensuring compliance with statutory and professional requirements. You will lead a highly skilled Public Protection workforce, champion learning and development, and foster a culture of professional curiosity, trauma-informed practice, and continuous improvement.

Candidates must be educated to degree level with evidence of:

• First degree and Post Graduate Masters’ Degree demonstrating work at this level
• Recognised qualification in Public Protection, Safeguarding, Child Protection, Adult Support and Protection, or a related field.
• A registered nurse / midwife / AHP on the NMC / HCPC register
• Significant senior professional leadership/management experience in the NHS

The successful candidate will bring experience, at the highest professional leadership level, of developing and demonstrating excellent people management skills and an ability to work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.

The duties of this post require the successful candidate to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. More information on this scheme can be found at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk.

Applicants should identify if they are applying for Post 1, Post 2, or both Posts.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 28th August 2026.

Interviews will take place on 14th September and 15th September 2026

For further information please contact Lynsey Sutherland, Director of Nursing – lynsey.sutherland@nhs.scot

Thank you for your interest in working for NHS Forth Valley.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK are advised to carefully review the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa routes. NHS Forth Valley may be able to offer sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. If you are currently working in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, transitional arrangements may apply. Please note that sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks. For further information on visa requirements and sponsorship eligibility, please refer to the UK Government guidance.

It is also recommended that anyone applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad read the following guidance: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK.

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills, and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail, therefore please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders) and your Jobtrain account for updates.

NHS Forth Valley is positive about disabled people and is committed to offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. Please contact the Recruitment Office on 0330 041 4694 if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you with your application and/or interview.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.