Independent Chair - Reading Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (RSAPB)

Part time - Approximately 2 days per month

Are you an experienced safeguarding leader with the credibility, independence and strategic vision to influence senior partners and drive meaningful change?

Reading Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (RSAPB) is seeking an exceptional Independent Chair to provide leadership, challenge and assurance across our multi-agency safeguarding partnership.

This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in helping protect adults with care and support needs, ensuring that safeguarding arrangements are effective, person-centred and deliver positive outcomes for Reading's residents.

Established in April 2026 following the move from a tri-borough arrangement to a single-local-authority partnership for Reading, the RSAPB is at an important stage in its development.

The RSAPB has agreed its three-year Strategy for 2026-2029 (https://readingsapb.co.uk), focused on strengthening safeguarding responses for adults with complex needs; improving multi-agency pathways, escalation and a “no wrong door” approach; and ensuring that learning, assurance, data and lived experience lead to measurable improvements in safeguarding practice.

The Independent Chair will play a central role in turning this ambition into effective partnership action and demonstrable impact.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About The Role:
As Independent Chair, you will provide visible and independent leadership to the RSAPB, leading the Board in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities under the Care Act 2014.

Working with senior leaders from across local government, health, policing, housing, the voluntary sector and other partner organisations, you will help shape strategic priorities, oversee quality assurance activity and drive continuous improvement in safeguarding practice.

You will:

• Chair Board meetings and provide strategic leadership across the partnership.
• Offer constructive challenge and independent scrutiny to ensure safeguarding arrangements are effective and accountable.
• Oversee the development and delivery of the Board's Strategic Plan and Annual Report.
• Champion Making Safeguarding Personal and ensure the voices of adults, carers and communities influence decision-making.
• Lead oversight of Safeguarding Adults Reviews and ensure learning translates into measurable improvements.
• Develop strong relationships with senior stakeholders, elected members, partner organisations and regional safeguarding networks.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights throughout the Board's work.

About You:
We are looking for a highly credible and politically astute leader who can balance support and challenge while maintaining complete independence and objectivity.

You will bring:

• Significant senior-level experience within adult social care, health, policing, criminal justice, housing, domestic abuse, regulation or another safeguarding-related environment.
• Extensive knowledge of adult safeguarding legislation, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Making Safeguarding Personal.
• Experience chairing complex multi-agency boards, partnerships or governance arrangements.
• A proven ability to influence senior leaders, hold organisations to account and drive improvement through scrutiny and assurance.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• A strong commitment to safeguarding, equality, inclusion and partnership working.

You’ll be part of a partnership that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is for organisations across Reading to work together to prevent abuse and neglect, protect adults with care and support needs, and promote wellbeing, dignity and respect.

We are committed to listening to lived experience, learning from experience and continuously improving how agencies work together to keep people safe. Our shared commitments guide how we will achieve this:
Work together to keep adults safe – build strong, accountable partnerships and coordinate action so that adults receive an effective, joined-up response.
Prevent harm and act early – recognise emerging risks, ask questions and take timely, proportionate action to prevent abuse and neglect.
Listen and put people at the centre – ensure lived experience and the voices of adults, families and carers inform decisions and support respectful, person-centred safeguarding.
Learn and improve – learn from experience, Safeguarding Adults Reviews and partnership assurance to strengthen practice and improve outcomes for adults across Reading.

For more information on this position please contact Lynne Mason, Business Manager, Reading Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board at lynne.mason@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Thursday 12th November 2026
Interview Date: Monday 23rd November 2026
Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU