National Referral Mechanism Coordinator

About the Role

Salary: £32,597 to £35,412 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Full time - 37 hour per week
Location: Based at County Hall North, Horsham with hybrid working and countrywide travel required

• Do you have significant experience working with children and vulnerable adults who are victims of exploitation?
• Are you passionate about ensuring that the child's voice is at the centre of any decision-making process?
• Do you enjoy working autonomously in a detailed and analytical manner, supported by a positive team environment where no two days are the same?

If so we want to hear from you…

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Coordinator will take the lead in managing referrals from the Home Office. You'll bring together professionals from services such as social care, police, and health to analyse and process information, helping to build a clear and detailed picture of each child's circumstances. A key part of the role is presenting these cases effectively at NRM Panel meetings, ensuring the child's voice and lived experience are central to the decision-making process about whether they are a victim of modern slavery. Maintaining documentation and the tracking system will be vital, along with thorough report writing that is overseen by the Home Office. You'll also design and deliver training sessions to help Children & Families staff and partner agencies understand the NRM process, referral standards, and relevant guidance.

Training and support will be provided from the Home Office and other councils in the specifics of the NRM role. Therefore, having confidence in analysing complex multi-agency information, delivering training, and influencing practice across services will be key.

An ideal candidate will have significant experience working with children in early help, children's social care, youth justice, or policing, with a strong understanding of safeguarding and the complexities of modern slavery. We're looking for someone who is emotionally resilient, highly organised, and passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children. Strong communication skills, a trauma-informed approach, and the ability to work autonomously under pressure are essential.

If you're ready to make a real difference in children's lives and be part of a forward-thinking, supportive team, we'd love to hear from you.

Experience and Skills

Just some of the key skills and experience you will need include:

• Significant experience in working with children in EH or CSC, Youth Justice, Police, or other related role.
• Specialist knowledge and/or experience regarding modern slavery, including trafficking and exploitation.
• Experience and understanding of safeguarding vulnerable children from harm.
• Build and maintain working relationships across a diverse range of roles and sectors.
• The ability to undertake assessment of a range of needs and situations, including those of a more complex nature in developing appropriate plans in partnership with other people.
• The ability to act autonomously within agreed levels of accountability, consulting with line managers when responding to significant circumstances or situations.
• The ability to work under significant pressure to meet deadlines on a frequent basis which may be unpredictable whilst managing competing demands.
• The ability and resilience to manage (and to support others to manage) the intense emotional demands that arise from working with vulnerable individuals and groups.
• To be computer literate and competent in the operation a range of information technology systems, notably Microsoft Office.
• Ability to communicate fluently, in writing and verbally, with a wide and varied range of people in a manner that inspires confidence in the social work profession.

For a full list of key skills and experience please refer to the job description attached.

How We Support You

At West Sussex County Council we aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where you can achieve your full potential, gain a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work you do with clear pathways to achieve your future aspirations. A few examples of these include:

• An excellent local government pension scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement of up to 29 days (plus opportunity to buy additional leave)
• Health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans.

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

About Us

The Serious Youth Violence, Missing and Exploitation Team is a multi-agency team focused on identifying, supporting, and safeguarding children and young people at risk of experiencing child criminal and sexual exploitation. Our work involves coordinated interventions across social care, education, health, police, and youth justice to reduce the risks children are exposed to within their own communities.

That's why we need professionals, like you, who really want to be part of the positive change that is happening for children. Be part of an ambitious ongoing 'Children First' improvement plan and make a significant difference to children and families in West Sussex. There has never been a more rewarding time to join.

For further information about us and about working in Children's Social Care at West Sussex County Council, please visit Careers in children's social work in West Sussex.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05940

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and complete our application. In your application form please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to a DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.